+++++++++++
Clarification: Some people apparently reads this as me saying I had a house fire. That's NOT the case. I was awakened by a phone call about the fire. I also don't live on Morse.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Fire in the 1100 Block of Morse
No reported injuries, except that I busted the hell out of my knee on the way down the stairs. I, being lame (and kinda sick), was in bed). I took a couple of photos, that I will upload, but you can't seen much. Being that I was awakened, I will probably wait until tomorrow to upload photos because it requires locating a cable (and right now I plan on just locating an ice pack).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
30 comments:
Was this a fire in your house? Hope you and yours are OK.
What is going on with the Florida AV fire station construction??? It's way behind schedule. It would have made a big difference in the timing response in this fire.
The fire was a block away. I just tripped over a cat in the dark.
I am seriously considering putting in an offer for a house on that block. My (suburban) girlfriend says I need to loose the rose-colored glasses (I'm from Philly, it looks nice to me). I would love to get the perspective of a resident, if you are willing.
Thanks!
There was also a fire in the 1200 block of Queen Friday afternoon. I came home from work to firetrucks and police and ambulances all over. Looking out my back window (it's directly behind me), it seems to be completely torched. Don't know if anyone was hurt or not...Hope not.
Astrid,
That explains the fire engines someone mentioned seeing speed down the street that day.
blaznchupacabra,
I like that block, but like I said, I don't live there.
Is the cat o.k.?
The cat is fine.
Does anyone know of a place in the area that teaches basic english grammer?
Thanks, no one i talk to is ever too optimistic about it. but they also seem to think it isn't the worst street in DC. Guess I'll just have to take my chances.
blazn-
I would say now is a good time to get into that block. But you should really go by morning noon, night and late night to get a better idea before you put in an offer.
On the corner of montello and morse you get a bunch of kids hanging around the rec center. I don't think theres too much trouble there.
Does noise bother you late at night? because you will get that esp on the weekends- nothing crazy, just people hanging out, some music from cars, the occasional outdoor argument.
Blaz -
I live on the 1200 block of Morse & love it. The rec center at the corner of Morse & Montello is being rebuilt up next to the Wheatly school on Neal and the old building razed. The entire area will then be a park and mostly fenced in. This will add to the area and also help limit the youth hanging out on the corner day and night.
Trinidad is a great community and I don't regret moving here one bit.
Thanks for the responses. I really appreciate them. I drove by last night at about 10 pm and it didn't seem outside of my comfort level. Some families hanging out on their porches and kids running around. Only thing that put me off was some teenagers hanging out at the abandoned house next to my potential buy... but nothing sinister. I've been known to hang out on a sidewalk or two.
Occasional noise late at night is not a problem for me. Currently renting in Columbia heights and I get plenty of early morning mariachi music.
Does anyone know what is up with all the police reports of stolen cars on that block? Allegedly there are a bunch.
I am seriously considering putting in an offer for a house on that block. My girlfriend says I need to lose the rose-colored glasses...
Lots of readers of this blog feel very strongly about Trinidad. I am not one of those people.
I think it has some of the worst housing stock in the District (Carver/Langston takes the cake), an amalgam of run-down structures covered in plastic siding, low-income low-rises maintained just enough to sustain human life, empty lots, carports, old properties with aluminum overhangs, and halfway decent houses that are victims of neglect. I recognize that much/most of Near Northeast is like this, but I think it is more pronounced in Trinidad. And no, I am not one of those types that demands cutesy, uniform neighborhoods with manicured lawns and clean sidewalks.
I do not think Trinidad has a game plan. There is/was the great hope that the revitalization fever that consumed the areas south of Florida would spread northward. But it only seemed infect a few lonely souls. There is/was this hope that providing a recreation center for the trouble youths would help cleanup the entrenched crime. But crews run all the recreation centers. There is/was hope that places like the Capitol Diner and Jimmy Valentine's would catalyze additional, desirable growth. But the jury's out...and will probably be in deliberations for a long time!
Trinidad has lots of embedded violent crime with a police force that seems a bit more indifferent than most. Its Councilmember Tommy Thomas is pretty useless, though not as useless as his predecessor and definitely not as useless as Kwame Brown. When is the last time a Councilmember visited with the exception of a shooting spree? Or to let the community know about some initiative. I think the neighborhood is a victim of systematic negligence, geographic isolation, and the very sort of pessimism embodied in my own writings.
