DC Real Estate Channel: DC Neighborhoods

Woodley Park Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:31:29 GMT

Woodley Park Neighborhood Profile

Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Woodley Park is a neighborhood that strikes a harmonious balance between urban convenience and natural serenity.

About Woodley Park

Where else can you fall asleep to the roar of a lion or call of an exotic bird? Home to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo c. 1889, Woodley Park offers residents and visitors the unique experience of living in close proximity to an array of exotic wildlife.

The neighborhood’s historic appeal is evident in its well-preserved and newly renovated row houses, many dating back to the early 20th century. One distinct aspect of Woodley Park’s real estate landscape is the presence of architectural gems such as the historic Wardman Tower, an iconic residential community that has stood as a symbol of elegance and refinement since the 1920s. Unfortunately, a recent conversion of this beautiful community landed the developer in court over defects.

Woodley Park’s historic Taft Bridge c. 1907, which spans Rock Creek Park and connects Woodley Park to Adams Morgan, is adorned with majestic concrete lions on each corner, adding a touch of architectural grandeur to the neighborhood.

The real estate market in Woodley Park features an eclectic mix of housing options, from stately single family homes to historic row and townhouses, and spacious condominiums.

Many of Woodley Park’s elegant row houses and apartment buildings were constructed in the early 20th century, featuring architectural styles such as Beaux-Arts and Georgian Revival.

The demand for real estate in Woodley Park is fueled by its central location, historic charm, and the accessibility to Rock Creek Park, providing residents with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. The neighborhood’s unique blend of history, nature, and urban living sets it apart as a distinctive destination in the nation’s capital.

Why it’s desirable:

National Zoo
Beautiful homes
Proximity to Mass Ave
Dining & retail options

Nearby:

Observatory Circle
Washington Int’l School
Cleveland Park
Tregaron Conservancy
St Albans School
National Cathedral
Woodley Park Metro Station
Woodland Normanstone Terr Park
Adams Morgan

“While other agents said, “This is what you need to do;” The Isaacs Team said, “We can do this for you!” Our process was smooth and quick, and they designed a strategy and negotiated a sale well above our asking price; and a purchase price below asking - both in the same market.”

Woodley Park History

Kervand’s “Woodley”

The earliest settlers in what is now the Woodley Park area were wagon and carriage pioneers who traveled dirt roads in search of good land.

By the mid-to-late 1800’s, Woodley Lane had become the main route for travelers. The only businesses in the area until the 20th century were the grist and lumber mills in Rock Creek Valley. In 1875, Mrs. A.E. Kervand divided her property, which was centrally located at the heart of today’s Woodley Park, into 18 lots. She named the project “Woodley” after Philip Barton Key’s estate. The subdivision was planned to mimic the city’s successful suburbs such as Mount Pleasant and LeDroit Park, but didn’t garner buyer interest due to the lack of transportation in the area at the time.

By 1878, the land had been subdivided again, this time into 31 lots, but Woodley Lane was still a dirt road lacking public transport and prospective buyers held back. By 1888, real estate investors Thomas Waggaman and John Ridout had acquired Kervand’s land. The partners renamed the subdivision “Woodley Park” and offered lots drawn to showcase the varied topography. Key to the plan was their charter of a Rock Creek Railway streetcar line that would travel along Columbia and Woodley Roads into Woodley Park.

Land Regulation

Unfortunately, Waggaman and Ridout lacked foresight and Capitol Hill planning intel when purchasing the development, because that very year Congress passed an “Act to Regulate the Subdivision of Land Within the District of Columbia.” The Act extended L’Enfant’s street grid to areas outside the original city boundaries. New subdivisions in Washington County were required to follow the city’s established alignment of orthogonal streets and diagonal boulevards. Subdivisions like Woodley Park that were designed with curving streets were faced with the possibility of total street redesign and the potential for condemnations of property to conform to these requirements. This halted new development in Woodley Park.

Influence of a Senator

During the late 1890’s, Senator Francis G. Newlands of Nevada and William Stewart founded the Chevy Chase Land Company. After purchasing several thousand acres along the route that would become Connecticut Avenue, they extended the thoroughfare from Calvert Street to Chevy Chase Lake and constructed The Chevy Chase Line. The new streetcar line ran past the NW boundary of the District, linking the area to downtown.

Newland and his partners also acquired the charter for the Rock Creek Railway Company, which Newlands altered to cross Rock Creek on Calvert Street and to extend service northward along a new route — Connecticut Avenue Extended.

Beginning in 1892, streetcar service began from Chevy Chase to downtown, providing reliable transportation to suburban commuters. Newlands also influenced the government’s decision regarding subdivision layouts. When the Permanent Highway Act was passed in 1893, he made sure the prominent landscape design firm of Frederick Law Olmsted was hired to assist the Engineer Commissioner in drawing up the accompanying maps. Under Olmsted’s influence, curved streets that responded to the natural topography of the land north and west of Rock Creek were integrated in the City’s plan and streets aligned with the existing grid were no longer required.

It was a boon for Woodley Park, which fnally began to develop at a rapid pace.

