UPDATE: The more I am thinking about this listing it is raising red flags. Why would anyone trying to sell a building use a photo that was clearly over 3 years old that shows the building in such disrepair? The building has been renovated (even if I have no idea if the construction is sound). The heart of the drama with this property was that it involved a lot of government funds -- a lot. I am including a photo from a Housing Complex article in 2012 that shows what the building looked like then. Perhaps someone can do a sale search on this address and see who owns it now? My guess is that the liens were called in and it changed hands again. 


No idea why this listing features this pre-construction photo. This building has been fully renovated inside and out.

 Go HERE to read the saga of how that renovation was funded and why members of the community mobilized to get the initial plans for this project investigated.  If there is ever an address that will go down in infamy it is this one right here. Jobs were lost, organizations went belly up, people were sued, and millions of dollars went up in smoke. Then there was that totally bonkers   BZA decision regarding the ANC's claim of violation of Title XI.  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW may be where the President lives but 1300 Congress Street SE was where Tomfoolery was keeping house.

From Remax (where I get all my top secret investigative reporting tips BTW) :








The backstory on this address is so lengthy and harried (and it's 3 am and I have to get up for work in 4 hours) that I am going to just post a series of links to the press coverage on the saga of 1300 Congress Street SE. Almost all of this coverage is from the Washington City Paper and former Housing Complex writer, the amazing Lydia DePillis.

Chaos in Congress Heights Over Peaceoholics Youth Home
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Apr. 21, 2010 at 9:56 am

Peaceoholics at War: Nonprofit Finds Dealing With At-risk Youths a Lot Easier Than Wrangling With Neighbors
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Apr. 29, 2010 at 7:51 am

Congress Heights residents want probe of SE youth facility
By Christy Goodman
Thursday, May 13, 2010



Peaceoholics Neighbors Get Their Day in the Council
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jul. 10, 2010 at 11:24 am

Peaceoholics Buildings Yanked, Will Be Used for Homeless Families [UPDATED]
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Oct. 6, 2010 at 6:01 pm

A Year After Peaceoholics Renovated Buildings, They’re Mostly Still Empty
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jan. 19, 2012 at 10:26 am

D.C. housing deal shows much spent but less accomplished
By Debbie Cenziper and Nikita Stewart, Published: January 29, 2012

The Full Story Behind Those Peaceoholics Properties
Posted by Lydia DePillis on Jan. 30, 2012 at 7:14 am

Group Moan: Why Ward 8 Is Stuck With Transitional Housing
Posted by Rachel Calvert on Feb. 24, 2012 at 12:06 pm


Years ago I was sitting with frustrated neighbors in an agency conference room laying out this very scenario. At the time some people thought we were being pessimistic. I call it being pragmatic.  It really pains me to see that we were right.  There really were no winners in this losing game.

Of course the million dollar question is, "Who is benefiting from this sale?" followed up closely by, "What will be done with this property?"

A word of advice to the future buyer: Don't even think about converting 1300 Congress Street SE into another transitional facility, group home, shelter or rehab. The residents on that street aren't fooling around. They mean business!

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