Trinidad

Good Deal or Not? “Fully renovated” edition (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1118 Florida Ave, NE:


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The flier says:

“Two units zoned residential/commercial in a sought after rental area. Fully renovated in 2007, each unit has Stainless/Granite kitchen, gas appliances, Jacuzzi, exposed brick, rear deck, parking for 4 cars. Located in the H Street/Atlas District, a short commute to Metro, Downtown, Capitol Hill, and easy access to Gallaudet University, shopping and eating establishments.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

The reader writes:

“Hey, I saw this property and its neighbor pop up a few weeks ago and can’t figure out why they’re so cheap. Perhaps it’s the stigma attached to the Trinidad neighborhood, but I’d be interested to see whether people thought this was a GDON or not. The second link is the property right next door and has probably been renovated by the same person.”

That is bizarre. This 4 bed/2.5 bath is going for $319,000. This is truly bizarre. In June 2006 it sold for $615,000. Does the $319,000 sound realistic or will it get bid up much higher? The house next door that the reader mentions went under contract for $349,000.

H St, NE Shuttle Adds Stop to Capital City Diner/Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club

By Prince Of Petworth

From an email :

“I’m proud to announce the start of a new stop on the H Street NE shuttle service at Capital City Diner/ Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club. Thanks to great support from councilmembers Harry Thomas (Ward 5) and Tommy Wells (Ward 6), the new service begins this week. The shuttle runs every evening from Gallery Place / Chinatown Metro from 5pm til Metro closes. The actual stop is at Bladensburg Rd & L St NE (right across street from diner).”

You can see the shuttle schedule here.

Cap City Diner Applies for Liquor License

By Prince Of Petworth

Capital City Diner located at 1050 Bladensburg Road, NE has applied for a liquor license. The license says:

“Dine in and out restaurant with a seating capacity inside of 36 and outside seating of 14. Total
occupancy load of 99. Request Entertainment endorsement for inside and outside patio and to
include dancing and cover charge.”

Hmm, not sure if this is just the necessary language but I can’t imagine dancing in such a small space…

Good Deal or Not? “3BR w/ bonus rm & 2 full BA Colonial” edition (reader request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1224 Orren St, NE:


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The flier says:

“A Steal Of a Deal for this 3BR w/ bonus rm & 2 full BA Colonial Home. Its updated w/ granite tops, maple cabinets & stainless appl, but the character was preserved throughout. Sep LR & DR, an open kit & sun rm on main lvl. The rear BRs have been extended for max space, & the bsmnt bonus room can be entertaining or 4th BR. Leave the car in the OSP & stroll to H ST for Trolley ride to cafes & theater.”

You can find more info here and photos here.

The reader writes:

“I think this will go quickly at this price. They’ve been working hard to renovate it for the last 3 or 4 months and I think they did a pretty solid job.”

For those not familiar with the neighborhood we spoke about it here.

What do you guys think – $299,000 sound reasonable?

Dear PoP – How’s the Trinidad Neighborhood?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user AWard Tour

“Dear PoP,

I appreciate you last time being able to help me with trying to find out more about the Hill East Area. Unfortunately things haven’t worked out as I planned, but I have found greener pastures in the Florida Avenue/ north of H street/ “Trolleytown” area. Would you be able to ask your readers what people think of that area in terms of safety, what the H street resurgence (street car, etc) will do that that Florida Avenue/ Trinidad area. Is it worth to look in that area for homes, or has this area not progressed as an anticipated? Pretty much what do areas who live in that area or close by think of that area right now. The more feedback the better.”

I said in a recent interview that I thought Trinidad will be a great long term investment (2015/2020). But what advice would folks who live in or nearby give about the neighborhood today?

Capital City Diner Soft Opening – Official Opening Tuesday

By Prince Of Petworth

Capital City Diner will open Tuesday at 1050 Bladensburg Road, NE. This is the place they brought down from upstate NY. There was a soft opening this weekend and I think I’m still full from Friday night. Of course I did have the “Super Happy Fat Boy Breakfast”. And it lived up to the name, I was super happy and most definitely fat:

This is a great little spot. And it is indeed small. It probably can fit 20 at the counter and there were maybe 6 or 8 booths. The staff was super friendly and you really feel like you’re back in the 50s with the old school decor.

