Renovation work began late last week on the exteriors of several long-vacant properties owned by Shiloh Baptist Church in the 1500 block of 9th Street NW. Workers could be seen on Friday afternoon and again on Monday installing new windows and frames on the dilapidated structures, which have been the source of contention within the neighborhood for decades. DCist was the first to report back in July that Shiloh had at last decided to sell…

Photo by NCinDC This is a question I often ask myself when strolling by the intersection of 14th and U Streets NW (though thankfully a little less often now, since the long-awaited redevelopment of the buildings on the northeast corner nears completion). Matt Yglesias offers up the vacant building next door, however, as a case study in why, even accounting for the current recession, so many city storefronts in seemingly ideal locations remain vacant…

These vacant properties on the 1500 block of 9th Street NW, owned by Shiloh Baptist Church, would be renovated with funds from the sale of two other properties at 8th and Q Streets under a plan approved by church membership last week. Photo by noahdevereaux After decades of promises but little action, Shiloh Baptist Church in Shaw has decided to sell two of its controversial vacant buildings and use the proceeds to fund a…

The District is facing a massive budget shortfall over the next several years, but despite proposals to cut more jobs, reduce city services and now even raise taxes, the mayor’s revised FY2010 budget still includes roughly $13 million for the upkeep of the city’s many vacant properties, the Examiner reports today. What does that $13 million get us?: “… rent, utilities, security and other so-called fixed costs tied to 20 empty buildings in D.C.’s possession,”…