Bright yet cozy, book-lover's paradise 2BR/1BA English Basement in Columbia Heights w/ sunny front portico & private rear veranda.
~½ mile to 2 Metro Stations. Walking distance to restaurants & bars. Less than 10 minutes drive/ride to Howard University, Children's National Medical Center, and the National Zoo. 15 minutes drive Downtown.
Free street parking available (see "Getting Around" details).
Well-behaved pets welcomed (w/ fee).
Please read entire description below.
PLEASE READ ENTIRE LISTING and click on all the "read more" links before inquiring.
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The 13th St Library House is home to a growing collection of books and plenty of cozy spaces to enjoy them. Debuting in July 2021, our repertory had just begun its life and has since expanded as we find new and interesting volumes (much like community-based Little Free Libraries, we welcomed guest-contributed additions!).
This professionally managed 2BR/1BA English basement apartment features a well-appointed kitchen, comfortable sleeping arrangements for up to 3 quests, a full bath with tub, and two private outdoor spaces. WalkScore of 91!
Kitchen
• full size fridge with freezer, alkalizing water filtration pitcher, and ice cube trays.
• standard size dishwasher with eco detergent
• electric stove/oven with basic pots, pans, cooking utensils, salt/pepper, cooking oil, and assorted spices.
• coffee and tea station with kettle, French press, turbinado sugar, and locally roasted, small batch coffee from OTHERS COFFEE (exclusively found at properties managed by SaltSugarFire Hospitality).
• plates, bowls, cutlery, cups, mugs, and wine glasses
• Please let me know if there's something we can add to make future stays more enjoyable
Living Room
• deep seat sofa easily becomes an oversized single bed (with linens and pillows)
• 50" Smartcast HDTV pre-loaded with streaming apps to log in to your accounts; built-in Chromecast and Apple Airplay compatible
• Bar-height work station/dining table with seating for two
• Wifi throughout via in-unit signal extender
• Growing library collection
• Bright overhead lighting + soft accent lighting
• Ample electrical outlets
Bathroom:
• Three-piece bathroom suite with tub/shower combo
• Freshly laundered cotton bath towels provided
• Dark makeup washcloths
• Natural, vegan, cruelty-free shampoo, conditioner, and body wash provided
• Zero waste/tree free toilet paper (we recycle!)
• Q-tips & hairdryer
• Sustainabl toiletries like bamboo toothbrushes, compostable floss picks, and zero waste toothpaste tabs available for a fee - inquire with your host
Bedroom 1
• Split style KING bed with Kingsdown Prime Parkman Coil Cushion Firm Mattress
• Freshly laundered 100% natural fiber bamboo lyocell and cotton bed linens
• Closet w/ hangers
• Dresser with amply drawer storage
• 32" HD TV w/ Roku device to log in to your streaming apps
• Access to private rear veranda
Bedroom 2
• Queen memory foam + pocket coil Comfort Rest mattress
• Freshly laundered natural fiber bed linens
• Closet w/ hangers
• Dressing bench
• Desk w/ swivel chair (printer coming soon)
Private Outdoor Spaces
• Private front entrance
• Wide access pathway to door
• Front portico with cafe table seating for 2
• Bike Rack embedded in the concrete foundation for bike storage (lock not included, bring your own U-lock or chain)
• Rear veranda with seating for 4-5, privacy screens, and grass mat
• String lights in the veranda turn on around dusk and off for DC's Quiet Hours
• Smoking is permitted outdoors ONLY; Initiative 71/420 friendly (w/ toke jar and rolling tray!)
The Rest
• The apartment is suitable for older kids (maybe 6+) but is not ideal for small children or infants, particularly those of napping age or who like to climb things. Younger kids are not unwelcomed but we want your stay to be comfortable and enjoyable and don't feel our space is well suited for the littlest among us. Feel free to contact me to discuss the logistics. IF you feel comfortable bringing your kids to the apartment after considering all factors, let me know if you need any kid supplies. I do not keep these items at the apartment but share the following amongst a couple of properties: Pack-n-Play, inflatable infant bath, portable infant basinette, hi-chair, toddler stroller.
• Well-behaved pets are welcomed for an additional $30 cleaning fee, which will be sent as a Money Request after booking and charged separately from your reservation (see House Rules for pet-specific policies). Pet bowls for food and water, a pet blanket, dog treats, and assorted toys
• Wifi via an in-unit extender
• Ice cold central AC and heat with in-unit temperature control
• In-unit washer/dryer are available for guest use; zero waste laundry detergent sheets and wool dryer balls provided
• Iron and ironing board provided
• Self check-in
• SMOKE-FREE house
• Please notify me of any indoor allergies in your booking message
The Library House and SaltSugarFire Hospitality are Green Nerds!
• Solar powered property
• Municipal recycling
• We provide cotton bar mops/rags in place of paper towels in an effort to reduce hospitality waste. Guests are welcomed to purchase or bring their own.
• SaltSugar Fire Hospitality offers compost collection service! Please notify us in advance if you'd like to participate.
