in bloom

ANC 5C aftermath: news and views

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:46:00 +0000

There was lots of online chatter regarding last night's ANC 5C meeting, so here's a link list of the coverage in the local media. This list will be updated as additional coverage goes live.

Twitter:

Media:

Blogs:

Listservs (may require membership to read):

If you have any relevant links not listed here, please post them in the comments, and they will be added.

ANC 5C writes up a guide to liquor licensing

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:59:00 +0000

This week's ANC 5C meeting of the whole included—what else?—discussion of the liquor license applications that have come up in Bloomingdale. As resident Scott Roberts reports on the Bloomingdale listserv:

I arrived late—and walked into—can you guess?—a heated discussion about the liquor license pursuit of Big Bear Cafe. There are a group of nearby neighbors who circulated a petition opposing the granting of the liquor license. ANC 5C Commissioners Gigi Ransom and Sylvia Pickney discussed a document that they have put together—a draft document—titled "ANC 5C Guide on DC Alcoholic Beverage Licenses: Draft June 11, 2010, Edit: July 5, 2010." As the title suggests, it is intended to serve as a guide for the commissioners and the community about ABC licenses. And again, the commissioners stated that the document is a work-in-progress.

ANC 5C 04 commissioner John Salatti has shared the latest version with us, and you can view it online.

shady salesmen going door-to-door

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:55:00 +0000

Two neighbors from the northern end of the neighborhood report separate incidences of men posing as ADT sales representatives going door-to-door on First Street NW this evening.

From @phillipstutts on Twitter:

@BloomingdaleDC - White guy knocking on doors on 1st St NW falsely claiming to be from ADT Security. Cops called. Be on alert.#bloomingdaledc

Neighbor AG sent this e-mail:

I live on first between Adams and Bryant and had a really shady occurrence this evening. My doorbell rang around 7pm and I found a gentleman in my entry way (between my front door and my entry door) in a golf shirt and khaki shorts. I prop my door open about an inch as I was super spooked out that he let himself in the first door. (I am an idiot for not locking it!) He was insistent on talking to me about my security system, no uniform, no nothing and would NOT leave when I asked him to. He even had a random computer print of my wall unit...looked like he printed out an 8X10 digital photo. He never stated he was from a particular company. He finally left and I ran to my window to see him get in a random Chevy. He saw me in the window (I was attempting to get his license plate) and just waved at me until he drove away! It was beyond weird. I called the cops and after investigating we realized I was the 2nd person to call and ADT (the other call said the intruder said he was from ADT) did not have anyone out on the beat...they don't do that.

So beware of these guys, they are out scheming something! My guy was a white male about 6"1, blond hair, clean cut, looked like a ken doll and the only thing I know about the other complaint is that it was an African American male.

Spooky, keep your eyes open!

This is a common enough occurrence around the country that ADT posted a safety tip on its Facebook page:

Important reminder -- ADT sales and service people should always provide a photo ID and business card when they come to your door. As with any stranger approaching your home, you should always ask for identification.

If you are approached by anyone matching the descriptions above, please call MPD 5D directly at (202) 698-0150.

new bodega opens up in the neighborhood

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:42:00 +0000

Cookie's Corner is now open!

new bodega/sandwich shop in LeDroit Park now open, originally uploaded by evoque.

It's on the LeDroit Park side of Second Street NW, but I'm guessing the sister bodega to Simon Matehme's LeDroit Park Market will have plenty of customers from Bloomingdale, especially with Parker Flats just across the street.

It's very neat and tidy inside, with plenty of stand-up counter space in the square bay window for folks who want to eat their meals there, and there's a fair selection of sundries available. ~~No beer or wine is currently being sold, presumably as they're still working on the licensing, but hopefully in the future, it will be available as well.~~ Looks like beer and wine is also for sale, though the license is presumably for off-premise consumption.

inside the new bodega/sandwich shop on 2nd Street NW and Elm Street NW, originally uploaded by evoque.