Woodley Park Architecture

Woodley Park’s architectural style is dominated by streets of stately 20th-century rowhouses and townhomes designed and built by a variety of notable area architects and builders. The majority were constructed between 1905-1929.

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress, DC Historic Preservation, NPS, Williams & Connolly LLP

Woodley Park Schools

Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Public Grades PK3–8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

Because Oyster-Adams is an in-boundary school for Woodley Park residents, children entering Kindergarten through 8th grade have a guaranteed right to enroll. However, Pre-K (PK3 and PK4) slots are not federally mandated or legally guaranteed by right, so families must still apply through the citywide My School DC Lottery.

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.

Wesley Heights Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:20:01 GMT

Wesley Heights Neighborhood

Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Wesley Heights is as an affluent residential enclave renowned for its stately homes, tree-lined streets, and woodsy landscape.

About Wesley Heights

This elegant triangular neighborhood offers a tranquil escape from the city, providing a sense of privacy and seclusion. Wesley Heights is characterized by its expansive single-family homes seated on large, widely-spaced lots. The neighborhood is bordered on three sides by parkland and woods, creating an upscale residential oasis.

The demand for real estate in Wesley Heights is driven by its reputation for privacy, renowned schools, and its proximity to amenities in American University Park, Cathedral Heights, Palisades and Foxhall Village. Wesley Heights is located a short distance from the Maryland border, Sibley Memorial Hospital and Georgetown MedStar hospitals, as well as Observatory Circle and Massachusetts Avenue.

Why it’s desirable:

Large luxury homes
Highly-rated schools
Proximity to Cleveland Heights amenities
Parks, trails, woodlands
Platinum real estate values

Nearby:

American University Park
Spring Valley
Cathedral Heights
Palisades
Foxhall
Berkley
Observatory Circle

Wesley Heights History

Alliance Tract

Wesley Heights was originally part of a tract of land named “Alliance” owned by John Threlkeld of Georgetown. In 1890, a land speculation group headed by real estate broker John Waggaman and funded by Charles C. Glover purchased the land between Chain Bridge Road, Newark Street, 43rd Street, Fulton Street, Tunlaw Street and 43rd street. They named the new neighborhood Wesley Heights for Methodist leader John Wesley, in an effort to market to Methodist home buyers associated with planned United Methodist Church-affiliated American University, chartered by Congress in 1893. This seemed a successful strategy given that Glover and Waggaman were instrumental in the selection of the AU site.

Subdivision and Acquisition

The Wesley Height tract was divided into plots, some of which were sold to home buyers and investors before 1892, when Glover decided to acquire all the Wesley Heights plots between New Mexico Street and the then 43rd street to build his grand country manor, which he named Westover.

A Sad State of Affairs

The alliance between John Waggaman and Charles C. Glover didn’t end well for Wesley Heights. By 1908, Waggaman’s estate had filed for bankruptcy protection and Glover had to testify as a witness. It was revealed that most of woodsy Wesley Heights had been highly mortgaged and suspicions grew that Waggaman and Glover had benefited from “nefarious activities” surrounding the financing and acquisition of not only Wesley Heights, but other large land developments in the District.

In the aftermath of the bankruptcy scandal, Wesley Heights fell to neglect, occupied primarily by Westover and the few homes developed by Waggaman.

In 1897, Glover and other owners of Wesley Heights tried to sell Wesley Heights land adjacent to Nebraska Avenue and Loughboro Road to American University, but AU declined to purchase.

Westover’s Demise and Transformation

Westover occupied all 30-acres between today’s Massachusetts Avenue, Nebraska Avenue, New Mexico Avenue, Cathedral Avenue, and Glover-Archbold Park. The southern half of Glover’s estate, including the 1896 mansion with entrance at 4200 Massachusetts Ave. passed to his son, Charles C. Glover Jr. in 1920. Jr. named his portion “Orchard Hill” and built a large Tudor-style house.

Following Glover’s death in 1936, Westover was rented for use as the Irish Embassy, then sold in 1959 to the National Presbyterian Church. The church razed the mansion in 1967, but elected to build a new church on Nebraska Ave. instead. Orchard Hill was also razed in 1977 after Glover Jr’s death.

Today, Westover and Orchard Hill are residential developments. The Towers (4201 Cathedral c. 1960), The Foxhall (4200 Massachusetts Ave., the former entrance to Westover estate, c. 1971), Westover Place (c. late-1970), Sutton Towers (3101 New Mexico Ave c. 1979), Embassy Park (1981), Avalon at Foxhall (4100 Massachusetts Ave c. 1982), and the East Campus of American University (c. 2015).

Source: Wikipedia, Library of Congress

Wesley Heights Schools

Horace Mann Elementary School Public Grades PK3-5

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8

MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

Penn Quarter Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:22:45 GMT

Penn Quarter Neighborhood Profile

Section: NVA Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

The colorful Penn Quarter neighborhood offers a wide variety of restaurants, theaters and entertainment venues, museums and art galleries.

About Penn Quarter

Penn Quarter is a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood known for its historical significance, cultural attractions, and urban energy. Once an industrial and commercial hub, Penn Quarter underwent a significant revitalization, transforming into a lively residential and entertainment district.

