Petworth News

In Other News

[occasional dispatches from other transitioning DC neighborhoods]

Big Bear Cafe is one of the best new indie coffeeshops in town. It's located at 1st and R St NW, at the southern end of Bloomingdale just north of Florida Avenue. While at the moment they only serve coffee and pastries (more food offerings are on the way), it's worth a special trip. It's a nicely utilitarian, bright, airy, bohemian corner space that just works without seeming to try. The owner, who lives a few doors away, told me his wife is from San Francisco and wanted to create a distinctive corner coffee place in DC. I'd say they've succeeded.

There's also a Sunday-only farmers' market on the block in front of the cafe. Click here for their website/blog, which includes some photos and a link to a recent DC North article.

- Bill

DCist article 6/28

[from Susan Minnemeyer]

New Battle for Old Soldiers’ Home

The Armed Forces Retirement Home, also called the Old Soldiers’ Home, sparked a battle with area residents in late 2005 when it released plans for commercial and residential development of its bucolic estate in north-central Washington. Now, a community nonprofit is in the fray, fighting to create a park on a portion of the home’s land, closed to the public for over 50 years.

Officially established late last summer, Washington Central Parks wants to use the western edge of the Armed Forces Retirement Home to link Fort Totten Park to the north with McMillan Park and Reservoir to south, forming a unified network of trails and parks.

Click here for full article on DCist. As AFRH plans move forward, kudos to Washington Central Parks for keeping a spotlight on the parks question.

Single-sale beer ban

[from Heather Schneider]

Single-sale ban of beer, ale now affects DC Ward 4

Most Ward 4 alcoholic beverage retailers were told last week to stop selling individual containers of beer, malt liquor or ale. A three-year-old District law, its implementation held up due to court action [Ed. note - by Decatur Liquors in Petworth], is “now in effect” but will not be enforced until Aug. 1.

Click here for full article in The Examiner.

B & B

Petworth now has a Bed & Breakfast, the Eagle's Nest at Georgia and Buchanan. According to their website, there are two rooms, priced at $65 for one person and $85 for two. The homepage statement reads:

This Victorian house, built in 1911 and nestled quietly in the Petworth area, was recently totally renovated and purchased by your hosts Buck & Rick. Our idea is to have a comfortable place to stay that feels like a home away from home for people with an alternative lifestyle.

Georgia Ave roundtable

[from Muriel Bowser, Ward 4 Councilmember]

Public Roundtable on Progress of Neighborhood Economic Development Projects Along Georgia Avenue
Friday, June 29, 6:00pm
Emery Recreation Center
5701 Georgia Avenue

There will be government witnesses to talk about what's already in the works on Georgia Avenue (Economic Development Office, Planning Office, DDOT). Businesses and developers to talk about existing or planned projects and what they need from the government and community to make it work. And most importantly, residents and civic leaders to talk about what they want to see and not see on Georgia Avenue. I would encourage community members to attend to both listen and present their own vision of the revitalization of Georgia Avenue.

Those who wish to testify should contact Mr. John Adams at the Committee on Economic Development by email at [email protected] or by telephone (202) 727-6683 by 5:00pm on Thursday, June 28. E-mail contacts should include the full name, title, and affiliation - if applicable - of the person(s) wishing to testify.

Witnesses should bring 15 copies of their written testimony to the roundtable. Representatives of organizations will be allowed a maximum of five (5) minutes for oral presentation and individuals will be allowed a maximum of three (3) minutes for oral presentation.

If you are unable to attend the roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee on Economic Development, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 119, Washington, DC 20004 no later than 5pm Friday July 6, 2007.

Caribbean parade pics

[from Bill Crandall]

photos © Bill Crandall

Click here for a gallery of pics by Susan Minnemeyer.

Eyesore

[from Wayan Vota]

For those that pass by the Petworth Eyesore, (4143 New Hampshire Avenue, at Upshur), I have a mini update of sorts. Two weeks ago, I noticed a stop work order on the front of the house and construction has seemed to stop while the owners sort out the violations for excavating and backfilling without permits. One neighbor seems to have had enough, the house next door at 4141 New Hampshire is up for sale and rumor says it is listed at $560K.

And for those who can't get enough of the mis-matched vinyl/brick visual pollution and construction code abuse of our neighborhood's main street, I've made a Petworth Eyesore Flickr set.