Only had time to go in and snap a photo, but I'll try and get the full menu online tomorrow.

here a dry cleaner, there a dry cleaner

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:00:00 +0000

The building at 1821 First Street NW looks like it's almost complete, which likely triggered the following petition from ANC 5C 04 commissioner John Salatti:

Although we definitely appreciate the owners’ efforts to rehabilitate a long-vacant building and put it back into useful service, we do not support the opening of a second dry cleaning establishment. This area needs a variety of services that we do not have currently and which we as neighbors would support heartily. These services include sit-down, full-service restaurants, boutiques, stationery and card stores, consignment shops, electronics stores, child-care centers, hardware stores, bakeries, delicatessens, diners, pet grooming establishment, vet clinic, bank, etc. These are businesses that we want, that we need, and that we will patronize. We are not likely to patronize another dry cleaning establishment.

As of this writing, there are now 101 signatures, though since none are publicly visible, it's hard to say how many neighborhood residents actually signed it. The Housing Complex piece likely drew signatures from outside the community as well, and maybe there will be a few more due to this post. I can understand that folks are disappointed about getting another dry cleaner when there's City Cleaners just a block away, but this is something that could likely have been addressed by the community when the sale of the building went through, or even earlier, when the for-sale signs went up. It could have happened even as late as March of this year, which is when the business permits were approved.

I'll admit to slacking off on this personally. I actually started to draft a post that was focused on the environmental impacts that a dry cleaner would have on the property a couple of months ago: namely, the fact that if the building were ever to be reused for another purpose, it would have to undergo remediation to remove the chemicals used in the dry-cleaning process from the site. Since that would be a pretty expensive undertaking, once a property is used as a location for a dry cleaner, it generally stays that way.

That said, I do have to wonder exactly what the petition is meant to achieve. Online petitions are easy to set up and don't require the time and effort of someone going door-to-door to talk to their neighbors in person, but I think the ease of use comes with a cost. There's something effective about handing over a sheaf of papers with the signatures and addresses of those who live in the neighborhood, and a printout of a Web page seems sterile in comparison to pages scrawled over with ink. Will a petition—of any variety—change the owners' plans for 1821 First Street NW? Probably not, but hopefully it's made the signatories take notice of the goings-on in Bloomingdale.

the results are in: safety walk survey says ...

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Thanks to all of you who filled out the safety walk survey posted some weeks back, we've got some great responses. Here are the results.

The safety walks should occur twice a month.
Safety walks should take approximately one hour.

When asked what the safety walks should look out for, here are the responses:

any issue or problem that a resident has - i.e. dumping in an alley, unsecured vacant residences, broken street lights, graffiti, construction projects, etc. the walks should also focus on meeting new neighbors

I love that it's a way for me to meet neighbors... maybe once in a while we could end at someone's house! That would be amaaaaaazing :)

drug activity, vagrants in abandoned buildings

Signs of criminal activity, general property neglect and city services needed

drug dealers, abandoned and dumpy property, gang tags, trash and illegal dumping, assessment of streets (speed humps), examples of what works - trees, gardens, parks and community gathering spots (have members of Casey Trees participate).

start and end at local businesses - windows cafe, big bear, etc - so people can socialize with each other, and patronize local shops.

Cleanliness of the neighborhood; visit local businesses where most criminals hang out and show that the community is united and not putting up with crime.

signs of criminal activity and abandoned or run down property

Pointing out to MPD the trouble spots that we as residents know and see every day.

Canvassing a different area each time such that every street and ally is eventually covered. If any area has particular issues, give that area special attention by hitting it over and over at the beginning or end of the walk if possible.

Focus on problems not things - signs of criminal activity; problem areas where drugs or noise are issues

Making a positive presence

A chance to meet our officers and point out areas of concern

dog poop, criminal activity, trash dumping, graffiti, street damage (potholes, broken curbs, missing or damaged or graffitted signs, loose tv or phone wires), bicyclists who chain their bikes to our trees damaging them when they could tie them to fence or lamppost), stores without trash bins regularly emptied, other signs of neighborhood nitwittery

Respondents were also asked to identify where the safety walks should go.

Different parts of the neighborhood depending in where they last went.

Different parts of the neighborhood based on who comes out to walk.

Between 2nd NW & Lincoln Ave, north of florida and south of W.

