A Neighborhood Nuisance: the ongoing saga of 433 Kennedy Street NW

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A Neighborhood Nuisance: the ongoing saga of 433 Kennedy Street NW

A blighted property at 433 Kennedy St NW has been vacant for over four years and has become a nuisance to the neighborhood, as reported last year by Petworth News. Moreover, it has been paying the vacant tax rate for the past four years, according to DC Tax records, even though DCRA has labeled it as blighted. That difference impacts how much the owner pays in taxes, with blighted incurring a higher cost.

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Vacant/blighted buildings are languishing and hurting the vibrancy of the Kennedy Street community

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Vacant/blighted buildings are languishing and hurting the vibrancy of the Kennedy Street community

Vacant/blighted properties clustered on the 400 block of Kennedy Street NW owned by the same development company are an eyesore for the neighborhood, rodent havens and trash-dumping grounds. These properties have been labeled vacant and/or blighted for years, but those designations and DCRA have done nothing to encourage the owner to take action. At this point, it seems only legislation and more residential complaints are needed to get something done.

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A collapsed retaining wall gets attention from DCRA and the Mayor's office

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A collapsed retaining wall gets attention from DCRA and the Mayor's office

I tweeted out a picture that a reader sent me of a collapsed retaining wall that has been blocking the sidewalk at 8th and Illinois Ave for the last two weeks. The Mayor's office responded and is trying to help the owner get it fixed.

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A look at some questions about basement apartment conversions and zoning

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A look at some questions about basement apartment conversions and zoning

The topic had clearly struck a nerve.

When Roshani Kothari, neighbor and real estate agent with DCRE Residential, invited fellow residents to come to learn more about “Understanding Zoning and Legal Basement Conversions” back in November 2016, the community meeting room of the Petworth Library pretty much filled up.

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What’s next for the Riyad Market?

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What’s next for the Riyad Market?

I spoke with Michael Aniton from the DC Office of the Attorney General about the Riyad, the inconvenience store at the corner of 8th and Upshur St NW. Mr. Aniton has been working with MPD, DCRA and residents for the better part of a year to get this store to either conduct business above board or to close. After a recent hearing and a failed mediation, the Riyad looks to be headed for an eventual closure.  Read more about the OAG's actions and next steps with the Riyad:

 

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WAMU looks at "toxic renovations" and DCRA problems

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WAMU looks at "toxic renovations" and DCRA problems

Ward 4 resident and WAMU reporter Martin Austermuhle has started publishing his three-part series on problems with flipped / renovated homes in the area. (He went on a neighborhood walkthrough with CM Vincent Orange the other week.)

It's a good read and focuses on a young couple, Stuart Crampton and his wife Violeta Roman, who purchased a flipped house on Perry St NW.

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CM Orange walks through Petworth with residents

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CM Orange walks through Petworth with residents

Councilmember Vincent Orange is working to prohibit pop-up conversions in R-4 zoned areas around the city (with his proposed Prohibition on Single Family Dwelling Conversions Emergency Amendment Act).

CM Orange went on a neighborhood walk-through with several residents and ANC 4C Commissioners Joe Martin (SMD 4C09) and Kathleen Crowley (SMD 4C10) to look at alleged permit violations at recent or ongoing construction of conversions, pop-up and complete redevelopments of existing properties.

“Councilmember Vincent Orange, chair of the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, walked with me and Kathleen for about 90 minutes in our SMDs,” said Commissioner Martin.

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