CH retail openings

[from Larry Clark]

See message below, from Chris Donatelli to Jim Graham. This is the type of retail and excitement we envision as Petworth/Park Place comes to completion in 2008. Please stop by The Heights for a meal. I’ll keep you posted on more retail signings.

Councilmember Graham -

We are very pleased to announce that the retail establishments are beginning to open for business in our Kenyon Square project at the Columbia Heights Metro.

Yesterday, Fedex Kinko's opened for business. This weekend, The Heights restaurant with outdoor seating on the north end of the property, is scheduled to open for business (pending final inspection approval). And, on June 29th, Starbucks is scheduled to open.

Thereafter, BB&T Bank, Radiance Medspa, D'Vines Wine Shoppe, and Georgetown Valet will be opening though no dates have been established.

Thanks,
Chris Donatelli

DC Caribbean Carnival

[from Joe Martin]

The Metropolitan Police issued the following notification about the Caribbean Festival this Saturday. Please note the traffic advisory.

DC Caribbean Carnival 2007 - Washington, DC's Annual Caribbean Parade & Festival June 23-24
The DC Caribbean Carnival is annual Caribbean-style parade staged along the Georgia Avenue corridor of Washington, DC. The parade kicks off the festival at 11am on Saturday, June 23 and leads to an international marketplace called "DE SAVANNAH," featuring food, crafts and entertainment. Sunday June 24, the Carnival will continue with live performances from local and international artists, food, craft and entertainment.

The purpose of this event is to develop and encourage cross-cultural programs within the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area community in the expansion of Caribbean culture, and to educate youths and adults in Caribbean arts, crafts and culture.

Parade Route: Along Georgia Avenue from Missouri Avenue to Barry Place. There will be some street closings so try to make some alternate plans for your moving around.

DC Caribbean Carnival Location: Banneker Recreation Park, Georgia Avenue at Barry Place, directly across from Howard University in NW Washington, DC. (202) 726-2204.

DC Caribbean Carnival Hours: 12-9pm
Admission: $10 per person
www.dccaribbeancarnival.com

Volunteer opportunities?

[from Julie Arner]

Hi, I’m looking for social service groups in Petworth that need volunteers (shelters, soup kitchens, etc.). An earlier post had mentioned that there were 5 homeless shelters within a half mile of the Metro. I looked online to find places to call and haven’t spotted much of anything. Does anyone have suggestions? Thank you!

Tips for newcomers

The Prince of Petworth blog has a new post with a compilation of good advice for new Petworth residents:

http://princeofpetworth.blogspot.com/2007/06/tips-for-newcomers.html

Check it out and post a comment with your own tip!

Senior Wellness Center

[from Jim Graham, Ward 1 Councilmember]

The groundbreaking for the new Senior Wellness Center on Georgia Avenue is here! The groundbreaking will be held on Friday, June 15 at 2:30pm at 3531 Georgia Ave, NW.

The center will help seniors in Ward One maintain their independence and stay healthy.

It's been a long haul on this project. I have worked on acquiring the property and the subsequent public use since I took office in 1999. The process involved a complex tax sale, made more difficult by a bankruptcy proceeding. The District Government finally obtained title in 2004. Since then, I have worked diligently to identify the necessary funds for the project.

The Center design, itself, has benefited from the engagement and talents brought to the project by the DC Office on Aging.

The Senior Wellness Center will be 10,000 square feet and will meet Green Building standards, hopefully at the silver level. It will open in 2008 and provide classes in nutrition, smoking cessation, and other health topics.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Dog park

[from Oden Tex]

Local dog owners have been using a fenced-in area at the corner of Allison and Arkansas (an abandoned playground) to exercise their dogs and DPR is now planing to tear down the fence. In essence the DPR is going to create another overgrown and unused lot (we need another one) where now there is now a well-used dog park. The action by DPR is pointless. This is of interest to non-dog owners as well who, one would assume, would rather dogs be in a controlled environment instead of let loose in parks and playgrounds. The whole exchange between Petworth dog owners and the DPR is detailed in messages here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PetworthDogs/messages

Rock Creek Festival of the Arts

[from Mary Ann Ruehling]

FIFTH ROCK CREEK FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS TO OPEN ON JUNE 16

The 5th Rock Creek Festival of the Arts will take place 16th - 22nd June at Washington's oldest church, within the oldest churchyard and arguably the oldest continuously used building.