All along 1st St NW from Rhode Island up through Bryant and down 2nd and Flagler.

please, please, please, please include kelly miller housing project. i know this isn't in bloomingdale, per se, but it affects bloomingdale - because a 100% lowest housing model doesn't work. this lies between 2nd and 4th, and V and W. also, please include 2nd street - between 2nd and flagler, and v street - between 2nd and flagler.

Alleys, knock on people's door whose house are looking a mess and ask them if they can do something about it, the Park off U St and V St.

Definitely need to walk the alleys.

Around the current problem areas; ask participants (although they usually request)

alleys

where teens or people are "hanging out"

Through Crispus Attucks Park

By our Bloomingdale businesses

First and U, Alley between unit Bryant and Adams, Alley between unit [block of] Adams and W, 2nd and W

The most popular days for safety walks to occur, in descending order, are Saturday (17), Sunday and Monday (14), Friday (12), Tuesday (11), then Wednesday and Thursday (10). On the weekends, most respondents selected Other as their time choice, so maybe a safety walk and brunch is in order?

Last but not least, suggestions were solicited as to how the safety walks could improve.

every so often, have an after-walk reception at a local business to 1) introduce neighbors to local proprietors and 2) hopefully encourage residents to shop in Bloomingdale more often

I picked the latest time available, and that works best for us with a child under 1 year old, but I would encourage for those who are inclined to try and make these as reasonably late as possible. For example, it's still light out in the summer at 8pm. Might help to have a 9 to 10pm walk during those months?

Also, I think it should rotate days each time out. That should help the participation level as well as keep the nefarious elements off guard as to when to expect to see the safety walkers.

Of course, any time we are able to do so, we should have some form of law enforcement with us, whether they are on duty in an official capacity or off duty law enforcement neighbors/volunteers/retirees.

As it becomes appropriate, maybe engage one of the local businesses to host a "thank you" get together for the safety walkers with some food and beverage? Some sort of recognition anyways...

I'd also come up with some basic guidelines and goals so any overly enthusiastic safety walkers can be reigned in and any dissenters can be presented with a clear explanation as to why this is happening. It would also help with outreach to recruit safety walkers. Imagine walking up to a suspicious person (ie - those kids in front of the DC Mini Mart on 1st St.) with a flyer and saying, "Hi, I'm John, I'm a Bloomingdale resident who is committed to helping our neighborhood be as safe as possible. I hope you can join our safety walk team. What's your name? Do you live in the neighborhood?"

No, but I wanted to add that I live with six other people in an intentional community in Bloomingdale, and we'd love to participate in a neighborhood activity like this, especially one that focuses on smart safety procedures. Mondays are the one night we are all guaranteed to be available. Thank you for organizing!

have public officials participate (if they aren't already) - city council staffers, DCHA, parks and rec, streets dept, etc. THANKS!

Let people know they can offer to "host" the walk by having their house be the starting point. Whether we meet inside or gather outside, people who need neighborhood support can request that we congregate their first to be visible.

No suggestions for a day.

If there is a walk on a Friday - I would try to host another "wrap up session" [aka a happy hour]. We had a couple last summer, or summer before

A lot of the walks happen in the afternoon and during the week. I really appreciated the opportunity to attend one of these walks during my maternity leave, if only for the rare chance to meet the police on the beat in our hood. If you held one or two on the weekend, those of us who work may be able to attend every now and then. I think there is a real benefit for the weekday walks -- you will get more people who know the day in and day out problems on the street. Those of us who work during the day can be somewhat helpful though. And it is such an important thing to meet those people responsible for helping keep this neighborhood both safe and a place where common priorities are identified. Thanks!

carry a flyer to hand out to encourage others to partipate and let people know what we're doing and why

occasionally have a party to celebrate the work of the safety walkers

All these suggestions are great, and the folks who are busy organizing Bloomingdale's safety walks appreciate the feedback you've provided!

Big Bear Cafe news and views: a roundup

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:54:00 +0000

By popular demand, here's a link list of coverage of Big Bear Cafe's liquor license application in the local news and media. Links to news, blog posts, and discussion threads appear in chronological order.

Twitter:

In the news:

On the blogs:

From the listservs (may require membership to read):

If I'm missing any links, please let me know via comments. I'll keep updating this post as needed.

opening up the floor for discussion

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:22:00 +0000

Eckington and Edgewood have them, so why shouldn't we?

