Why Hyattsville Real Estate Blog

"Hyattsville is the new Bethesda"

"I said it first.  It is happening right now" says Lance London the restaurateur and owner of Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grille which is coming to Hyattsville in late May.  The article in the Prince Georges Gazette says the new restaurant will have a fireside lounge, waterfall, two rooms for private events and a tunnel where Jazz bands play every Thursday night.  Check out the full article here. Download CarolinaKitchen.pdf .

Cafe Azul - Open for business at the Arts District Hyattsville

One of the large developments being built in Hyattsville is the EYA project, Arts District Hyattsville.  Many townhomes have already been sold and condo presales are going on in the community.  So where are all of these people going to eat?  Enter, Cafe Azul.  The townhomes that are located on Route 1(Baltimore Avenue) are live/work homes with commercial space on the ground floor and living space upstairs.  Cafe Azul has the prime location on the corner of Baltimore Ave and Longfellow Street. 

Cafe Azul specializes in Mediterranean and Latin style Salads, Soups and Paninis. As well as delicious pastries, fresh gourmet Mayorga coffee and tropical smoothies.  For a long time in Hyattsville there has been a question of where can I eat outside?  Cafe Azul has outdoor tables for that Spring/Summer meal that needs to be in the sun.  Christina and I ordered the Andaluza Salad (artichoke, avocado, olives, mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoes and vinaigrette) and the Mediterranean Panini (lots of tasty meats plus provolone).  Both were delicious.

There is currently one more live/work rowhome for sale in Arts District Hyattsville.  I am offering a credit of up to 2% of the purchase price to new clients that hire me as their buyer agent for immediate delivery townhomes.  That is right, I am paying you to work for you.  Take a look at the live work unit currently available here.

Mount Pleasant Heights DC Condo Conversion

Recently, I sold a home to a client in the 16th Street Corridor of Mount Pleasant.  The one bedroom and one bath condo is located in the Mount Pleasant Heights building, a renovation that is being sold by the Urban Land Company.  The Urban Land Company represents developers in DC and frequently has a few very cool projects available.  There are still condos available in the Mount Pleasant Heights building with features like exposed brick walls and high end appliances.  Prices start at just $249,900.00.

Hyattsville has similar potential for condo conversion of small apartment buildings.  I'm working with a few buildings that could be great pick ups for investors.

My client is a huge, "Big Lebowski" fan, so his answer to my post settlement survey said it all.

Was there an aspect of Greg Tindale's service that he did extremely well?
Very thorough.

Hyattsville Arts Festival

The First Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival takes over the Route 1 corridor on April 19 from 12-5pm.  A Rep working on the project says,

"We are so excited – the show is fully booked. We have 5 hours filled with six live performances, over 35 exhibiting artists/crafters, food by Busboys and Poets, Franklin’s Brewery, and Ben & Jerry’s, and activities in the Lustine Center."

It sounds like a Rocking Fun Time.  Mark Your Calendar!

Hyattsville Going to the Dogs (via a dog park)

Prince Georges County Councilman, Will Campos recently posted this message about plans to place a Dog Park in Hyattsville:

Greetings.

The plans for the dog park are moving forward. We are looking at locating the dog park at the corner of Ager Road and Nicholson Street. Currently, Park and Planning is putting together plans for the layout of this dog park. While it is still preliminary, the plans will most likely include a fenced in area for larger dogs, a smaller area for smaller dogs, a shed for maintenance equipment, parking spaces, as well as a source of water for the dogs and their owners.

We picked this location, in consultation with the City, because of its central location to the 2nd Councilmanic District, the great visibility it provides (for safety reasons), the easy access provided to the site from major roads in its vicinity, and the fact that this is one of the few suitable areas (with size as a key criteria) in our developed area.

One thing we are looking for from folks who are interested in using this park is a commitment to assist in its operation and maintenance. While we are discussing the maintenance and operation of the dog park with Park and Planning and the City, we also need people who will use the dog park to help us make sure it is in tip top condition and that it is used responsibly. If you are interested, please contact my office and we will take down your information.

Thanks and have a great day,

Will

Let's get down to (Hyattsville) business.

