“Dear PoP,
Bread for the City Expansion/addition on 7th Street NW by Wiebenson and Dorman Architects. What do you think? What do the readers think? This picture was taken last week.”
Here’s what it looked like back in March.
I think it looks awesome! Big thumbs up. What do you guys think?
SCOUT from Kelly Towles on Vimeo.
Great new video on the Kelly Towles mural at 12th and W St, NW, Scout.
Still a little early for a proper judging but I was surprised to see this new building pop up (literally) on 11th St, NW just south of Florida Ave and next to the relatively new Lacey Building.
This home is located at 1632 New Jersey Ave, NW:
The flier says:
“Fabulous 3 Lvl Rowhouse in Sought After Shaw. Min from Downtown DC. Walk to U street restaurants and bars. Great hdwd flrs on first level. Gourmet kit w/ granite and Top of the Line appls. 4 blocks to Metro. Use 3rd Bedroom on Lower Level as In-Law Suite w/ sep Kit and Bath. Recess Lights, Fireplace. Not a Shortsale!”
You can find more info here and photos here.
It’s funny I usually consider a rowhouse 3 levels when the 3 levels are above ground. Anyway, what do you think of the renovation? Does $499,000 sound reasonable for this 3 bed/2.5 bath?
In other potential Shaw GDoN news there’s a pretty sweet shell (no photos) going for $399,000 at 1513 8th St, NW.
We’ve had great fun judging the exterior of the new Shaw library which opens Aug. 2nd. Recently, I had the good fortune of getting a tour from DC Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper and Branch Manager Eric Riley.
DC Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper points out some features at the new Shaw Library
There were still a few boxes that needed to get unpacked when I stopped by but I was still able to grab a few interior photos. I’m super happy to report that the inside is about as impressive as the outside of the building. Shaw is a very lucky neighborhood though a number of other neighborhood locations are getting upgraded as well including Georgetown (should reopen in Oct.), Tenlytown (should reopen in Dec.) Petworth (should reopen in Jan.) and a few others including Mt. Pleasant.
Sculpture to be placed in front of Shaw library with neighborhood artist Craig Kraft in front of his home on R St, NW
But back to Shaw. It is really a beautiful sight. Located at 7th and Rhode Island Ave, NW (right across from the Shaw metro) it is certainly convenient. It consists of 3 floors and will have 80,000 books and 40 public computers including 8 apple computers for the teen room. There are also study rooms, conference rooms and a meeting room (that can be reserved online). A couple more cool features include the fact that the building is a green building (including a green roof) and will feature a sculpture at the point of the triangle out front that many will recognize from the Shaw neighborhood.
You can find more info about the library here.
As with many of my previews – the photos do far more justice than my words. Check lots more out after the jump. (more…)
I can’t remember if I’ve ever noticed this before but at 600 Florida Ave, NW there is a coming soon sign for ‘6 Hundred Restaurant Bar Lounge’. I don’t think I’ve seen an alcohol application for this property but I’ll keep my eyes peeled. I think it would be nice to see this section of Florida Ave, NW to get some more life.
And WBJ’s Michael Neibauer reports (subscription only) that the long delayed O St. Market in Shaw will break ground in Sept. You can see a rendering here. Knock wood, knock wood.
“Dear PoP,
Do you have any more information than the Post did about the carjacking near Logan Circle Monday?
Horrifying!”
The Post wrote:
“A motorist was stabbed Monday afternoon in downtown Washington during a carjacking, D.C. police said.
They said the man remained conscious after being wounded in the incident in which his car was taken about 5 p.m. near 10th and N Streets NW. The intersection is between the Logan Circle and Mount Vernon Square areas.”
Fortunately an update from MPD went out yesterday saying the alleged attacker had been caught:
“Below is the information in relation to the Armed Carjacking/Stabbing at 10th and N Street , yesterday evening:
ARREST# : 061003792
DT-TM: 19-JUL-10 – 1840
LOCATION: rear 2928 K Street Se
OFFENDER: PULLEY, ROBERT
SEX: M
OFFENSE: ARMED CARJACKING
TYPE: FELONY
OFFICER: MINOR”
From dcfireems on twitter at 11:25am:
“stabbing – 1800 blk 7th St NW – Shaw/Howard U Metro – mezzanine level”
“Dear PoP,
My husband and I ran into a cat walking home from dinner tonight on Vermont Ave., between R and S streets. The cat was overly friendly, and skiddish when the cars drove by, and even jumped up on a guys car that was parked and walked over the hood to pop its head in the open window to get petted. It was starting to thunder and lightening, and the cat seemed scared but didn’t make a move to go anywhere. She just kept staying by us and rubbing our legs and flopping over to be petted between freezing when the thunder hit. It had a black collar on with a bronze little bell. But no name tag/contact. We think it was a little girl, she couldn’t have been more than 3 years. She was very sweet, and it was starting to thunderstorm and it was obvious she was lost. Eventually she sat in the divider in the street and hunkered down with its ears flat scared of the lightening. Now, a cat that is used to being outdoors would not have just stayed in the open during a thunderstorm, would not have been so friendly to everyone, and would have hightailed it home instead of sitting between traffic. So we took her over to the DC Animal Control on New York Avenue, and she is being held there under the name “Prudence.”
She was very sweet, and I really want to make sure her/his owner finds it as soon as possible. They were so full with cats at the animal control that cat carriers were stacked into the hallways.”
A fence has gone up at the old Church at the corner of 10th and V St, NW, a former reader requested Horses Ass Award Nominee. Rumor has it that the building will be razed. A few readers have written in:
“Dear PoP,
It’s such a part of the neighborhood, how buildings next to it were designed, and everyone always envisioned the day when it would be restored. Who knows what they’ll build now. could be anything, and not necessarily something desirable. sad, sad, sad.
I would love to hear what thoughts neighbors have on what, if anything could be done to preserve it, or if it’s too late. I’m just so sick about this, and worried that some cheap-a** piece of doo-doo will replace it. It’s such an anchor for the block, and as blighted as it has been, everyone admired it for what it would eventually become. I never considered that the city would be allowed to lose it from neglect and greed.”
This is a very sad situation. Of course we don’t know all the details. But I believe that the property is in seriously bad shape so perhaps it is too far gone to save? What do you guys think about this property? Should it be saved at all costs? Could it be prohibitively expensive to save it? What is the responsibility of the property owner? Of the city?
If there is no historic designation can anything be done? Can the owner be compelled to save it? Isn’t that sorta what happened to the house at the corner of 16 and T, Streets, NW?
Should it stay or should it go?