Subscribe to in Bloomingdale Visit this group

The BloomingdaleDC listserv, moderated by Scott Roberts, is a fantastic resource for anybody who wants to keep up with the goings-on in the neighborhood, but it's more of a newsletter than a discussion group. My hope is that the in Bloomingdale group will give neighbors an open forum for conversation and allow them to respond more promptly to what's being talked about.

ANC 5C versus Big Bear Cafe, round 2

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:25:00 +0000

Last night, the ANC 5C Committee of the Whole elected to table the vote on Big Bear Cafe's request for a temporary 45-day liquor license until next Tuesday, May 18. Washington City Paper's Lydia DePillis was in the audience for the meeting, and her excellent recap already is abuzz with comments from fellow attendees and residents. The #ANC5C stream also has some great live remarks from neighbors who were present for the meeting, and even now, the @BloomingdaleDC stream shows that folks are still talking about it.

There are no details as to the proposed May 18 meeting, other than that ANC 5C have decided to hold it at Catholic University, but if you live in or know people who live in any of the 5C SMDs, please have them call and e-mail their ANC commissioner and let them know how you feel about this issue. You can use our guide to the ANC system or go straight to our ANC 5C SMD map to find out who to contact.

More of interest, however, is the role of DC's Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) and what input the ANCs have in the process of liquor licensing. I contacted ABRA this morning to ask what the ANCs could do to help or hinder the liquor licensing process, and in so many words, I was told that while ANCs could deny the issuance of a temporary license, they could not stop ABRA from issuing a permanent license. The following is quoted directly from ABRA's own ABC Licensee Handbook (PDF).

Page 1-39:

If you applied for an ABC license but have not yet been approved, the Board may issue you a temporary ABC license known as a stipulated license. This license requires you to request a stipulated license and support from the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) overseeing the ward in which your establishment is located. In offering their support, your ANC commissioners carefully consider whether they believe that your restaurant will responsibly serve alcohol until your official ABC license is issued.

A stipulated license is open to public protest, meaning that once you receive your stipulated license, the public has 45 days to file an official protest against the issuance of the license. To obtain a stipulated license, you must submit to the Board your request and written correspondence from an ANC Commissioner stating that the ANC has voted not to object to the issuance of the license, pending completion of the 45-day protest period. If a valid protest is filed within the 45-day period, you must stop serving alcoholic beverages under the stipulated license. The license will expire when you receive a permanent license or when you are protested, whichever comes first.

So while ANC 5C may still choose to deny Big Bear's request for a temporary license, they do not have the power to deny the issue of a permanent license; that is solely ABRA's decision. This does not mean Big Bear is out of the woods just yet, however.

Page 1-67:

Upon receiving an application for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of an ABC license or for a substantial change request, the Board provides notice to all ANCs within 600 feet of your establishment’s current or planned location. An ANC may at that time choose to initiate a protest against the proposed action. During the protest process, the ANC(s) may wish to enter into a voluntary agreement with your establishment before they vote to protest. Note that an ANC protest carries significant weight before the Board. Community/citizens associations, if they are incorporated, may also choose to protest.

According to our ANC 5C SMD map, the only SMD in 5C located within 600 feet of Big Bear Cafe is 5C 01, represented by Anita Bonds. All the other surrounding SMDs are at least 1,000 feet away: 5C 06, represented by Mary Lois Farmer-Allen; 5C 02, represented by Sylvia Pinkney; and 1B 01, represented by Myla Moss.

The protest process is clearly outlined in the handbook, with ABRA mediating between the licensee and protestors. ABRA suggests the use of a voluntary agreement as a way to resolve disputes, but notes on Page 1-71 (in italics and underline):

You are not required, however, to enter into a VA or use the ANC’s VA template. You always retain the right to have your application adjudicated by the Board.

It is obviously in Big Bear's interest to be a good neighbor and develop a voluntary agreement that will provide clear guidelines on noise, hours of operation, parking, etc., so I hope that regardless of the ANC 5C vote, the owners and operators will plan to work with the community there.

Though no vote was taken by ANC 5C on Big Bear's temporary liquor license last night, I'm encouraged by the fact that this issue has neighbors talking to each other and feeling the need to be more involved with their community.

