Shaw

Wondering How New Condos Are Selling in Logan/U Street Area?

By Prince Of Petworth

I got an interesting press release from Bogdan Builders yesterday. They write:

“Bogdan Builders has established itself as a leader in Metro Area condominium sales, according to independent sales figures in the McWilliams Ballard Mid-Year 2009 Washington Metropolitan Area Condominium Report. With its winning position in Metro Area condominium sales, Bogdan Builders dominated the Logan Circle U-Street submarket for new product sales beginning in 2008.

As other projects in the Logan Circle and U-Street submarkets struggled to gain traction in the marketplace, the phenomenal sales pace of Bogdan Builders

Judging New(ish) Buildings

By Prince Of Petworth

This building is located at 1125 11th Street, NW. I dig the balconies. What do you think – thumbs up or down?

Was it a Good Deal or Not? And No Photos GDoN

By Prince Of Petworth

This home is located at 1743 11th Street, NW:


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The flier says:

“This may be the one you have been waiting for. .. 2006 renovation w/ open floor plan, exposed brick, crown molding, recessed lighting, custom built-ins, modern kitchen w/ granite and stainless appliances, rear deck for outdoor entertaining, two blocks to Metro, near new dog park, easy street pkg.”

More info found here and a virtual tour found here.

I think this house looks great though I was wondering why it was on the market for so long. (I think it got relisted because redfin said it’s only been listed for 14 days but I’m pretty sure that’s not right.) Well, it’s now under contract but I’m wondering if you dig the house and if you think $599,900 was a good deal for this 2bed 2.5 bath?

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And because there were no photos I thought I’d include this house located at 82 V Street, NW as well:


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The flier says:

“Your wait is over. .. This is what you want in LeDroit Park A big townhouse lot of bath rooms. .. .Everything works as it should. Call listing agt. Showing by appt.”

More info found here.

I could’ve sworn this was Bloomingdale and not Le Droit. Which do you think is a more desirable neighborhood Bloomingdale or LeDroit Park? This home is on the market for $524,995. Considering there are no photos it probably needs some work. Does this price sound reasonable? I love the homes of Bloomingdale but have the prices really gone that high?

Good Deal or Not? “Master ba. w/ marble radiant heat floors” Edition

By Prince Of Petworth

This home/condo is located at 1543 6th Street, NW:


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The flier says:

“NEW PRICE! all this for under $400K Beautiful pine floors, open cooks kitchen w/ lots of granite counter space, gas cooking, ss appl. good cabinet space. Master ba. w/ marble radiant heat floors, stall shower. 2nd ba. travertine tiles, balcony off of master bdrm & common patio! Gas heat, exposed brick, recessed lighting & more!!!! low fees, pet friendly 3 block 2 metro. ask about possible parking”

More info and photos found here.

I think the pictures are looking pretty sweet. Also these pine floors rock. I have no idea how much this should go for so I’m curious what those in the know think. There was a decent price reduction from $445,000 to $399,900. Is that reasonable for this 2 bed/2 bath?

Door of the Day

By Prince Of Petworth

I’ve walked by this shell in Shaw dozens of times and I never noticed the painting on this door. This is the famous shell that has the fake cafe.

GDoN Revisited by Hipchickindc

By Prince Of Petworth

In real life, hipchickindc is licensed as a real estate broker in the District of Columbia and Virginia, and as a real estate salesperson in Maryland.  Unless specifically noted, neither she nor the company that she is affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below.  Unless otherwise noted, the source of information is Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), which is the local multiple listing system.  Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Featured Property: 2245 12th Pl NW

Original List Price: $479,000.

List Price at Contract: $479,000.

List Date: 3/21/2009

Days on Market: 18 (it took from April to late June to settle…perhaps because of tenants?)

Settled Sales Price: $474,500.

Settlement Date:  07/31/2009

Seller Subsidy:  $13,000.

Bank Owned?: No. 

Type Of Financing: Conventional Financing.  The loan amount shows up as $1,800,000., which I am guessing is a typo. 

Listing History: Last purchased when it was still painted white for $238,500. With a $500. Subsidy in 2001.  Prior to that sale, it changed hands in (pre-U Street development) 1992 for $125,950.

Original GDoN Post is: Here.

Recent Listing is: Here. To see more pics, click here for the virtual tour.

I’ve noticed that Good Deal or Not (GDoN) commenters tend not to be fans of small houses, but as one poster suggested, there are definitely people who don’t want to own a condo but also don’t want a lot of house to take care of. As mentioned by anothermous, this was the fifth sale on the block this year, which is certainly evidence of the desirability of the location. Comparable sales can be seen here.  Continues after the jump. (more…)

Mid City Caffe Has Soft Opening and Will Open With Regular Hours in approximately a Week and a Half

By Prince Of Petworth

Ever since we learned of Mid City Caffe’s imminent opening (above Miss Pixie’s at 1626 14th Street, NW) folks have been super excited. The opening date has been pushed back a few times but for this weekend’s Mid City Dog Days Sale, the spot had an unpublicized soft opening. There are still some finishing touches that will be implemented so they didn’t want me to take photos just yet. However, given the fact that I receive weekly emails about this spot, I begged them to let me take one photo (see above). I have to say it really is a sweet space. Its got an old school, sorta 1950s, feel to it. There is a counter to order and two open spaces to sit, with Wifi of course. It seats around 40 though eventually they hope to have some outdoor tables on the front sidewalk.

I spoke to a friend who happened to be passing by and she was super excited about the opening, hoping that this space will fill the loss of Sparky’s and 14U coffee shops. I think most folks are going to be pretty happy. It has a very unique comfortable vibe going on. I’ll be sure to announce the opening date when it firms up and becomes official.

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Shiloh Baptist Church to Sell Two Run Down Properties in Shaw

By Prince Of Petworth

DCist reported yesterday saying:

“The church membership voted last Wednesday to move forward with plans to sell its properties at 1600 8th Street NW and 1543 8th Street NW, with the hope that the sales will generate enough capital to begin long-discussed plans to renovate a string of units in the 1500 block of 9th Street NW. Plans for the Shiloh-owned 9th Street properties include a senior citizen center and/or housing, and a youth learning center.”

The Washington Post followed up today saying:

“Last week’s decision by members of Shiloh Baptist Church, at Ninth and P streets NW, could remove a stumbling block to the rebirth of the blighted neighborhood around the Washington Convention Center. Neighbors have complained for years that seven crumbling buildings that the church owns along Eighth and Ninth streets were attracting drug users and adding to a sense of decay in the area.”

These properties have long been a blight on the Shaw neighborhood. While I admire the church’s desire to build affordable housing, the fact that they weren’t actually doing it, means that this was the right move for them and for the revival of that block. What do you think – does this signify that the last stumbling block to the revival of this section of Shaw has been removed?

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