Those that live there try and pillar it with the usual remarks about the violence "not being so bad", about "crime being the same everywhere", about having a "tight community", about "change being incremental", etc. I am not a believer. Show me what's so great about Trinidad...and maybe I will become a believer.
Blaz-
If the property you're considering is 1180 for $230K. I would think twice. I looked at that place this time last year when it was 140K. I think in sold for 120ish and that's what it was worth. I doubt they did much to justify the 100k increase and that vacant next door doesn;t help anything.
Hey, that's the one. It's definitely liveable. Nice finished room and bathroom in the basement. The upstairs bathroom is pretty ugly but functional. Same goes for the kitchen. All bedrooms look good.
Has central air and heat too.
I was going to try for more like 200k... still too much?
If they fixed all the problems since last year, it might be worth 200. It all depends on what you are looking for. What's the deal with that vacant next door? It was crumbling when I saw it last. Any plans for it to be demolished? bought?
For 200k I would rather buy something else in Trinidad that needs work. Something for 150ish or under and put 50K into imporoving it. But, like i said it's what you're looking for.
No idea on the plans for the abandoned house next door. I'm looking for a place to live and I think you are right, it would require some more work to make it really welcoming.
Thanks and I will consider your points.
Any plans for it to be demolished?
The District doesn't allow much to be demolished.
"The District doesn't allow much to be demolished."
Which is a really good thing, especially when it pertains to row houses.
I know someone who lived in a rowhouse next door to one that was demolished, which obviously resulted in structural damage to their home. Many thousands of dollars and lawyers later it was still not quite right.
I can think of very few circumstances that "demolishing" a row house would be more cost effective or better in the long run than gutting it and, if there are structural issues in the brick shell, repairing them.
In response to Anon 2:50's overly pessimistic post. A friend of mine used to rent at 10th and G SE near E. Market...it seemed "isolated" then. You either buy in a place that's going to get better before it does or you pay 5, 6, 7, etc. hundred thousand dollars for your row home.
Why will Trinidad get better?
1. H Street. Look at all the new bars and restaurants. *None* of them existed when I bought in 2004. The Great Streets improvements continue. New businesses continue to open.
2. Traffic. Greater DC traffic gets worse every year, making living in town more attractive every year.
3. "NoMa". A lot of new buildings. I believe they represent new jobs in the area. People will want to live near where they work.
As for "Isolation" it's not true. Florida Ave is there, but just like H St. used to be the "line" and isn't any more, Florida Ave will fade away, too. Next they'll say you need to live below Oates. But by then it'll be too late.
BTW I don't know where you work Blazn, but Trinidad's got good bus service to downtown, particularly during rush hour.
Maybe that particular house isn't the right one, but don't be detered from buying in Trinidad...it has problems, but the houses are discounted as well...the problems will probably go away and the time to buy is before they do, IMHO.
In response to Anon 2:50 - I live in Carver/Langston and I don't know what you are referring to. With the exception of the "lively" corner of 19th and Benning Road - the homeowners and renters make an effort to take care of their properties. I live on the 1800 Block of H Street - you should stroll over and take a look - walk around before you comment - and you will not see the plastic covered aluminum falling whatever structures you cite.
As for becoming a believer in the change taking place in the area, it appears you may have only lived in DC for a few months. The changes in the Trinidad area in the past 5 years have been monumental, in the past two years - continual, and now - wow! It seems monthly something new is coming in on H Street.
I hope you cheer up and keep your chin up, Anon 2:50 - it makes it easier to see all the good things.
H Street. Look at all the new bars and restaurants. *None* of them existed when I bought in 2004.
Although there is a correlation between the revitalization of H Street NE and the gentrification of Trinidad, it needs to be carefully evaluated. I think the pace of change is drastically different than the pace of change in Near Northeast.
Traffic. Greater DC traffic gets worse every year, making living in town more attractive every year.
I believe the "suburban influx" is mythological.
I live on the 1800 Block of H Street - you should stroll over and take a look - walk around before you comment - and you will not see the plastic covered aluminum falling whatever structures you cite.
My comment was about housing stock, not upkeep. Drive the unit block of U Street NW in Bloomingdale and then drive through Carver/Langston and you will understand.
As for becoming a believer in the change taking place in the area, it appears you may have only lived in DC for a few months.
