A tragic anniversary: One year ago this month, young DeAndre Pettus died at Connecticut House. He was only five years old. At that time, DeAndre’s father was charged with cruelty to children. In July, NBC Washington reports, a grand jury indicted the senior DeAndre Pettus on more charges. The “gray resistance” in Van Ness and […]
Neighborhood in the News: Mayor’s new DC Archives plan; New management at the Rock Creek Horse Center
Mayor Bowser’s DC Archives and UDC housing pivot: After years of planning, and with millions of dollars already spent on the DC Archives project on the UDC campus, Mayor Muriel Bowser now wants to build student housing at the site instead. Bowser, in her May 27th budget reveal, billed the changes as cost-saving measures. But […]
Neighborhood in the News: At Forest Hills Playground, anxiety – and solidarity
These have been tense times. And this week, amplifying the feelings of anxiety and fear, were warnings, then reports, of Immigration and Customs Enforcement visits to several DC restaurants. Those visits occurred on Tuesday. On Wednesday, rumors spread online that ICE was targeting nannies at Forest Hills Playground. Reporters who went to the playground to […]
Neighborhood in the News: Rock Creek Horse Center, Comet shooter, Carter remembered
The future of the Rock Creek Horse Center is in flux. “Those who use the facility say they’ve been told by employees that changes are coming, and it is possible the horses would be relocated and the facility would be likely to close as soon as the end of February or March,” reports The Washington […]
Neighborhood in the News: The return of the Pat Collins Snow Stick; The Owl’s Nest on the market
TV newsman Pat Collins retired in 2022. But his snow stick still works at Washington’s NBC4. And yesterday, with actual measurable snow on the ground and continuing to fall, the stick returned to its birthplace: the BP service station at 5001 Connecticut. The snow stick hitched a ride with current NBC4 reporter Tommy McFly. NBC4 […]
Neighborhood in the News: A real estate story that’s also a ‘how we met’ story, and DC’s creepy cryptid tale
Not many real estate articles open with a “how we met” story. But this one does, and it’s about our now-former neighbors, Bill and Peggy Breer. The Breers, who met in Japan 65 years ago, built their Japan-inspired Forest Hills home in 2001. It’s now for sale. The Breers will be missed, and our public […]
Neighborhood in the News: Guilty plea in attempted Chinese Embassy bombing, the launch of a new local news org, and the Van Ness Burger King’s tabloid treatment
Update on the Chinese Embassy explosives incident: “A criminal defense lawyer from Florida pleaded guilty,” The Washington Post writes, “to trying to ignite an explosive device outside the Chinese Embassy.” Christopher Rodriguez’s ignition method was a rifle, which he fired at a backpack containing 15 pounds of explosives. It came out in the court filing […]
Neighborhood in the News: DCist closure questions, the return of UDC’s student newspaper, bumpy ride for bike lanes
Questions remain after WAMU’s DCist shutdown. And the cuts announced in February went deeper than the online news site, as Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon reveals in his deeply reported article, the result of several interviews with current and former WAMU employees and the public radio station’s general manager. Welcome back to UDC’s The Trilogy. A decade […]
Neighborhood in the News: Protected Connecticut Ave. bike lanes are out, the embassy protesters are always in, and DCist 2.0
Still on DDOT’s Connecticut Avenue safety to-do list: Left-turn lanes and curb extensions. No longer on the list: bike lanes. DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum revealed the new plan during the DC Council’s budget hearing for the agency, under questioning by Ward 3 Council member Matt Frumin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by […]
Neighborhood in the News: Israel Embassy protests; WAMU/DCist cuts; Astronomers at work
The Israeli embassy at Van Ness Street and International Drive has been the site of frequent vigils and protests since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023. On February 26th, the Associated Press reported that a 25-year-old active-duty Air Force airman set himself ablaze outside, while protesting U.S. support for Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza. He […]