The neighborhood is home to iconic landmarks such as the Capital One Arena (formerly the MCI Center (1997–2006) and Verizon Center (2006–2017), the International Spy Museum, and historic Ford’s Theatre. Penn Quarter’s central location, with easy access to the National Mall and numerous dining and shopping options along its bustling streets, makes it an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike.

Penn Quarter Homes

Housing in Penn Quarter reflects the neighborhood’s urban revival, offering a mix of contemporary condominiums, lofts, and historic buildings that have been converted into modern residences. The demand for real estate in Penn Quarter is driven by the area’s cultural amenities, proximity to downtown offices, and a thriving arts scene.

Why it’s desirable:

Vibrant and busy
Shaw & Downtown amenities
Many dining options
Transportation options
Proximity to City Center

Nearby:

The Yards
The Wharf
Capitol Hill South
Barracks Row

Penn Quarter History

PADC

Penn Quarter began with the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. Its “Pennsylvania Avenue Plan” called for a mixed-use neighborhood that included residences, offices, theaters and other cultural venues, retail, hotels, and restaurants in both new and renovated buildings framing new parks and plazas. The neighborhood’s revitalization initially involved a number of developments west of the FBI Building to 15th Street, including the building we know now as the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. New parks and plazas like Pershing Park, Freedom Plaza, and the Navy Memorial were created. Market Square, The Pennsylvania, and the former flagship store of Lansburgh’s department store on 7th Street were early revitalization efforts east of the FBI Building beginning in the mid-1980s. The MCI Center ( renamed the Verizon Center, then Capital One Arena) opened in 1997. This spurred development of adjacent blocks to the north and east and the Penn Quarter neighborhood to the south. Redevelopment has continued at a steady pace since.

Chinatown 華府華埠

Chinatown was once home to many immigrants who moved into the area in the 1930s, having been displaced from Washington’s original Chinatown along Pennsylvania Avenue by the development of the Federal Triangle government office complex. The newcomers marked it with decorative metal latticework and railings as well as Chinese signage. At its peak, Chinatown extended from G Street north to Massachusetts Avenue, and from 9th Street east to 5th Street.

In 1986, the District dedicated the “Friendship Archway,” a traditional Chinese gate designed by Alfred H. Liu, a local architect and chairman of the Chinatown Development Corporation. The colorful, $1M work of art includes seven roofs up to 60 feet in height, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Erected to celebrate friendship with Washington’s sister city of Beijing, it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood’s Chinese character. According to the plaque next to the arch, it is the largest such single-span archway in the world. In 1993, the Friendship Archway underwent a major renovation funded by DC and Chinese governments. Artisans from China performed extensive repairs on the archway and repainted details. In 1986, the Metro station was given its present name: Gallery Place-Chinatown. Many residents were displaced during this time, and in 1982, the city built the Wah Luck House apartment house at 6th and H Streets to accommodate some. Designed by architect Alfred Liu, the apartment building introduced modern Chinese design motifs due to the red-paneled balconies. Sadly, with completion of the MCI Center in 1997 (renamed Verizon Center in 2006 and Capital One Arena in 2017), little of the Chinatown neighborhood remained.

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress

Penn Quarter Schools

Thomson Elementary School Public Grades PK3-5

*5th graders completing their time at Thomson also hold a secondary choice option to feed into Jefferson Middle School Academy

John Francis Education Campus Public Grades 6-8

Cardozo Education Campus Public Grades 9-12

Disclaimer

West End Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:11:08 GMT

West End Neighborhood

Section: NVA Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

West End is a sophisticated and affluent DC enclave prized for its upscale ambiance, wealth of fine dining establishments, and pivotal location.

Supersized Values, Miniscule Neighborhood

Despite being roughly 4 blocks by 4 blocks in size, the West End neighborhood is one of DC’s most expensive.

It holds this title in a very specific way. While neighborhoods like Spring Valley, Kalorama, and Georgetown dominate the list for the highest overall transaction prices for their massive single-family estates, West End routinely tops the city on a price-per-square-foot basis.

Premium Condo Market: The neighborhood has very few single-family homes. Instead, its real estate wealth is concentrated in ultra-luxury, full-service condominium buildings like 22 West, the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton and Westlight.

Best-kept Secret: 2501 Penn, a beautiful stone historic building housing just 16 trophy European-style residences of 2,200 Sft to 4,500 Sft offering penthouses with private roof terraces, garage parking and a legendary doorman.

Amenities

The West End Library and Bluestone eatery, designed by acclaimed architect Enrique Norten anchor the Westlight at the corner of 24th and L. You’ll also find luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton with its adjacent Equinox fitness club, the Fairmont, Park Hyatt, and, a hair over the border, the Four Seasons. Retail is boutique. The neighborhood is tangent to Massachusetts Avenue’s enclave of chanceries and embassies.

Nosh

West End is also home to a plateful of Michelin Star and James Beard award-winning restaurants, including Blue Duck Tavern, Imperfecto, Rasika and Ris. And Saga by Michelin-starred chef Enrique Limardo (also of Imperfecto).

