Open Houses in and around Bloomingdale scheduled for 07/11/2010

Ahhh, now that the rain has cooled things down a bit, it's looking like the perfect Sunday to get out and about and visit some open houses. Here is the map of open houses in the area. Once you open the link, scroll over the push pins for information on each listing, or, here is here is the list format of the same information.

If you're up for venturing a few more blocks over to the Logan Circle neighborhood, I am listing a brand new boutique condo building at 1502 10th St NW that is open for the first time this weekend from 2-5pm on Sunday. Brand new construction from the ground up, there are no below grade (basement) units, and it is priced from $414,900. The penthouse, priced at $699,900. is a must see with a private rooftop deck. Listing info and pics are here.

questions from a new resident about the Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA)

See this message from a new-ish Bloomingdale resident:

When is the next BCA meeting? I haven't heard a word in months. The last organized meeting was in April, and the May meeting was cancelled last minute, possibly because of the disasterous outcome of the April meeting. Is the BCA still organizing these meetings, does the BCA even still exist?

This leads to a few other questions, I heard elections for the BCA haven't been head in quite sometime. Why is that? Shouldn't elections be held on some sort of annual basis?

It is appearant that the current BCA representatives lack organization and motivation to lead the community. In turn, I fear that residents of the community are:

1) Unaware of the existance of the BCA. Lack of effective communication to the neighborhood (e.g. poorly managed website/lack of posted information).

2) Unaware of funding availability - Missing out on district funds available to benefit the neighborhood for
community enhancement purposes. I believe it was in a February meeting, the "elected" Treasurer was unable to give clear communication on the status of funds available through community grants. When she was reminded of an approximate $ amount, she noted that they were going to expire soon anyway.
Shouldn't the community have access to this sort of information, or at the bare minimum, made aware of the availability of funds to better the community at large. I had no idea the BCA received district grants. Not to mention my BCA Memebership Payment that I paid by check has yet to be cashed 4-5 months later.

3) Unfairly represented - No elections = the community's inability to elect effective leadership that represents the neighborhood and involves all residents.

The BCA doesn't even have to hold "hot topic" conversations to warrant a gathering (i.e. liquor license discussions). It is also a good way to share positive community news, highlight community events, brainstorm initiatives to continue to improve the neighborhood, monitor community grant money, allow a forum for local businesses to meet the community, allow potential investors to meet and greet, allow the various community elected officials an opportunity to address the neighborhood at large, etc...

The purpose of these BCA meetings is for Knowledge Sharing!!! Maybe the BCA can develop a Mission
Statement so that the neighborhood clearly understands its purpose.

Bloomingdale connection to the Kagan Confirmation Hearings

Back in the 80's, a man named Lee Sandidge lived in one of the apartments located at 103 Seaton Pl NW. Mr. Sandidge worked in the laundromat that was below his apartment. In order to reach his workplace, which was directly under his apartment, he had to step outside. His attorney tells me that he felt so unsafe in the neighborhood at that time, he carried a pistol, which was frowned upon by law enforcement professionals.

Mr. Sandidge's case went all the way to the Supreme Court, although it was ultimately denied for review. Elena Kagan, current Supreme Court nominee, was then clerking to Judge Thurgood Marshall. Her comments on the case have recently surfaced during the confirmation hearings.

Mr. Sandidge's attorney is wondering if anybody remembers Mr. Sandidge or knows his current whereabouts? If so, please contact Elaine Mittleman at her name @ msn dot com.

seeking babysitter/nanny

See this request from a Bloomingdale resident:

Bloomingdale family is looking for a babysitter/nanny to watch two children during the day from August 16 through 20. Our son is 2 years old and is well behaved, and our daughter is an infant. Hours would be 8:30 - 6:00, and pay is based upon experience. References requested.

Please contact matthew.roche.aff@gmail.com.

seeking referrals for SUV windshield replacement

See this message from a Bloomingdale resident:

In search of recommendations to replace the windshield of our SUV, please send to tawnybarb2@comcast.net.

Relief from the heat for Senior Citizens

Our Ward 5 Councilmember, Harry Thomas, Jr., has made arrangements with Marriot for low cost hotel rooms during the extreme heat. The following note and article were posted on his Facebook page: "For more information on hotel arrangements for seniors and individuals with health issues please call 202.403.7866". Here is the article that was in The Washington Post about options for Seniors during the extreme heat.

seeking mason to repair gouged brick

See this message from a Bloomingdale resident:

Two weeks ago the fire department broke into my home because someone deliberately reported a fire on my property even though there wasn`t one. My guess is someone was trying to rob me and used that as a way to possibly gain access (ie. wait for fire department to break through the doors and then gain access when they leave- it happened at about 2:45pm in the afternoon on a weekday), but I was fortunate that my tenant was home and he called to let me know what was going on. Anyway- I now have two gouges in my brick next to my front door and I am wondering if anyone on the listserve might have a recommendation for a brick mason who could fix it?

lost cat around 2nd & T St NW

See this message:

Any help in returning our missing cat, Tiger, would be great appreciated. She is small and thin with light-orange tabby coat, and she's been missing for about two weeks.

Her home is at 2nd and T Streets NW, and we suspect that she has not ventured many blocks away.

Please contact us at tjones at gmail dot com with any information.

watering the treebox trees on the 100 block of Randolph Place NW

From a neighbor on the 100 block of Randolph Place NW:

If anyone on Randolph Place NW toward the 2nd Street NW end is willing to contribute the water and has a hose, I'll do the actual sweaty work of watering the new trees down that way (including the one across 2nd with the sign on it saying "Please water me."

Best for me is tonight (Thurs.) after 9:00 pm or sometime this weekend.