A new organization is getting started in Hyattsville, the Hyattsville Business and Professional Association.  The mission statement taken from their website is:

The Hyattsville Business and Professional Association is an emerging voice for the Hyattsville Business Community to advance the the economic, professional, cultural, and civic welfare of Hyattsville, Maryland. We encourage local business to business networking, better communication within the business community, and between the public and business sectors in Hyattsville and beyond.

Are you thinking about starting a business?  Hyattsville has lots of office/retail space for rent as well as for sale, including the Business Center at Prince Georges Plaza. 

One Bedroom Condo For Rent - $1,400.00

Smart living by the Metro is here in this brand new one bedroom and one bath condo in One Independence Plaza at University Town Center.  At $1,400.00 a month you receive:

• Dedicated Garage Parking
• Walking Distance to Green Line Metro, Shopping, Movie Theater
• UMD Shuttle Bus
• Balcony overlooking courtyard
• Bedroom large enough for two people
• Large closet
• Washer and Dryer in unit
• Fitness Center
• Hardwood Floors in living room
• Carpet in bedroom
• Granite Counters
• Stainless Steel Appliances
• Ceiling Fan in Bedroom
• Five Guys Burgers, Smoothie King, Qdoba, Three Brothers Italian

For more information please contact me at gregtindale@gmail.com.  For a copy of the rental application click here.  For a copy of the rental lease click here.

 

 

University Town Center Restaurant Update

There are now four dining choices available as you are taking in a movie at the Hyattsville Royale 14 in University Town Center.  Qdoba, Smoothie King, Five Guys Burgers and now Three Brothers Italian Restaurant.

A recent press release explains the Three Brothers History:

"The story of Three Brothers Restaurants is a true American success story. In 1976, three sons of a hard-working Italian family moved the family business from Brooklyn, New York to Greenbelt, Maryland to make good on their father’s dreams of success. After 30 years of hard work, one family restaurant has grown into a thriving corporation serving the entire region with 15 locations throughout Maryland. Originally from Rapone, Italy, Michael, Mario and Peter Repole have participated in every part of the business – from using family recipes for making their famous sauce and entrees to developing both in-center and free standing Three Brothers restaurants.

The original Greenbelt, Maryland location is still a thriving operation, doing well over a million dollars in business every year. Many of its existing customers are children and grandchildren of people that have been served by Three Brothers Restaurants since the beginning. This reinforces the notion of family, which the company tries to create in its customers and employees. The company tends to promote from within. Almost 90 percent of the managers and franchise owners have come from within the company. Even when they come from outside the system, they have typically been associated with the company as customers for many years."

It's time to move to the Arts District Hyattsville and live for FREE for a year!

It's a brand new year.  In 2007, you drove by the construction on Route 1 for EYA's Arts District Hyattsville and wondered when the upscale townhouses would be built.  Well now lots of the construction is complete and there are homes available for immediate settlement.  As a gift to help get 2008 started right for my clients, I am offering buyers of immediate delivery EYA townhouses up to a $13,000.00 gift from my commission.  You heard that right,  I am offering 2% of the sales price of your immediate delivery townhouse as a credit off of my commission.

Let's do the math.  EYA is offering $15,000.00 towards closing costs and I am offering up to $13,000.00 of my own commission.  That is $28,000.00 in your pocket as you move in.  Use that to pay your mortgage and live for free for a year! Follow this link to see some of the immediate delivery homes available.

   

Plaza Lofts 22

The second condominium building in the University Town Center (UTC) is the Plaza Lofts 22. The developer’s website explains:

“Twenty-two of the most unique condominium homes that fit your style. Featuring two-story lofts with soaring ceilings, personal patios, modern bathrooms, and an environmentally responsive green roof located in the ultimate town center.”

I was able to tour the model condo as well as some of the other unfinished units and was very impressed by the architectural design. These condos definitely live up to their hype. It looks like an awesome place to live. Prices range from $494,500.00 to over $750,000.00.

As of now, UTC is still looking for a high-end tenant to occupy the retail space below the condominiums. This begs the question, if you are buying a very expensive condo in Hyattsville, what do you want to live above? A restaurant, a performance theater, a few boutique shops. To be honest, I am not sure what the right answer is. I would love to get feed back from my readers and hear what they think. So what do you want to live above?