Take A Walk. Bring The Bichon.

Adjacent to the Francis Park and recreation center is West End’s entrance to Rock Creek Park, with paths running to Maryland.

Why West End is desirable:

Pivotal location
Rock Creek Park access
Public tennis courts
Private residences
Luxury amenities
Platinum real estate values

Nearby:

Georgetown
Dupont Circle
Foggy Bottom
Rock Creek Park

West End History

“Westernmost”

West End was named for its location as the westernmost part of the original L’Enfant Plan for the city of Washington, before Georgetown was annexed. The early settlement was a small, predominantly African American community made up of Victorian and Federal architecture, influenced by trends in nearby Foggy Bottom, one of the District’s first neighborhoods. Warehouses were also prevalent, along what are now M and L Streets.

One of the oldest buildings in West End was also one of the first hospitals in the District. The Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum opened in 1870, first in the Hill Mansion at Thomas Circle and later relocated to Pennsylvania Avenue and 25th Street. Secretary of War E.N. Stanton authorized funds for the 50 bed facility, reserving 20 beds for wives and widows of Civil War soldiers. A major reconstruction in 1914 razed the original mansion and replaced it with the main building standing today. The Columbia transitioned to a private, non-profit facility during the Eisenhower administration in 1953. The hospital closed in 2002 and was converted to The Columbia Residences, a 225 unit luxury condominium, in 2006. The building includes 28,000 square feet of retail space wrapping around its exterior on 24th and 25th Streets, including Trader Joe’s.

Urban Renewal

Modern day West End is a neighborhood reinvention created by the Office of Planning and Management’s 1972 urban renewal plan. It was designed “to bring life to a declining part of the city.” The aerial photo on the study’s cover was titled “New Town for the West End.” A new in-town community was thereby born. From the late 1970’s to the early 2000’s, the West End neighborhood consisted in large part of luxury hotels serving Georgetown, Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom, office buildings, embassies, a few condominiums and co-ops, restaurants and retail establishments along M Street. A few of the neighborhood’s original residences remained, primarily on 24th and 25th Streets, upper 22nd and 23rd Streets and N Street, but multifamily, commercial and municipal buildings far outnumbered them. Turn-of-the-century West End joined the building boom, adding luxury condominium, apartment, office and retail buildings. In stark contrast, The West End Library building was in decline, as were the Special Operations Police Station, fire station on Square 50 and additional structures in the under-developed portion of West End dubbed Square 37, which ran along 23rd and 24th Streets, L Street and an alleyway.

Square 37 Transformation

In 2007, a plan was put forward to redevelop Square 37. It was controversial because the Tiverton, West End’s last remaining rent-controlled apartment building, was located on Square 37. Its tenants successfully fought two upzoning attempts by developers in an effort to maintain the square as it was, but in the end sold the building to Keener Squire in early 2008 as a condo conversion project. The DC Council passed emergency legislation that year to sell the West End public library branch, the Special Operations Police Station and firehouse to Eastbanc, the developer behind luxury condominium 22 West on 22nd Street. The development was named West End Projects. It included a new West End Library, a glass and concrete reduction of the previous library space, luxury condos at The Westlight, which frames the library, an adjacent boutique luxury condominium, and street-level restaurant spaces. The fire station was relocated to M Street, beneath a squash club and the developer’s boutique affordable housing concession.

Near the M Street bridge, another luxury condominium was constricted within the abandoned office space below an existing condominium. The new project, 2501 M, was anchored by the Nobu restaurant. At the same time, adjacent Francis Field was cleaned up, fenced off, lit, and banned to dogs.

Source: Wikipedia, Library of Congress

West End Schools

John Francis Education Campus (Grades PK3 -8) serves as the default, in-boundary public school for families living in the West End and Foggy Bottom neighborhoods.

High School Feeder Track: Completing 8th grade at this campus provides a right to feed directly into Cardozo Education Campus for 9-12 grades.

While the School Without Walls High School program shares an administrative link with the campus, it is a separate, city-wide application school. West End neighborhood placement does not guarantee a spot at the high school; students must apply via the competitive My School DC Lottery.

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

The Wharf

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:18:53 GMT

The Wharf DC

Section: NVA Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Creation Of The Wharf

Completed in late 2022 after 5.6 years of construction, the $3.6 billion Wharf DC offers 3.5M Sft of development, including residences, offices, hotels, shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, cultural uses, marinas, and public spaces including waterfront parks, promenades and piers.

The Wharf DC Neighborhood

Entertainment + fine dining
Unique public spaces
Community events
Marinas
Water sports
Water Taxis
Luxury condos
Boutique Hotels

Nearby:

Tidal Basin
Kennedy Center
Foggy Bottom
Navy Yard
Yards Park

The Southwest DC neighborhood underwent a remarkable transformation, from rustic fish market, tiny marina and aging yacht club to a premier waterfront destination for luxury living, dining and entertainment.