For that matter, if the logistics could be worked out, I'd help water trees in the neighborhood this weekend.

seeking property management company referrals

See this message from a Bloomingdale resident:

I need to rent my house temporarily and am looking for a property manager/management company.

Can anyone recommend one that they have used with success and reasonable rates?

If so, please email me at katycgarrett@gmail.com.

book signing for Rosemarie Onwukwe's book on a history of Bloomingdale

See this message from Bloomingdale resident Dianne Barnes:

YOU ARE INVITED TO A BOOK SIGNING - AUTHOR - Ms. Rosemarie Onwakwe - A Bloomingdale Resident

Please consider attending a book signing on July 11, 2010 to recognize Ms. Rosemarie Onwakwe who is the author of a book providing Historical Events within the "Bloomingdale" Neighborhood.

The first book signing will occur on Sunday, July 11, 2010 from 4 PM - 5 PM at Dianne Barnes` home.

The second book signing will occur at Big Bear Cafe. No date set at this time for the book signing at Big Bear Cafe.

Regards,
Dianne

found kitten

From a resident of R Street NW:

I'm in the alley between Randolph and R St NW, and there's a stray kitten who'se come around a few times. Can you find out if anyone knows it? If not, I may try and contact animal control/Humane Society because it's young enough that someone might adopt it before it gets too old. See the photo of the kitten to the right.

Also, is anyone on this block involved with the Humane Society's CatNipp program that keeps track of the alley cats?

reglazing tubs & caulking tub grout

See this request from a Nebraska Condominium resident:

Bloomingdale residents are looking for someone to reglaze tubs and caulk/grout. Any recommendations?

There are a few of us at the Nebraska who need to have some work done.

120 S Street NW

See this message from a Randolph Place NW resident:

Does anyone know anything about an older black male who might be a squatter, thief, or some such, around S Street NW? I and a neighbor have seen him a few times in the last few months going into the backyard of 120 S Street NW, which was overgrown with weeds and abandoned (or nearly so). We're unsure of whether he's gotten into the actual house. The yard at the house was finally tended to this past Friday -- two guys were sent by "the bank" is all one of the guys would tell me (Hispanic, little English ability) , and this past Sunday about 5:00 p.m. I saw the guy in question try the basement rear door then go up the back porch and try the first floor door, to no avail -- maybe the bank also made sure the doors were locked. Anyway, this guy might be about 50, with grey scruff around the chin/face, and every time I see him he's wearing shorts, sneakers, and a powder blue Wizards baseball cap. He sometimes has a 10-speed with him. I'm just a little skittish, as my wife will be staying home with our two babies beginning in a couple weeks and I don't need him coming to my back door trying to get in.

Also, does anyone know the status of 120 S? I traced ownership to a guy in South Carolina, but that Hispanic guy said "the bank" had sent them to do the yard.

? Wal-Mart mulling a location in Ward 5 ?

See this Fox 5 TV news story about the possibility of the site of the aborted Arbor Place mixed-use development project at Bladensburg & New York Avenue NE in Ward 5 being developed into a future Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Interested in Opening Store in DC
Updated: Monday,
05 Jul 2010, 6:21 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 05 Jul 2010, 6:20 PM EDT

By MELANIE ALNWICK/myfoxdc
melanie.alnwick @ foxtv.com
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/wal-mart-interested-in-opening-store-in-dc-070510

Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. is interviewed.

And see this Washington Post article:

Wal-Mart in negotiations to open D.C. store
By Jonathan O'Connell
Monday, July 5, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070204912.html

Fire at 10 Rhode Island Ave NW

This was posted on www.princeofpetworth.com about a house fire on Rhode Island Ave NW, possibly related to fireworks.


Here is a Washington Post article about this Bloomingdale fire:

Early Monday morning fire in NW Washington leaves 18 homeless
By Phillip Lucas
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 6, 2010; B04
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/05/AR2010070501725.html

Thankfully, no one was apparently harmed.

yard sale continues at 2209 Flagler Place NW

The yard sale at 2209 Flagler Place NW continues on today, Sunday, July 4th! So stop by for men's, women's, teen's clothing & shoes, electronics, furniture, jewelry, decorative items, household goods, etc.

WBJ reports that McMillan site developer seeking funding for traffic & historic preservation studies

Some McMillan Sand Filtration site news from this week's Washington Business Journal:

Friday, July 2, 2010
McMillan moves closer to reality with funds OK’d for studies
Washington Business Journal - by Michael Neibauer
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/07/05/story2.html

And see this subsequent Housing Complex post from the Washington City Paper:

McMillan Gets Rolling Again With Studies
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jul. 2, 2010 at 08:18 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/07/02/mcmillan-gets-rolling-again-with-studies/

bicycle stolen from rear of 88 V St NW basement apartment

Hello Neighbors,

One of our bikes was recently taken from behind the basement apartment at 88 V St. NW. It is a green Ross hybrid, and by the looks of the green/neon pink color scheme, it was probably manufactured sometime in the mid '90s. It has new tires (which do not match exactly) and a rack over the back wheel. The model name is "Minotaur". It probably doesn't have a high resale value, but it is invaluable to the young professional who needs it to ride to work in the morning, so any help finding it is much appreciated.

If you have seen this bike, please call Stephanie at 734-476-7353. Thank you!

yard sale at 2209 Flagler Pl NW -- Saturday, July 3, 2010

From a Flagler Place NW:

Last year was a huge success---so we`re doing it again! Come by this Saturday from 9am until....... Several neighbors have combined to offer men, women`s, and teens` clothes/shoes, electronics, furniture, jewelry, decorative items, household goods, etc. Location: 2209 Flagler Place NW, DC. You`ll be glad you stopped by!