Big Bear Cafe's alcohol licensing: why and how you can help

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:36:00 +0000

Tonight at 7 PM, ANC 5C's Committee of the Whole will have their monthly meeting at St. George's Episcopal Church (160 U Street NW). Of interest to Bloomingdale residents will be the presentation made by Big Bear Cafe representatives asking the commissioners to vote in favor of their request for a temporary license that will allow the cafe to serve alcohol while the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration reviews its application for a permanent license.

The presence of Big Bear and its effect on the neighborhood has been discussed here before, and if the comments are any reflection on the state of the neighborhood, not everyone will agree on how the Committee of the Whole should vote. There are folks who don't want to have another establishment that provides liquor in the neighborhood, though Big Bear serving a pint of beer and the local corner stores selling six-packs and 40s is apples and oranges. There are folks who are concerned about noise and rowdiness. There are folks who simply don't want it to happen. There are folks who will be there to speak on behalf of the temporary license. There are folks who signed a petition to support Big Bear. Most importantly, there are folks who will go to their first or second ANC meeting tonight because they care about this issue. They may support it or they may not, but they'll care enough to be involved.

If you will be attending tonight's meeting, you can and should bring suggestions and recommendations not only for Big Bear and its liquor license request, but also for any other community issues you are aware of. There will be opportunities to speak following the commissioners' comments, so be courteous and wait to be recognized before having your say. ANC 5C covers a big area, so the commissioners have other things to discuss on the agenda before Big Bear can make its presentation.

If you'll be live-tweeting the meeting, please use the #ANC5C hashtag so folks can find your tweets — thanks!

Bloomingdale and the DC ANC system

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:51:00 +0000

In preparation for tonight's Advisory Neighborhood Commission meeting, here's a quick primer on the ANC system and how it affects you as a resident of Bloomingdale and the District of Columbia. I don't claim to be an expert on ANCs, so if you can clarify or correct anything in this post, please leave a comment.

View ANC 5C SMDs in a larger map

DC's ANC system was created via a 1974 referendum to the District's charter that established these local bodies of government, with elections for the first commissioners held two years later in 1976. Each commissioner is elected to a two-year term to represent a single-member district (SMD) whose boundaries are set by the DC Board of Elections and Ethics per information from the 2000 Census. Although the map above shows SMDs that are larger than others, each commissioner serves approximately 2,000 residents in their SMDs. This makes ANCs the body of DC government that has the closest and most local official ties to a neighborhood.

What do ANC commissioners do? Overall, they "consider a wide range of policies and programs affecting their neighborhoods," such as:

Traffic
Parking
Recreation
Street improvements
Liquor licenses
Zoning
Economic development
Police protection
Sanitation
Trash collection

In their official capacity as ANCs, commssioners can present their positions and recommendations on issues to various District government agencies, the Executive Branch, and the Council, as well as present testimony to independent agencies, boards, and commissions.

What does it mean for you in your day-to-day life as a resident? Here are just a few recent issues where an ANC commissioner made a difference right here in the neighborhood:

Bloomingdale falls within the boundaries of ANC 5C and is neatly sliced up into three SMDs, as listed below.

ANC 5C 03, served by Stu Davenport
ANC 5C 04, served by John Salatti
ANC 5C 07, served by Barrie Daneker

If you don't know which SMD you live in, use the DC Citizen Atlas to locate your ANC commissioner.

All three of our commissioners are up for election this year, so if you're interested in representing your SMD, the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and the DC Board of Elections & Ethics can help you file your candidacy.

in the back

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:11:00 +0000

Three Garage Doors, originally uploaded by Ronnie R.

This is a great HDR-enhanced photo of the old stable doors in the alleys between the 100 blocks of V and W Street NW. Most of Bloomingdale's streets have a central alley running parallel to the streets, but this alley, like Bloomingdale Court, form the only stable blocks in the neighborhood.

View Alley between V and W Streets NW in a larger map

There's a small garage/mechanic's shop still operating out of this stable block, and neighbors have told me that some time ago, a developer wanted to buy up the property to build housing on it. It never happened, and so life in the back goes on.

take the safety walk survey

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:28:00 +0000

There's been interest in starting up the Bloomingdale Public Safety Initiative's safety walks again, and cjIsALock wants your help in planning them out. Fill out the survey to let us know how we can improve this neighborhood activity.