It is now a neighborhood, luxury residential enclave, and dynamic waterfront destination featuring upscale restaurants, entertainment, boardwalk attractions, marinas, two yacht clubs, many fine dining establishments, such as Del Mar , Phillippe Chow, Limani and Officina, along with a host of other dining and cocktail options, elegant hotels and more.

Luxe Condos

The luxury condominium market at The Wharf reflects the neighborhood’s commitment to providing a high-end urban living experience. Elegant, upscale residences offer Potomac River views, top-notch amenities and a lively waterfront lifestyle.

Wharf DC Amenities

Waterfront Public Piers

District Pier: The neighborhood’s largest pier, designed as a central gathering place for community cultural festivals, seasonal events, and large public gatherings.
Transit Pier: A multi-use transportation and activity hub featuring a water taxi terminal, an outdoor stage for free live concerts, and a public ice rink during winter months.
Recreation Pier: A dedicated public activity space equipped with oversized outdoor games, lounge seating, a communal fire feature called the Wharf Torch, and public swings.
Market Pier: Provides direct waterside slip access for transient boaters and immediate proximity to Market Square.

Parks and Public Green Spaces

7th Street Park & Sprayground: A green space featuring walking trails, picnic areas, and an interactive splash pad with cooling misters and multi-color LED water jets.
The Green: A 1.5-acre landscaped park providing quiet seating zones, shade trees, and a central ornamental water fountain.
Sutton Square & M Street Landing: Open-air, waterfront grass and paved plazas designed for sunbathing, relaxation, and views of the Marina.
The Grove: A waterfront viewing deck featuring a fire pit, shared spaces for outdoor dining, and a small busker stage for local performers.

On-the-Water Recreation & Transit

Public Boat Launches: Free designated launch points for personal kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards.
Watercraft Rentals: On-site commercial rentals for kayaks and paddleboards.
The Wharf Jitney: A free motorized public ferry providing direct seasonal transport across the Washington Channel to East Potomac Park.
The Southwest Shuttle: A free neighborhood shuttle bus connecting visitors directly between L’Enfant Plaza Metro station and The Wharf.
The Wharf Marina: A full-service commercial marina offering 550 total boat slips for long-term and transient maritime docking.

Historic Attractions & Entertainment Amenities

The Municipal Fish Market: The United States’ oldest continuously operating open-air seafood market.
The Anthem: A major 6,000-capacity indoor music venue and concert hall.
Camp Wharf: A seasonal outdoor wood-burning fire pit area dedicated to roasting s’mores.
Pearl Street: A pedestrian-only alleyway acting as a dedicated local live music, nightlife, and dining corridor.

Wharf DC Schools

Amidon-Bowen Elementary School Public Grades PK3 – 5

Jefferson Middle School Academy Public Grades 6 – 8

Eastern High School Public Grades 9 – 12

Disclaimer

Information is considered accurate but not guaranteed and may change without notice. We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.

Navy Yard

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:04:17 GMT

Navy Yard Neighborhood

Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

The Navy Yard is a functioning naval base, luxury residential neighborhood and dining destination. The Yards, located between Nationals Park and the Navy Yard, adds award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, retail, the Yards Marina and Yards Park. Combined, they offer year-round entertainment and activities, as well as luxury condos and apartments.

About Navy Yard

The Navy Yard and The Yards are dynamic neighborhoods located along the Anacostia River. These neighborhoods have driven a remarkable transformation of the area in recent years. Historically an industrial area and home to the Washington Navy Yard, the neighborhood has evolved into a vibrant urban community with a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

The Yards is a 42-acre mixed-use real estate development project within the the broader Navy Yard neighborhood (aka the Capitol Riverfront district). The Yards has played a significant role in the riverfront revitalization, offering a blend of modern living, dining, and retail experiences, anchored by Nationals Park, home stadium of the Washington Nationals.

The Navy Yard Capitol Riverfront neighborhood footprint spans hundreds of acres and includes Yards Park, the Washington Navy Yard military base, Navy Yard Ballpark Metro station, and multiple distinct blocks of condominiums, apartments, offices and boutique retail.

The Navy Yard has become a destination for its dining establishments, marina and waterfront boardwalk, and proximity to The Wharf, downtown, Barracks Row, and Capitol Hill South. Its housing is characterized by contemporary condominiums, luxury apartments, and townhomes.

What makes it desirable:

Modern + historic
Energetic vibe
Dining options
District Winery
River recreation

Nearby:

The Yards
The Wharf
Capitol Hill South
Barracks Row

Navy Yard History

Purchase & Establishment

The Navy Yard land was purchased under an Act of Congress on July 23, 1799 and the Yard was established on October 2nd of the same year. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy.

The Yard was constructed under the direction of Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert and supervised by Commodore Thomas Tingey, who served in the position for 29 years. A white brick wall marked the original boundaries along 9th and M Street SE. In 1801, two additional lots were purchased. The north wall of the Yard was built in 1809 along with a guardhouse, now known as the Latrobe Gate. After the Burning of Washington in 1814, Tingey recommended that the height of the eastern wall be increased to ten feet due to the fire and subsequent looting. The southern boundary was formed by the Anacostia River, added to by landfill over the years as it became necessary to increase the size of the Yard. The west side was undeveloped marsh.