But there is nothing fossilized about us! We offer this multicultural event to the whole community. St Paul's is a magnificent colonial church, set in its original 100-acre churchyard, and has a separate St Paul's Center which includes one of the best medium-sized concert halls in the city. All of these facilities have been renovated and restored within the past four years, at a cost of almost $12 million. This has been done for outreach and service to the community.

This year's festival is at the heart of a new year-round weekly program of free events. Please check the website for more information about St Paul's, the 'Sundays at 4:00' program, and the 5th Rock Creek Festival: www.stpaulsrockcreek.org.

St Paul's Church and St Paul's Center are located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road and Webster Street NW, inside Rock Creek Churchyard.

Fringe Happy Hour

[from Sam Goldblatt]

Join artists, staff and friends of the FRINGE as we invade Petworth for Week 7 of our 9-week tour of DC neighborhood bars. It's our crosstown countdown to the Capital Fringe Festival, DC's annual celebration of the performing arts, July 19-29th!

FRINGE HAPPY HOUR
Wed. June 13 @ Temperance Hall
5:30-8:30pm
$1 off everything

ANC 4C June meeting

[from Joseph Martin, ANC 4C Chair]

ANC 4C MONTHLY MEETING
Tuesday 6/12, 6:30-8:30pm
ROC-North, 801 Shepherd St

Among the agenda items (times are approximate):

DC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DDOT) - Up/down vote of having trees or low shrubs put on the proposed median strip from Georgia Avenue to Grant Circle. (7:20 pm)

JAIR LYNCH PROJECT update on development proposed for 3910 Georgia Avenue. (7:40 pm)

DC TAXICAB COMMISSION representative discussing service to/from Petworth (7:50 pm)

RIKKI McCOY, Ward 4 Community Prosecutor, US Attorney's Office (8:25 pm)

SHEPHERD ST BLOCK CLUB ASS'N AWARD to Merrit Drucker (8:35 pm)

Grant Circular - May/June

[from Jacqueline Arendse, Editor, Grant Circular]

Our latest issue is on the web, please take a look!

www.grantcircular.com

March-May home sales

[from Lesley Aranha, Realtor]

May 2007

Address   List Price   BR/BA   Sold Price

5018 3rd St   $420,000   3/2   $385,000
231 Jefferson St   $399,900   3/2.5   $407,000*
5124 9th St   $397,500   4/1.5   $397,500*
409 Allison St   $489,900   3/3   $475,000
413 Quincy St   $449,000   5/3   $435,000
4315 2nd St   $499,000   4/3   $485,000
3923 Illinois Ave   $389,500   4/1   $400,000*
902 Emerson St   $182,000   3/3   $182,000*
200 Webster St   $429,900   4/1.5   $442,900*
5009 4th St   $499,900   4/3.5   $505,000*

Condos/ Co-ops
4829 4th St, #4   $244,900   1/1   $244,000
610 Longfellow #404   $200,000   1/1   $190,000*
5041 1st St, #3   $211,150   1/1   $212,175*
4829 4th St, #1   $224,900   1/1   $244,900*
5501 8th St, #3   $285,000   2/2   $285,000*
604 L'fellow #302   $264,999   2/2   $272,000*
4829 4th St, #2   $227,900   1/1   $225,900*

April 2007

Address   List Price   BR/BA   Sold Price

4209 3rd St   $499,000   4/2   $520,000*
4228 4th St   $449,000   3/2.5   $442,900*
4805 8th St   $325,000   3/1.5   $345,000*
5104 9th St   $389,900   3/1.5   $389,900*
635 Farragut St   $500,000   3/2.5   $500,000*
5016 9th St   $589,500   3/3   $590,000
740 Ingraham St   $399,900   3/3   $399,900*
130 Jefferson St   $459,000   3/3   $456,400*
4922 7th St   $394,900   3/2.5   $396,900*
810 Decatur St   $329,900   3/1   $327,000
904 Webster St   $369,000   3/1   $360,000
4625 Georgia Ave   $494,999   5/2   $495,000*
514 Kennedy St   $349,000   3/2   $300,000
3801 7th St   $325,000   4/3   $340,000
257 Rock Creek Ch   $419,000   3/3   $419,000*

Condos
5501 8th St, #4   $285,000   2/1   $285,000*
5524 9th St, #1   $526,000   3/3   $526,000
5041 1st St, #13   $227,000   1/1   $227,000*
5041 1st St, #9   $209,000   1/1   $209,000
5405 7th St, #102   $550,000   3/2.5   $515,000
5041 1st St, #4   $262,440   2/1   $262,440*
5041 1st St, #6   $262,650   2/1   $262,850