We'll take responses until May 15, at which time we'll collate the survey results. In the meantime, you can view the responses as they come in.

still standing

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:21:00 +0000

135-145 V St., NW (still standing), originally uploaded by rockcreek.

Flickr user rockcreek found this great photo of the rowhouses on 135 through 145 V Street NW taken shortly after their completion in 1908.

an update on Baraki's status in a Colorado blog

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:04:00 +0000

I don't know if the author, Annie Lowrey, is a Bloomingdale resident, but it was interesting to read an update on Baraki buried in the Colorado Independent's bigger story about how the freeze in business lending has yet to free up money for would-be borrowers.

[R]esidents of Bloomingdale — east of the U Street corridor, near Howard University — could use some businesses. There is Windows Market, which sells sandwiches and groceries; Big Bear, a popular coffee shop; and Timor Bodega, an organic grocer. But the closest place to grab brunch or a drink after work is a fifteen-minute walk away. “There’s just tremendous pent-up demand,” John Salatti, the neighborhood commissioner, says. “I couldn’t imagine how well a business would do if it could just open up.”

But the problem for Bloomingdale is that it just cannot get businesses to open up. It is not for a lack of trying. In the past year, at least half a dozen restaurants have attempted to set up shop in one of the neighborhood’s empty storefronts. There is the sandwich and pizza place attempting to move in next to the Howard dorm and the fancy new condo building. There is the neighborhood tavern trying to open near the yoga studio. There is the restaurant that wants to take over the old fire house. Not one has succeeded.

Consider, for instance, the case of Aleks Duni. He owns Veranda, a Greek restaurant in the Shaw neighborhood, as well as Heller’s Bakery and Marx Cafe in Mount Pleasant. The three small businesses together employ nearly 40 people and did well even during the worst of the recession. Duni set out to open a pizza restaurant on the main drag in Bloomingdale. He scouted out a location and secured the necessary permits, even getting a liquor license and thus a guarantee of good revenue. Now, no bank will lend him the $50,000 he needs to finish the job. “It is only a matter of getting the money,” Duni says. “If I did, I could be open in a month.”
Duni approached four banks about securing the loan to finish construction and open the doors. Each one said no. “There are a million reasons they give,” Duni says. “The first of them is that credit has been reduced.” Now, he says, he is concerned about continuing to apply for loans just to be denied. “If you apply and you don’t get the loan, your credit score goes down,” he notes. Frustrated, he has even sought the help of the Small Business Administration, the government agency. “They had nothing for me,” he says. “I don’t need to know what the loan requirements are. And the SBA cannot give me a loan.”

Is it too much to hope that angel investors will step in to help Baraki with the last $50,000? Is there precedent for a co-op bar? I have a feeling there are at least a few other Bloomingdale residents who are ready to put their money where their bar is.

more speed humps in the neighborhood

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:18:00 +0000

men at work, originally uploaded by evoque.

Our neighbors asked, and DDOT responded: speed humps are being placed on the unit and 100 blocks of V Street NW. The jackhammers were out in force this morning cutting the anchors for each speed hump and restricting the parking on either side of the street. Trucks will then haul in the asphalt, and DDOT will shape and form each hump.

Judging by the date and time on the emergency parking restriction sheets taped to the orange cones, they're going to try and wrap up by April 20.

"Why are there no houses for sale in DC?"

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:25:00 +0000

Via eckington (way better than spotsylvania) and the newly-revived Housing Complex comes a piece from Megan McArdle bemoaning the the lack of housing inventory in DC.

We’ve been dipping our toes into the DC housing market recently, but after this weekend, I think I’m just about ready to give up. Anything that comes on the market at a decent price is snapped up almost immediately–by my count, mean time from listing to contract is under seven days.