Shipbuilding And Shipfitting

The Washington Navy Yard became the navy’s largest shipbuilding and shipfitting facility, with 22 vessels constructed there, ranging from small 70-foot gunboats to the 246-foot steam frigate USS Minnesota. The USS Constitution came to the Yard in 1812 to refit and prepare for combat action. During the War of 1812, the Navy Yard was important not only as a support facility, but also as a strategic link in the city’s defense. When the British marched into Washington, holding the Yard became impossible. Tingey, seeing the smoke from the burning Capitol, ordered the Yard burned to prevent its capture by the enemy. Both structures are now individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the War of 1812, the Yard never regained its prominence as a shipbuilding facility. The Anacostia River was too shallow to accommodate larger vessels, and the Yard was deemed too inaccessible to the open sea.

DC’s Largest Employer | Enslaved Labor

The Navy Yard had become the city’s largest employer by 1819. During World War II the Washington Navy Yard employed over 20,000 civilian workers. The Navy Yard was also the District’s principal employer of enslaved African Americans. Their numbers rose rapidly and by 1808, the enslaved made up one third of the workforce. The number of enslaved workers gradually declined during the next thirty years, though free and some enslaved African Americans remained a vital presence. One such person was former slave later freeman Michael Shiner, whose diary chronicled his life and work at the Yard for over fifty years.

Stream Technology

The Yard owned one of the earliest steam engines in the United States, making it a technology leader. The engine ran the saw mill and was used to manufacture anchors, chain, and steam engines for war vessels.

Civil War & Dahlgren

During the Civil War, the Yard once again became an important part of the defense of Washington. Commandant Franklin Buchanan resigned his commission to join the Confederacy, leaving the Yard to Commander John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren, a United States Navy officer. Dahlgren founded his service’s Ordnance Department and launched major advances in gunnery, including that of the smoothbore howitzer. President Abraham Lincoln frequently sought council with Dahlgren during his tenure and the two men remained in contact throughout Lincoln’s presidency. The famous ironclad USS Monitor was repaired at the Yard after her historic battle with the CSS Virginia. The Lincoln assassination conspirators were brought to the Yard following their capture. The body of John Wilkes Booth was examined and identified on the monitor USS Montauk, moored at the Yard.

Post Civil War

Following the Civil War, the Yard continued to be the scene of technological advances. In 1886, it was designated the manufacturing center for all Navy ordnance, which continued production through WWII. The weapons designed and built there were used in every war the United States fought until the 1960s. At its peak, the Yard consisted of 188 buildings on 126 acres of land and employed nearly 25,000 people. In December 1945, the Yard was renamed the U.S. Naval Gun Factory. Work was finally phased out in 1961 and on July 1, 1964, the activity was re-designated as the Washington Navy Yard.

The deserted factory buildings began to be converted to office use. In 1963, ownership of 55 acres of the Washington Navy Yard Annex was transferred to the General Services Administration (GSA). The Yards at the Southeast Federal Center are part of this former property and now include the headquarters for the Department of Transportation.

The Washington Navy Yard was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and designated a National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976.

As industrial operations waned through the late 20th century, the area became polluted. Severe pollution plagued the neighborhood from the 1970s through the 1990s, a toxic legacy of over 150 years of heavy military manufacturing, combined with outdated municipal infrastructure and regional industrial dumping. Though weapons manufacturing stopped, hazardous byproducts remained in the soil, buildings, and river sediment. By the late 1990s, the contamination was so severe that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially declared the Washington Navy Yard a National Priorities List Superfund site (1998).

During that period, the area fell into steep decline. Retail relocated and foot traffic all but ceased, leaving only empty buildings and vacant industrial lots.

Following the 1998 Superfund listing, the cleanup of the Washington Navy Yard shifted into a highly structured, decades-long regulatory process. The U.S. Navy took the lead role in remediation, closely supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).

Today, both agencies state that the Navy Yard neighborhood is safe for residents and visitors, with human health exposure fully under control. The site is classified under the status “Human Exposure Under Control,” meaning assessments show “there are currently no unacceptable human exposure pathways” affecting the general public. The area remains a designated Superfund site as the agencies maintain highly active monitoring and regulatory enforcement.

Play Ball

The neighborhood got its first chance at revitalization with the first pitch at the new Nationals Park in 2008. The stadium drew huge crowds and directed municipal focus back to the Anacostia riverfront.

Waterfront Redevelopment and The Yards

The creation of Yards Park in 2010 and Canal Park introduced green spaces, outdoor concerts, and community events to the area. The Yards Project was a major 42-acre mixed-use development designed to transform old industrial and warehouse footprints into high-end condominiums and apartments, restaurants, a distillery, and retail storefronts. The transformation was funded with a massive public-private partnership combining billions in private development capital with hundreds of millions in public municipal financing, federal land grants, and infrastructure bonds

Today’s Navy Yard and Yards Park are vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods that served to resurrect a blighted area along a vital DC waterway.

