A former tattoo parlor at 39 Florida NW has shut down and the owners, the Barac Company, have decided to change the store-front space into a one-bedroom apartment.
“We always had a tough time for some reason getting a good tenant in that space, so we decided to turn it into residential,” says Anthony Bruno, housing provider with The Barac Company.
The Ink N' This tattoo parlor had been there for three years before they suddenly stopped paying their rent, says Bruno. Now the landlords are working to convert the space into a one-bedroom, one-bath unit with a great room in the front.
Bruno did not have the specifics on the square footage, but the unit is “not a large area, but a nice space.” A permit was granted back in January to begin renovations and a permit last month was issued for construction of a new bathroom, HVAC unit, electrical and a new kitchen.
Another permit was issued at the beginning of May for more electrical work. Renovations will not be complete for another three months from now, around mid-August. Rent will be about $1700 to $1800 per month. No parking is provided.
“We’re providing good housing for good tenants,” says Bruno.
Bloomingdale has become an area in hot demand over the last few years. In the last five years the average sales price per square foot has risen from $299 to $371; rents have also increased. Notable restaurants like Bacio, Boundary Stone and Big Bear Cafe and a popular weekend farmer's market makes the community even more attractive to potential residents.
Lisa Spinelli is Elevation DC's development editor as well as a freelance journalist, copy editor and mother of two. After receiving her Master of Science in print journalism from Columbia University in 2004, Lisa worked across the country and in Italy as a journalist, editor and Web editor. Her website
LisaSpinelli.com has links to a smattering of her published clips.