I spent the weekend in long conversations about why this might be with our real estate agent, and a friend who develops property in DC. There’s a big “shadow inventory” of houses in late-stage delinquency or foreclosure, particularly in the areas where we want to buy. Why can’t we find anything?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I've met Megan, and she expressed an interest in moving to Bloomingdale, so for the purpose of this discussion, we can assume that she's including the neighborhood in her search. Redfin's data does show a steep drop in local housing stock around the fall of 2009, but it's been climbing back up steadily since then.

Bloomingdale Real Estate

Inventory Trends

Trulia has a detailed summary of the neighborhood's market trends, complete with a graph of historical sales prices in Bloomingdale from 2000 onwards.

Bloomingdale Recently Sold Homes

Megan does respond to a comment asking why she isn't interested in purchasing a condo, replying that she would prefer to buy a single-family home. She's also gone on to say that Arlington would be too far to drive into DC from and that Anacostia has no Metro access (a point refuted by The District Curmudgeon). It's entirely probable that between location, affordability, and availability, she's unable to pick which two characteristics are most important in her search, though now that she's expressed an interest in buying, perhaps a local realtor or two will hear her from her Atlantic soapbox and show her what's for sale around here.

St. Martin's still making waves

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:48:00 +0000

The City Data forum for Washington, DC occasionally gets would-be residents of DC and the Bloomingdale neighborhood who are looking for more information before they buy or rent in the area (plus it's generally worth reading for amusement value alone), and there's a thread asking Bloomingdale and Eckington residents for their opinion of their neighborhoods.

I'm looking to buy in this area and I found a great place that I love. I'm excited about the changes that are going on here (the causeway connecting to Union that's almost done/the giant renovation to RI-metro area as a mixed use development) and the quiet, sheltered residential feel.

My only concern is the new development that is going up between what I think is T and Todd. I've seen reports that some of the Eckington residents were so upset they picked up and moved out over this. Is the assumption that the relatively safe area below RI-Ave to the charter school is going to take a heavy hit from the low-moderate income housing? The construction job looks to be pretty well done, but I keep seeing people referencing the failed projects from the 70's.
What's the general feeling in the community? Are the Catholic's going to aim (and obtain) a true mixed income development here or will it be a regressive bastion of poverty in an otherwise residential area?

I think the original poster is referencing the Washington City Paper story "The Battle Over St. Martin's Convent" with regards to Eckington residents who have left the neighborhood due to the issue. Then-ANC commissioner Kris Hammond, whose SMD is near the development and is quoted in the WCP article, wrote up his notes from a community meeting, and even from his account, it's easy to see the sturm und drang surrounding St. Martin's. With the project nearing completion this year, it will be interesting to see the effects of St. Martin's on its surroundings.

good publicity is good publicity

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:56:00 +0000

Adding its voice to the chorus is a DC UrbanTurf piece, "Bloomingdale: Quietly Making a Name for Itself," that does a pretty good job of selling the neighborhood to would-be residents.

“Bloomingdale is the lesser-known subdivision in this area,” W.C. & A.N. Miller’s Pamela Wye told UrbanTurf. “People know LeDroit Park and maybe even Eckington, but most cannot tell you where the borders of Bloomingdale lie.” Despite the border confusion, Bloomingdale is rapidly developing a reputation as a place where you can find quality homes at a fraction of the price of DC’s more popular neighborhoods.

Last month, the Washington Examiner published a similar article, "Bloomingdale: Poised for a boom," that also sang the praises of the neighborhood.

Located in the District's Ward 5 between North Capitol Street to the east and Second Street to the west is the revived and close-knit community of Bloomingdale, a neighborhood at one time synonymous with drug dealers.

With a great location and affordable, 20th-century Victorian-style row homes, the up-and-coming area has turned a corner and is on the brink of booming, thanks to the community-minded efforts of residents and the emergence of several quirky businesses.

"There's no reason not to live here," resident Daniel Premack says.

Well said, Daniel!

[BloomingdaleDC|#1213] Boundary Stone opens; total havoc ensues

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:35:00 +0000

neighborhood listserv April Fool's joke, originally uploaded by evoque.

Courtesy of neighborhood listserv moderator Scott Roberts comes the April Fool's Day edition. A lot of it is inside baseball, but for those familiar with the contents, it should be amusing.

have you signed on to support Boundary Stone?

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:04:00 +0000

Boundary Stone Open House, originally uploaded by evoque.