I started looking at properties in Trinidad in 2000, along with Near Northeast, Brookland, Saratoga, etc. I lived in Shaw, a neighborhood that is almost equally as crippled as Trinidad. I am acutely aware that change takes place, it's just that Trinidad is on a different time scale...
Trinidad will be less isolated when the streetcar comes in. The southernmost portion of Trinidad is three short blocks from H Street.
And maybe, maybe, the streetcar will actually happen. Right now, though, it looks like an opportunity to spend a lot of money on a project that'll fall through in the end.
Damn,
if Anon 2:50's appraisal of Trinidad were even close to accurate I sure wouldn't want to live here. He/she makes it sound pretty bleak. We have our share of issues, but so does every neighborhood. I have to say I never feel isolated over here. I'm pretty tight with some of my neighbors, and overall people are a very decent group.
"an amalgam of run-down structures covered in plastic siding, low-income low-rises maintained just enough to sustain human life, empty lots, carports, old properties with aluminum overhangs, and halfway decent houses that are victims of neglect."
Again, I just don't see it. There are vacant buildings, and those in need of repair, but this is downright inaccurate. Anon is being way melodramatic. I mean "maintained just enough to sustain human life?" Please.
The crews do not "run all of the recreation centers." Trinidad has two recs. Joe Cole (which is being demolished in favor of a new facility soon) has some issues with people hanging out on the grounds after closing, and the Trinidad Rec could be better maintained.
We do have the Capital City Diner, and Sullivan's and Jimmy Valentine's are right across the street. We also have the Conner Contemporary Gallery and the other galleries that have since moved into the neighborhood. In addition, we're getting a health food store soon.
As for the shooting spree comment, nobody likes to hear gunshots (except, presumably the shooters), but I must point out it's been 17 months since the last homicide in Trinidad.
Look at a map, we're not geographically isolated. I live 2 blocks from H Street. I live less than a mile from the Metro. I can walk a short distance to the Safeway, a sporting goods store, several bars, several restaurants, the H Street Playhouse, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, multiple art galleries, a farmers market, a coffee shop and wine bar, and tons of other stuff. I can walk a few blocks and catch the bus downtown, to Eastern Market, to U Street, or to Adams Morgan.
Traffic. Greater DC traffic gets worse every year, making living in town more attractive every year.
I believe the "suburban influx" is mythological.
Not sure that follows. I don't think the OP was implying that there's a mass influx of suburbanites from the Greater Washington area. The influx is not necessarily exclusively from the suburbs. There's population growth coming from folks who move here from elsewhere, then, when they get older, decide they can't stomach living in the burbs. There are folks who move into the region for jobs, and find that moving into the city (as opposed to the 'burbs) is a viable option.
And, of course, there are also baby boomers, and other empty-nesters downsizing by moving into the city.
In any case, regardless of your personal mythos, the population of DC is actually growing, and growing more affluent.
I think the OP's point was that, as the shittification of the 'burbs continues apace, the value of city living rises correspondingly.
Again, I just don't see it. There are vacant buildings, and those in need of repair, but this is downright inaccurate.
The low-rises in the 1200-block of Queen, the plastic houses on 11th Place, and the low-rises on Raum are only a small sample of what is very, very wrong with Trinidad housing stock.
...has some issues with people hanging out on the grounds after closing, and the Trinidad Rec could be better maintained...
Like I said, the crews run the recreation centers. Talk to anyone at DYRS about this, it has been a constant for decades...
Look at a map, we're not geographically isolated.
With the gates of Gally to the west, a very busy road to the east, and cemetery to the north, it appears you have quite the hamlet. I think the neighborhood is a bit sleepy, maybe even lonely...but then again, I don't live there.
Not on Parker, if Trinidad seems sleepy to you, that kind of contradicts the crime-ridden picture. If it seems lonely to you, is that just because you don't know anyone here? I'm being serious. There are people in the houses...lots of nice people on my block...I'm not alone up here on Orren.
The isolated comment seems off base, too. During the blizzards, I walked a few blocks from my house in Trinidad to places that were open on H St. I didn't have to pass through any checkpoints or show any documents...just looked both ways and strolled across Florida Ave. Even the places like Sidamo at the west end of H St. are only 15 or 20 minutes away walking down K St.
And as for the plastic siding stuff, Capitol Hill had the same issues I'm sure in the 1990's...people buy and renovate houses. Better to be one of those who buys now than when prices are 100, 150K higher.
Post a Comment