Sources: Wikipedia

Navy Yard Schools

Van Ness Elementary School Public Grades PK3 – 5

Jefferson Middle School Academy Public Grades 6 – 8

Eastern High School Public Grades 9 – 12

Disclaimer

Logan Circle Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:10:22 GMT

Logan Circle Neighborhood

Section: NVA Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Logan Circle consists of eight blocks of gorgeous architecture, 14th Street retail, an active arts community, high-value real estate and the Barbie Pond.

About Logan Circle

This vibrant and historic neighborhood boasts beautifully restored Victorian-style row houses interspersed with modern condominiums and apartment buildings of many vintages. Logan Circle has undergone significant revitalization in recent decades, transforming into a sought-after neighborhood celebrated for its thriving arts scene, diverse dining, entertainment and retail options, and proximity to cultural institutions.

Why it’s desirable:

Beautiful architecture
Gastronome’s delight
House-hacking heaven

Nearby:

Dupont Circle
Kalorama
Shaw
U Street Corridor

Logan Circle History

“Blodget’s Wilderness”

Like most of the surrounding area, Logan Circle began as wilderness tamed to boggy farmland nicknamed “Blodget’s Wilderness.” Its namesake was Samuel Blodget Jr., a Revolutionary War captain, merchant, amateur architect and one of the most eccentric, ambitious failures in Washington DC’s early history.

Blodget purchased vast tracts of land in the northern, undeveloped parts of the new federal city during the real estate boom of the 1790s, then ran out of money before he could clear or build on it. His tracts sat as dense, overgrown forest for decades, including the tract originally designated as a traffic circle (Reservation No. 153) on Pierre L’Enfant’s original 1791 plan for Washington.

Blodget’s legacy is a masterclass in spectacular misfires. He charmed George Washington into naming him the first Superintendent of Buildings for the new capital and even submitted his own design for the U.S. Capitol though it wasn’t selected. His boldest gamble was “Blodget’s Hotel” a brick palace meant to raise money and excitement for the fledgling city, funded by a lottery that tanked so badly he ended up broke and in court. The courts seized everything, including the muddy mess that was Reservation No. 153 north of town. Ironically, Blodget’s half-finished hotel ended up sheltering Congress after the British torched the Capitol in 1814. But by then, Blodget himself was gone, having died penniless in a Baltimore hospital, his dreams outlasting him by just a few months.

Civil War

Reservation No. 153 hosted Camp Barker barracks, and acted as an unofficial refuge for thousands of freedom-seeking enslaved people escaping from Maryland and Virginia during the Civil War. Parts of the unimproved circle area were also used at times for military purposes, including the public execution of spies and deserters during the height of the war.

What’s In A Name

The formal renaming of Reservation No. 153 to Iowa Circle occurred during the post-Civil War era (around the late 1860s to 1870s) through a combination of city layout logic and a classic piece of Washington political maneuvering. When Pierre L’Enfant designed the city, he created a grid of numbered and lettered streets intersected by grand, diagonal avenues named after U.S. states. Reservation No. 153 was formed by the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue. The city named its traffic hubs and squares after states. The push to formalize the tract as “Iowa Circle” came from Senator William B. Allison of Iowa. Congressional archives show that the Senator wanted to secure a prominent traffic circle to honor his close friend, General Grenville M. Dodge, a highly celebrated Civil War general and railroad executive from his state. But DC rules heavily dictated that monuments and circles could only be named after deceased war heroes, and General Dodge wouldn’t die. So Senator Allison used his considerable legislative influence to ensure the intersection was permanently named Iowa Circle instead.

“Permanent” is not a word wisely used in Washington DC, however.

Wealthy residents built grand late-Victorian and Richardsonian Romanesque row houses around the circle between 1875 and 1900. An equestrian statue was erected at the center of the circle in 1901 honoring Major General John A. Logan, Civil War Union Army commander and Illinois senator who lived on Iowa Circle. During the 1930’s, the U.S. Congress officially renamed the park in Logan’s honor. The statue dominated the landscape and locals gradually began referring to the circle as “Logan Circle.” This prompted the U.S. Congress to step in and officially rename it Logan Circle in 1930, over the fierce objections of the Iowa congressional delegation.

14th Street

In the early 20th century, 14th Street NW became a primary shopping district and hub for automobile showrooms.

But the 1968 DC riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. devastated the 14th Street commercial corridor and the Logan Circle neighborhood subsequently fell into steep decline. The neighborhood became known for crime, and as a red light district.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the large commercial spaces previously occupied by auto showrooms and low rents encouraged creation of an avant-garde theater district.

During the 2000s, the area rapidly gentrified thanks in large part to the District’s LGBTQ+ community. Housing in the neighborhood began to recover. Neglected buildings were razed and rebuilt, or remodeled. 14th Street and P Street transformed. Whole Foods Market opened two blocks from Logan Circle in December 2000, on a site previously occupied by an abandoned service garage and 14th was reinvented.

Despite the many transitions around it, however, Logan Circle remains the only L’Enfant-designed circle in DC to retain its original residential character.