• All toiletries, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and consumables are selected with their ecological impact in mind. We use:
- Zero waste tree free toilet paper
- Ginger Lily Farm Botanics low fragrance, vegan, cruelty free, plant based Aloe Vera shampoo, body wash, conditioner and hand soap
- Clearalif (or similar) zero waste laundry detergent sheets
- Wool dryer balls lightly scented with organically grown herbs and botanicals from my garden
Deep cleaning is not required but we ask some simple checkout tasks of guests:
- no need to strip the bed(s), simply leave them unmade
- load and start the dishwasher
- place used towels in the laundry basket in the laundry room
- collect your trash into the provided house bins (empty ashtrays of your smoking waste into the outdoor bins at the rear of the apartment)
- make sure to return any borrowed SmarTrip cards, turn off lights and appliances, and lock the doors.
ADD-ON SERVICES AVAILABLE
• I've partnered with several local professionals to offer an ever-expanding menu of extra services** including concierge services, personalized cooking classes, grocery provisions (stock the apartment with fresh ingredients and fun beverages), custom meal kit delivery, private chef and beverage/mixology experiences, in-home massage, mobile auto repair, local excursion planning, and more. Let me know in your booking message how I can make your stay exceptional
**subject to scheduling and product availability
ACCESS
The front portico and rear veranda areas are private for guest use only but the owner, who lives upstairs, will need to periodically access the rear veranda to take trash/recycling out to the outdoor bins and the bins to and from the curb for collection days.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE
• The path to the entrance is wide and primarily flat with two standard steps to the front door.
• There are no steps inside the apartment and the furniture can be shifted to accommodate certain mobility issues.
• The back veranda is accessed through the apartment and up 3 standard steps with no exterior entry.
• The ice maker/water dispenser is no plugged in. We had multiple complaints from guests sleeping on the sofa that it made too much noise and woke them when a new batch of ice dropped so we've disabled the in-door ice maker and water dispenser and purchased ice trays and a water filter pitcher to avoid any further disruptions for guests.
• For guests with allergies or sensitivities, we use lightly fragranced cleaners and but have fragrance free alternatives to accommodate fragrance sensitivities. Please notify me of your allergies, preferably in your booking message but at least 48 hours in advance, so we can prepare the unit to accommodate your needs
• Early checkin and luggage storage are not available at this property. Please do not loiter at the property if you arrive early as this encourages vagrants to do the same. There are several luggage storage services available in DC; let me know if you'd like more information
• The apartment would not be suitable for children or infants, particularly those of napping age or who like to climb things. They are not prohibited but we want your stay to be comfortable and enjoyable and feel our space is best suited for adults.
• Well-behaved pets are welcomed. The rear veranda has fence gaps wide enough for small dogs/cats to escape through. Pets are not permitted on the beds. If your pet is allowed on the couch at home (mine is too), please lay down the provided pet blanket to prevent fur from embedding in the upholstery. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR ANIMAL TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES OR WALK IN THE FRONT "YARD"; there is a grassy area a half block north of the apartment (bring doggie bags to clean up behind them). Our neighbors have two small and very yappy dogs so, if your pet is dog-reactive, we may not be a good fit for you. Please also note that, during the summer, local neighbors frequently set of fireworks in the street and may be an issue for sound sensitive or fearful pets.
NEIGHBORHOOD
This property is located between Columbia Heights and Petworth, a vibrant and diverse neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of the District. One of the city's most densely populated areas, it's home to a spectrum of residents ranging from the international embassies on 16th St to a long-time Hispanic community across the northern latitude, all interspersed with a mix of creatives and international professionals. You'll be steps away from restaurants and bars representing cultures from all across the globe and surrounded by an eclectic and lively community of urbanites.
We expect our guests to conduct themselves with kindness, consideration, and respect and will not tolerate discrimination or hate speech.
GETTING AROUND
This listing does NOT include on premise parking. Weekday street parking in the neighborhood is predominately restricted from 7:30a - 8:30p for residents with parking permits or limited to 2 hours for unpermitted vehicles. We offer a visitor parking pass for ONE vehicle through DC's DOT permitting portal, which enables it's barer to park anywhere in our immediate neighborhood's first-come, first served street parking zone. Guests must register for an account to request the pass online and print it. Please let us know in advance if you’ll have a vehicle.
There are several unzoned stretches of street parking in the neighborhood. These spaces are first come first and may require an extra pass around the neighborhood to catch one but I drive to the property and rarely have trouble finding a spot within a block or two. You'll find a detailed parking map of the immediate area with color-coded description of where to find them in the printed Guest Book upon arrival. Larger vehicles may have a more difficult time since street parking is open (i.e. there are no space defining lines for parallel street parking in DC).
There are a couple of lots and private spaces within 4-5 blocks available for a fee on SpotHero. Rates range from $15-$20/day. Search "Petworth Meditation Garden" and select your date and times for availability and exact pricing.
The nearest Metro, Georgia Ave/Petworth Station, is less than half a mile (uphill-ish) and about 10 minutes walk from the apartment. The Columbia Heights Station is 5 blocks/half mile and less than 15 minutes walk (downhill). You'll find an overview of the DC bus and rail system in the Guest Book. Visit WMATA dot com for maps and details.
The 52/54/59 Bus lines are just over a block west and the 62/H8/70 lines are a couple blocks east. They will take you downtown along slightly different routes.
For details on utilizing Metro Bus/Rail systems, visit the WMATA website. You can now download the SmarTrip app on your Android or iPhone, create an account, and purchase ride passes that can be used on all Metro systems. Skip the old, plastic cards and use your phone!