It’s a little bit of a walk from the H St, NE bustle but definitely worth a trip for an authentic diner experience. I only wish they opened a bit closer to where I live…

Good Deal or Not? “Move in Ready” Edition (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1207 6th Street, NE:


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The flier says:

“4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and a 1 BR with 1 Full Bath basement “In-law suite”. Kitchen and bathrooms recently updated. Hardwood flooring throughout. Currently a rooming house. This home is Move-in ready! 3 blocks to New York Avenue metro and revitalization on H ST. Move in Ready”

More info and photos found here.

The reader writes:

“Some odd things about it – Rooming House? Natural Gas Cooling? – and recently the price was drastically lowered.
Since we’re not really in the market for a home, we haven’t gone to see it – but thought some of your readers might have, and that it could be an interesting post.”

Wow that is a huge price cut. It was originally going for $499,000 but is now on the market for $299,000. What do you think of the house? Does $299,000 sound reasonable? Anyone check it out in person?

Guys From Capital City Diner Mugged – MPD Hesitant to Take a Report

By Prince Of Petworth

The guys from the Capital City Diner faced a truly unpleasant experienced. First mugged then hesitation in filing a report from MPD. On their Web site they write:

“We were walking down the street, passed by a group of 4-5 young people (one in a wheelchair), one of which asked if we had any money. After we passed about 10-15 feet, he quickly approached us, presented what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun in his pants, and then demanded money from us. Two of us handed over some money and they fled up L St NE toward Carver/Langston. 911 was called immediately after, but it took some time for a respose and thus the police couldn

Historic Diner at Bladensburg Road Given a $5600 bill from Washington Gas

By Prince Of Petworth

Remember the historic diner that was relocated to 1050 Bladensburg Rd, NE? Well, sadly they’re having lots of headaches. The owner writes an update:

“Right now, we’re going through the DCRA plan review process and hope to get comments back from the structural and health dept folks, the final two (out of plumbing, fire, electrical, zoning, health, and structural). Once we receive the comments, we’ll modify our plans accordingly, resubmit, and hopefully get building permit approval in a week or so after that.

Once permits are approved, we’ll build out as soon as possible, and hope to be open by September (if all goes well, but that’s a big if).

We heard from Washington Gas today (we submitted an initial inquiry into getting gas service back in April!). Basically, they say that there’s no gas pipe at our location (even though it’s visible and capped off) and want to dig up the street to install a new line from the main.

Here’s the problem: they insist we pay them $5600 to do this, as they claim their projected revenue over the next 2 years from the diner’s operation will not justify them paying for the cost of installation. I’m not sure what calculation was used, but they stated they would send it via e-mail. I would think operating over 100 hours/week (eventually 24/7, if we get open)– more than a lot of other places– and using gas the entire timewould generate enough revenue for them.

This is really shocking and disappointing. If we don’t reach a resolution with them soon, it may come down to us converting to all-electric or not opening at all (we can’t afford to pay rent on the land without being open). Pepco, by the way, has been awesome so far and very responsive, but it would cost us a lot to convert to all electric appliances. Currently, we need gas for: oven, range, warming table, furnace, water heater, and griddle.

We’re just two neighborhood residents trying to do something good. We never imagined it would be so difficult for the little guys.”

Can we do anything to tell Washington Gas they are being unfair? Is Washington Gas being unfair? Should the local Council Member get involved?  How can we help resolve this situation?

Dear PoP – Other Crime in NE DC last night?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I live at 6th and L NE and yesterday beginning at around 4:30pm, ambulance and cop cars kept speeding down my street headed west. When my roommates got home around 6, my street was totally backed up with traffic apparently because they were re-routing everything from 8th Street NE. When i returned from the grocery store around 7 pm, there were cop cars on L and 7th and on L blocking 8th Street. I saw the news report on the shooting in Trinidad, but that seems to have only happened around 8:30 which doesn’t seem to fit the timeframe for whatever was happening down by me earlier in the afternoon. Any ideas?”

Hmm, I hadn’t heard beyond the Trinidad shooting. Anyone know what happened yesterday?

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