July 2013 RSS Feed

The living wage in DC for employees of big box stores just became $12.50 an hour after the DC Council approved the Large Retailer Accountability Act. Those who support the new living wage in DC believe it protects workers as the cost of living in the city increases, but others think it may cause big box stores like Wal-Mart to back out of plans to open stores in the city.

DC’s minimum wage of $8.25 is already higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. But $12.50 is more than 50% more than the old DC minimum wage.

The new living wage in DC applies to retailers with over 75,000 square feet of retail space and corporate parent sales over $1 billion per year. The bill includes exemptions for stores with unions and those that already exist in the…

Condos near the National Zoo in Washington D.C. have more amenities than just the free park with exotic animals. Condos near the National Zoo are also located near Rock Creek Park and the lively areas of the U Street corridor and Dupont Circle.

But the National Zoo alone is an ideal amenity to live near, especially for families with young children. It’s free and it’s touted as among the top zoos in the world. Condos near the National Zoo come in a range of prices and models.

Woodley Park is the neighborhood best suited for condos near the National Zoo. Here, condo listings include a $498,000, two-bedroom at 2801 Connecticut Avenue. At 864 square feet, this condo includes a wood-burning fireplace, hardwood floors and granite counters. It has ample…

Restaurant reservations make the dining out process easier. But sometimes it can be difficult to get a reservation at a hot, new dining establishment.

The advent of online restaurant reservation systems like OpenTable and CityEats has made reservations fast and easy. But some restaurants do not list all of their reservations online to accommodate walk-ins, regulars and VIPs. That’s why some big names in the restaurant world like Tom Sietsema, the Washington Post food critic, and David Hale, the general manager and wine director for Central Michel Richard, still make restaurant reservations by phone occasionally. 

If you were trying to make a restaurant reservation for four people at a particular time, the online system may only have two two-tops…

The Silver Line, a 23-mile extension of Metro past Dulles Airport, is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country. This development will occur in two phases:  Phase 1 is nearly complete, and Phase 2 just was just formally approved to start work.

Phase 1 of the Silver Line branches off from the Orange Line between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations. This phase includes four new stations in the Tysons Corner area and one in Reston at Wiehle Avenue. This phase of construction is 94% complete.

Phase 2 of the Silver Line includes six stations across 11.4 miles. The stations will be in Fairfax and Loudon counties at Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center near Route 28, Washington Dulles International Airport, Route…

The Lincoln Theater on U Street in Northwest DC has been a cultural landmark for over 90 years with performers like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and more recently, Alicia Keys. After a period of financial insolvency, the theater has a new operator with concerts scheduled for September and October.

The Lincoln Theater opened in 1922 as a 1,200-seat music venue for those who were not allowed to perform in segregated concert halls. But the theater started to decline during the 1968 race riots and was eventually boarded up for renovations in 1983. In 1994, the theater reopened under the management of the U Street Theater Foundation, who often relied on funding from the city. 

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) took over in January…

The DC Homestead Deduction went up earlier this year. When we last wrote about the tax benefit in 2012, it was $67,500. But now the DC Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) has increased the deduction to $69,100.

Periodically, OTR will increase the DC Homestead Deduction based on cost of living adjustments. For historical reference, the deduction was $60,000 in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, it increased to $64,000. 

The DC Homestead Deduction benefits District residents who own and occupy property. It helps save you money in two ways -- by reducing your annual tax liability and providing a cap on the assessed value of your property.

The latest increase in the DC Homestead Deduction will reduce the annual property tax bill of qualified owners. It works by…

English basements in D.C. are all the rage, and the market offers tons of rental and purchasing opportunity for those who want to be a part of the trend.

English basements in D.C. are common in older townhomes and row homes around the city. They are transformed into separate apartments with separate entrances and are usually only partially underground, giving them windows with plenty of natural light.

Renters can find ample choice in English basements in D.C. around the Internet, like a $1,650, 650-square-foot studio in the heart of 14th Street, walking distance to U Street.  Or a $1,400, one-bedroom, 500-square-foot apartment is available for rent in Adams Morgan, according to Craigslist postings.

But supply of row homes and townhomes on the…

Properties in Kalorama, a nearly entirely residential area in Northwest near Adams Morgan and Rock Creek Park, are selling at a premium these days.  Kalorama is also quite close to Dupont Circle and Woodley Park and known as a more wealthy, affluent area with a slew of embassies anchored here.

Properties in Kalorama range from single family homes to townhomes to condos, with many of these properties in Kalorama being condos while others are massive, million-dollar homes.

At 2410 20th St. NW, a one-bedroom, 577-square-foot condo lists for $299,900, with low utilities and high ceilings as well as a renovated bath, though the listing admits it “needs a little TLC.” Nearby at 2540 Massachusetts Avenue NW, a one-bedroom, 850-square-foot condo in a…