Former J.P.'s Night Club Shows Signs of Life

Those who don't count themselves among the Good Guys may once again have access to an old stand-by in in the lap of Glover Park. Though J.P.'s Night Club hasn't seen any action, lascivious or otherwise, since January 2008, when firefighters scaled a burning building to rescue a (fully clad) employee from the roof, the former location of the 20-plus year-old night club is showing signs of life.

This past fall, the former owners of J.P's Night Club applied to have their liquor license taken out of safekeeping with the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Commission (ABRA). The holdup?  Protests, of course, with no sign of a quick resolution, said ABRA. Despite the fact that J.P's was a nice family-owned business, some neighbors never embraced it, and ABRA held a hearing last week to undress complaints from the community. ABRA confirms that the license renewal application is for the same address and that the owners of the license have not applied for a transfer of the application. This could mean a go-ahead for the club, or it could suggest that the owners of the building, local landlords Alafoginis Family LP will simply retain the bare license once renewal is approved. DCMud contacted Deoudes-Magafan Realty, who punted to owner Barbara Alafoginis, who has not responded to inquiries.

In the meantime, construction continues, which began in May of 2009, with the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs having renewed the building's construction permit in September of 2010. The Construction Guild LLC has been the contractor for the site.

Washington, D.C. real estate development news

The Smallest Condo

Sure, an expansive penthouse with a view is ideal - but, for those of us not born Rockefellers there's a need for something a little more diminutive. To the Everyman we showcase the ideal home for less-is-more 2011: the smallest condo for sale in DC, a 274 s.f. condo in Glover Park on the market for $175,000.

The 82-year old subterranean condo - the size of a Potomac McMansion closet - somehow features a separate bedroom, "little desk," and even boasts a "hidden" stacked washer and dryer within its newly renovated walls. The urban vista from the 3 small casement windows is serene, with an arboreal view (on your tiptoes), overlooking the trunks of mature shrubs and an alley. The living space is essentially a large kitchen, saving the owner money on a couch, coffee table, and wall art.

"These places sell themselves, but this one has been a bit trickier," says Sarah Brodsky, the listing agent. The property has been on the market for more than 6 months despite the newly refinished hardwood floors, built-in bedroom cabinets, and new kitchen. While hoarders may find lack of floor space discouraging, the appliances are as good as in condos 3 times the size. And so what if Starbucks' handicapped accessible bathroom is larger? A new owner can do the laundry, wash the dishes, and cook dinner, all from the same spot. Now that's true luxury.

3520 W Place, NW
Washington DC, 20007

Carillon House Apartments

Carillon House, 2500 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington DC, 20007
The Carillon House Apartment building is a massive 50's era apartment building offering up a few amenities for its studio and one-bedroom apartments, like limited garage parking, shared washer/dryer, very small fitness center, 24 hour front desk with some concierge services, storage spaces, bike room, and small roofdeck, but offers decent rates, and a solid Wisconsin Ave location on main bus routes (but not near Metro). The apartment building sits across from a park in the middle of trendy Glover Park, one of the best little retail strips around, with a Whole Foods across the street to boot. And if you're into espionage, the Russian Embassy is next door. The Carillon House lobby is updated and pleasant, though the interior finishes remain pretty spartan, and include the original parquet floors, but are well maintained. Despite the austere white brick facade, which looks like it could be an adjunct of the old Soviet Embassy, the neighborhood is vibrant of full of good retail, and the only large apartment building in Glover Park proper. The Carillon sits on the rise above Glover Park, so the bonus views are on the south side, where going only a few floors up yields dramatic views over the city. The building was topped by an electronic carillon for many years, broadcasting music to the neighborhood every day at noon, and was the first Washington DC apartment building with central air conditioning.

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Glover Park Stripped of Old Club

The Glover Park Gazette reports that JP's Niteclub will be demolished this week, more than a year after a fire gutted the strip club. Following a final approval from the good guys at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs last Friday, demolition of the club at 2412 Wisconsin Avenue, NW will proceed this week.

According to representatives for the general contractor, The Construction Guild, LLC, the teardown will begin today and, once complete, will be followed immediately by construction of similarly-scaled, two-story commercial structure - though, at present, site owner Alafoginis Family LP, has yet to secure a tenant for the planned retail space.

The family-owned strip club has remained vacant since a fire damaged the property in January 2008 after 20 years of selling some of DC's most expensive Budweisers and quality, uh, niteclub operations. In the intervening months, two new businesses have opened on either side of the derelict building: the Gin & Tonic Tavern and Z Burger, a local fast food joint. Neither has offered comparable entertainment.

Glover Park Niteclub Comes Down

Washington DC's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has consented to a raze order filed in October by the owners of Glover Park's gentlemen's dance venue, J.P.'s Night Club. In their 20 plus years in business, the long-running, family-owned business had continually faced critiques from neighbors in the upscale community over matters of crime, alcohol licensing and, well, that other thing.

Local adversaries finally got their wish in January 2008, when a conflagration led to a dramatic fire-and-rescue operation, when eager firemen rescued a (fully clad) employee from the roof as J.P.'s went up in flames. The building was soon boarded up (not hard, it had no windows) and has remained so ever since, even as new businesses have moved into adjoining storefronts.

With the site now gutted, control of the property at 2412 Wisconsin Avenue, NW has reverted to landlords, the Alafoginis Family LP – local entrepreneurs who once ran the now defunct Chic boutique down the street. Alafoginis' representation, Deoudes-Magafan Realty of Bethesda, did not respond to several DCmud inquiries concerning future building plans. The demolition will be carried out by the Construction Guild, LLC.

In the meantime, those who still feel like supporting working mothers and college girls can still visit Good Guys across the street, which was always better anyway. From what we're told.