Photo by Diane Krauthamer
“Dear PoPville,
I’m writing because, for the past 8 months, my roommates and I have dealt with horrible neighbors. So bad, in fact, that the entire block has held meetings about what to do – including the landlord. Unfortunately, the landlord cannot evict them because of the eviction moratorium, and his attempts to settle them down have done little to nothing.
Overall, our concerns are the following: (more…)
Photo by Brian Mosley
“Dear PoPville,
How can we accommodate our tenant, who is being driven out of his mind by the loud construction noise in the rowhouse next door?
Backstory: The rowhouse next to us is under intensive renovation – completely gutted, popped back, the whole works. All construction seems to be legally permitted; we’ve been in communication with the owner (a developer who won’t be living in the finished house), and we don’t really have any issue with the work per se. The problem is the noise.
We have a tenant in our basement apartment who is really suffering. There are times when the drilling/pounding next door turns his apartment into a sounding board, with the noise in his space reaching over 100db (according to a phone app). (more…)
From DDOT:
“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will begin the annual spraying of the female ginkgo street trees on April 19, 2021. The spraying will occur overnight from 9:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m., weather permitting.
The annual spraying serves to reduce the formation of mature ginkgo fruit, which emits an offensive smell when it falls on sidewalks and roadways. DDOT will use the same spray it has used for the past 20 years, Shield-3EC 24(C).
Residents are advised that spraying will begin in Ward 5 and proceed to Wards 4, 3, 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8. Spraying will occur during the evening for several nights. There is no need to move vehicles.
For questions, please contact DDOT at (202) 671-5133 or visit ddot-urban-forestry-dcgis.hub.arcgis.com/app/dc-female-ginkgo-trees for a map of all the female ginkgo trees, and other information.”
Photo by Diane Krauthamer
“Dear PoPville,
My question is: Is it a restaurant’s responsibility to manage unwanted harassment of guests at patio tables? I’m asking because I was out with a group of four girlfriends and a man who was clearly under the influence kept coming to our table to try and talk to us. First over the restaurant’s patio barrier and eventually he walked right into the patio to hover over our table. We were friendly and polite the first 5 times (despite pretty lewd comments and gestures) and I got a bit more firm in asking him not to come over anymore the next few times. (more…)
Thanks to Josh for sending from Mount Pleasant: “It was on every window… lack of sleep will drive one mad.”
Car alarms going off now trending.
Ed. Note: 311 advises “For noise complaint, please contact MDP non-emergency number at 202-737-4404 option #1.”
From Councilmember Nadeau’s office:
“In order to address sound levels in residential neighborhoods while protecting and expanding the local music culture in the District, Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau has introduced the Harmonious Living Amendment Act of 2021, joined by Councilmembers Christina Henderson, Janeese Lewis George and Brooke Pinto.
“This legislation seeks to address the rising tension that we are seeing between performers and neighbors who live in buildings or homes that are not adequately soundproofed, while also celebrating and respecting the long history of street performance and high-quality performance venues,” said Nadeau. “My goal is to ensure that the artists and performers who make our communities so special can co-exist with those who reside in vibrant neighborhoods throughout the District.”
The bill sets soundproofing standards for new residential construction on mixed-use corridors and entertainment districts, with higher requirements for buildings within 300 feet of a performance venue to address crowds and low frequencies. Currently, the District does not require any soundproofing standard for building exteriors. (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
One of the greatest pleasures during the pandemic (which yes there were some) has been the closure of upper Beach Drive to vehicles. My family has visited Rock Creek Park almost every day, walking trails along Beach Drive, riding our bikes or skateboarding along the open road. And we are not alone, there are always dozens of other families and individuals enjoying the beauty of this park. With Beach Drive closed to vehicle traffic, we can enjoy Rock Creek Park in ways we have never been able to before– without the noise and pollution of commuters, on weekdays (!), and in the serene silence of how a National Park should sound.
I know we are not alone in enjoying this development and I would like your help in encouraging others to express their support for keeping upper Beach Drive closed to cars. (more…)
“It’s like a 4 inch hole”
“Dear PoPville,
I had a huge sewer rat chew through my foundation and then a hole by my fuse box and snuck in my house. (more…)
Welp, we made it about six months without seeing a Monster Rat.
“Dear PoPville,
We see a lot of rats in DC but this is a new one. (more…)
Photo by angela n.
“Dear PoPville,
Early Saturday evening I was in my office, which overlooks our driveway out back. I saw a car parked back there for quite a while (around 10 minutes or so), next to our car, and wondered what was going on. We were expecting someone to come by shortly and park in the driveway. Our driveway is the only parking in this alley, which dead ends just next to the two parking spots. This is a long way of saying that other than routine work from the apartment complex next door or the occasional person who walks back there not knowing it dead ends, there is no reason to be back there and certainly no reason for someone to be parked on our driveway for an extended period of time. (If they needed to be in the alley for some reason, they could park in plenty of other places).
I saw a man and woman we don’t know get in and out of the car so I walked out back to see what was happening, to let them know we were home, and to ask them to get off of our driveway. When I opened the gate (more…)