At the open house and in e-mails to the community, the folks behind Boundary Stone have encouraged folks to show their support for the venture. If you haven't already, you can do one more thing for them by signing the petition of support that will go to the Ward 5 ANC Commission.
In just a day, nearly 200 residents of Bloomingdale and nearby neighborhoods have signed it, many with positive comments and messages. With three single-member districts of approximately 2,000 residents each, it would be great to see more signatures from the neighborhood.

about Crispus Attucks Park

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:01:00 +0000

This past weekend, friends of Crispus Attucks Park held a meeting for neighbors and would-be volunteers. John Corea, the sitting president of the Crispus Attucks Park board, opened with a great introduction to the park and its history.

Please become a fan of Crispus Attucks Park on Facebook!

realtor marketing "Hipster Bloomingdale" condo tour

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:58:00 +0000

In an amusing application of "if you've got it, flaunt it," a realtor is advertising real estate tours of "Hipster Bloomingdale" that feature several neighborhood condos currently on the market.

It's a shame that the tour flyer mentions Thai X-ing, but not the equally excellent Jam Doung.

more from Boundary Stone

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:21:00 +0000

First the open house—with plenty of heads-up for the community to make plans to attend—and now a prompt e-mail encouraging the community to continue their support for Boundary Stone:

Hey All,

Thank you so much for taking time to come out and support us last night. The turnout was amazing, and we really enjoyed the positive and constructive feedback voiced from our neighbors. Unfortunately, we didn't get to speak with everyone, so please feel free to send us an email if you weren't able to get all of your questions and concerns voiced. We would also love if you could pass this on to neighbors whom you think would benefit from learning about our idea for the pub (attached is a PDF file of the pamphlet we handed out last night).

We genuinely believe that Boundary Stone would benefit our neighborhood and are hopeful that we can go forward without much resistance. The reality, however, is that there will be some residents who will not agree with us and will not want another liquor license in the community. We respect and embrace everyone's opinion and hope to ease concerns by reaching out to the community-at-large via church meetings, civic association meetings and any face-to-face conversations we can get. In order to illustrate to opposition and to the ANC that the community is behind this project, we will be asking you to sign a petition of support in the upcoming weeks. Obviously, the more signatures the better, so we will be asking you to pass this on to as many neighbors as possible!

We look forward to sharing with you our lifelong dream of owning and operating a neighborhood pub! Thanks again for coming out last night! Your positive feedback has assured us that Boundary Stone is something that Bloomingdale truly needs and deserves.

Cheers!

Gareth, Colin and Matt

Though I can see why some neighbors might not want a bar in the neighborhood, Boundary Stone has made an effort to reach out in good faith to Bloomingdale and beyond. I can also appreciate that they're giving the community real ways to show their support—coming out to the open house, and now generating buzz about the petition of support—so it's a great way of channeling our excitement. If you haven't already, contact your ANC commissioner (use the DC Citizen Atlas to find out which SMD you live in) to let them know that you support Boundary Stone. Attend the ANC and civic association meetings where they will be presenting. Walk the petition door-to-door on your block if you want to help.

And for all the naysayers who don't want Boundary Stone or any of the other bars in Bloomingdale to succeed, just remember that it could be very different.

at the Boundary Stone open house

elle.gitlin@gmail.com (Elle) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:52:00 +0000

It's pretty far from any of its namesakes, as noted by @IMGoph, but yesterday's open house for the latest bar/restaurant venture in Bloomingdale, Boundary Stone, was well-attended by folks of all ages.

Bloomingdale Examiner and neighbor Em Hall covered the event thoroughly, including descriptions of the space and more photos. ANC commissioners John Salatti (5C 04) and Stu Davenport (5C 03) were there in support, and Gareth and Colin noted that they were also seeking support from Barrie Danneker (5C 07). You can view scans of the flyers handed out at the event below.

You can also read coverage as provided by another neighbor, Sean Hennessey, to the Prince of Petworth, as well as first-hand accounts of the evening from Mari of In Shaw and Scott Roberts of the neighborhood listserv and the Bloomingdale Neighborhood blog.

The owners hope to open Boundary Stone by January 2011—maybe in time for a neighborhood New Year's bash?