The message from AlertDC was pretty ominous: “MPD reports a large sink hole in the 1900 block of Biltmore Street NW. The sink hole is described as 25 feet deep and expanding from east to west. Biltmore Street is closed between 19th Street and Cliffbourne Pl NW. Please avoid the area.”

UPDATE: District Department of Transportation construction inspector Vic Matthews says it’s three to four feet deep and isn’t going into the street. Which doesn’t sound quite as threatening.

Here’s what the hole looks like:

UPDATE, 2:17 p.m.: DDOT’s Matthews says Biltmore St. residents claim that the sinkhole has opened once before.

Photo by Will Sommer