March 2007

Address   List Price   BR/BA   Sold Price

4626 8th St   $475,000   4/2.5   $489,250*
5505 7th St   $399,000   3/1.5   $335,000
531 Shepherd St   $559,000   3/3.5   $540,000*
4107 8th St   $350,000   3/1   $350,000*
5122 5th St   $424,900   3/2.5   $435,000*
4321 NH Ave   $499,900   6/2   $511,000*
422 7th St   $439,500   3/1   $400,000*
5518 4th St   $395,000   3/2.5+.5   $399,999*
732 Hamilton St   $355,000   3/2   $360,500*
4001 5th St   $525,000   4/2.5+.5   $515,000*
5219 2nd St   $399,900   3/3   $399,900

Condos
610 Longfellow, #102   $204,900   1/1   $205,000*
5524 9th St, #2   $469,000   3/3.5   $469,000   

* indicates a subsidy from the Seller

Information taken from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. Information is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification.

Temperance Hall reviews

[from Bill Crandall]

As reported on the Prince of Petworth blog, Temperance Hall has had two good write-ups recently, on DCist and in the Washington City Paper. Noteworthy is how both articles (like some others I've seen) give a good amount of context in terms of neighborhood history and changes. Seems with Temperance Hall you often get a side of social commentary with your restaurant review.

Kennedy St Revitalization Plan

[from Josh Lopez, ANC 4D01 Commissioner]

The Office of Planning is hosting a hands-on community workshop to help guide growth and development in our neighborhood, while preserving the quality of life in the surrounding community.

When: Wed 6/13, 6:30pm-8pm and Sat 7/21, 9am-12pm
Where: Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia Ave, room 200

Neighbors, I encourage everyone to attend these workshops so we can offer our input into the future of our neighborhood. We should participate at every level and ensure that our voice and opinions are at the decision-making table. The person of contact at the Office of Planning is Geraldine Gardner, her phone number is 202-442-7600.

Shelter protest 6/13

[from the Petworth listserv]

GEORGIA AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT DEFENSE SQUAD (GARDS) To Hold Protest

Central Union Mission is continuing efforts to relocate its 100+ bed homeless shelter to 3510 Georgia Avenue NW. Nine different Park View and Columbia Heights neighborhood organizations have voted to say "NO" to this relocation.

Central Union Mission is scheduled to appear before ANC1A on Wednesday, June 13 at Tubman Elementary School, located at 13th & Kenyon Streets NW. Central Union Mission will be asking ANC1A to approve its relocation to Georgia Avenue. GARDS plan to have a rally in front of the school starting at 6:15pm, to show opposition to the move.

These organizations believe that if Central Union Mission relocates to Georgia Avenue it will have a negative affect on property values, there will be an increase in crime, an increase in negative behavior and an overall decline in the quality of life in the Park View/Columbia Heights community.

Landscaping company

[from Stacy Notaras Murphy]

I just wanted to let everyone know about a landscape and lawn maintenance company that we have been using this year. Like every good homeowner, I attempted to secure multiple estimates for the work, but was ignored by many landscapers once I gave my east-of-Georgia-Ave address. Even a landscaper based in Petworth failed to show up at our scheduled time to offer an estimate.

Joe Coner is the owner/president of Home Services of Washington and he has been nothing but courteous and prompt in his work on our yard (we had a large, unruly bush removed, installed sod and planted some new shrubs) and his prices are very reasonable. He also created an estimate that included several pictures and designs for what we could expect. The crew has been wonderful and really seem to enjoy their work.

Mr. Coner's service also provides maintenance at a very sensible price. The company's phone number is 301-839-1724.

Water, water

[from Bill Crandall]

When my 14-month-old daughter started pointing excitedly out our front window this morning (around 10am), I figured she was just being dramatic. But then I looked and there was a plume of water twice as high as my neighbors' roofs. "All the news within walking distance" indeed.

By the time I got to the corner of Upshur and 5th, the water height had already gone down quite a bit. WASA workers said a blow valve had, well, blown. That's the cap in the fourth picture. To give an idea of the water pressure involved, it used to be screwed onto a pipe under the manhole cover.

One guy who had been working there when it happened told me he was ducking from the sudden geyser, then metal objects (like the cap and the large 'key' in the last shot) started raining down around him. It could have taken a tragic turn pretty easily.

Click on any image to see a larger version.