That Famous Architecture

Nos. 1 and 2 Logan Circle is a double house designed in the Second Empire style and constructed around 1880. It commands the prominent southwest position on the circle;
Nos. 4-14 and 1500 13th Street are 11 townhouses which occupy the northwest quadrant of the circle and typify the architecture of the district. Of varied High Victorian and Richardsonian styles, constructed of several kinds of stone and brick, all are three to five stories in height. No. 4 is particularly noteworthy for its porches and detailing;
No. 1500 13th Street retains considerable ornamental ironwork with original cast-metal porches, rails and fences remaining;
Nos. 1314-1344 Vermont Avenue is a series of houses which represent excellent examples of late-19th-century domestic architecture. They date from 1875 to 1890 and are constructed of brick, pressed brick and stone;
Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church at 1308 Vermont Avenue is an individually designated landmark within the District of Columbia. The church was erected between 1882 and 1884 as the Vermont Avenue Christian Church. R. G. Russel of Hartford, Connecticut, designed the church in the High Victorian Gothic style.

Sources: Wikipedia, nps, culturaltourismdc.org

Logan Circle Schools

Garrison Elementary School Public Grades PK3–5

Cardozo Education Campus Public Grades 6–12

School boundaries in the District can vary down to the specific side of a street. It is recommended to verify your address-based assignment using the official My School DC Finder For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

LeDroit Park Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:48:08 GMT

LeDroit Park Neighborhood

Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

About LeDroit Park

LeDroit Park is a candy store of DC architecture, including 50 of the original 64 unique residences designed by famed architect James McGill.

This historic and diverse neighborhood is known for its storybook homes, tree-lined streets, and a rich cultural history. The neighborhood’s design, featuring parks and green spaces, showcases the intricate detailing and architectural craftsmanship of the Victorian era.

The neighborhood design was influenced by the City Beautiful movement, which emphasized creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere. Over the years, LeDroit Park has undergone revitalization, attracting a mix of residents who appreciate its historic charm and close-knit community feel.

The neighborhood’s popularity has grown due to its proximity to vibrant areas like Shaw and the U Street Corridor, as well as its historical significance.

What makes LeDroit Park desirable:

McGill homes
Important history
Proximity to U Street Corridor
Howard University adjacent

Nearby:

Shaw
Bloomingdale
Pleasant Plains
Howard University
Eckington

LeDroit Park History

“LeDroict Langdon”

The LeDroit Park neighborhood was founded in 1873 by Amzi Barber, a trustee of Howard University and local businessman. Barber named the neighborhood after his father-in-law, LeDroict Langdon, but dropped the “c” to make pronunciation easier. LeDroit Park was one of the District’s first suburbs, developed and marketed as a “romantic” neighborhood with streets named for the trees that lined them.

Originally a whites-only neighborhood with ornate gates and guards, the neighborhood was eventually integrated due to efforts by students from Howard University, who, in July of 1888, and a number of times thereafter, tore down the fences that separated the neighborhood in protest of its discriminating policies.

Elite Enclave Once More

By the 1940’s, LeDroit Park had become a neighborhood for black elite citizens, with many prominent DC figures residing there. Griffith Stadium, the home of the Washington Redskins and Washington Senators was also located in LeDroit Park until 1965, when Howard University Hospital was built on its former grounds.

Le Droit Park includes Anna J. Cooper Circle, named for the education pioneer. The historic district includes the Mary Church Terrell House, a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The neighborhood was awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

On October 17, 2015 the LeDroit Park Heritage Trail opened. Featuring 16 signs, the 90-minute walking tour chronicles the history of the neighborhood and its residents. The Trail begins where Florida Avenue, 6th and T Streets, NW meet at the “gateway” to LeDroit Park.

LeDroit Park VIPs

Notable residents of LeDroit Park include:

General William Birney, a Civil War Veteran who owned the stately mansion on Anna J. Cooper Circle at T & Second Street;
Senator Edward Brooke, the first African-American to win a senate seat by popular vote and who was born in 1938 Third Street in 1919;
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace prize;
General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the first African-American general and father of Ben O. Davis Jr., commander of the World War II Tuskegee airmen;
Hon. Oscar De Priest, the first Black Congressmen after reconstruction, who lived at 419 U Street;
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the black poet laureate & Howard University alumnus who lived at 321 U Street;
Duke Ellington, the jazz legend, who lived at 420 Elm Street during his early childhood;
Major Christian Fleetwood, one of the first black persons to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Fleetwood lived at 319 U Street;
Julia West Hamilton, a civic leader and member of N.A.C.W. lived at 320 U Street;
Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights activist and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition lived at the corner of Fourth & T Streets;
Ernest Everett Just, a professor in biology and researcher in biogenetics with significant contributions to zoology and biogenetic lived at 412 T Street;
Dr. Jesse Lawson and Dr. Anna J. Cooper, both prominent educators who founded Frelinghuysen University to educate black working-class adults (Lawson also was a lawyer – Howard University Law, 1881) who advocated for the rights of poor D.C. residents) resided at 201 T Street;
Willis Richards, a prominent playwright credited with having the first serious play to be performed on Broadway lived at 512 U Street;
Mary Church Terrell, heiress and activist for civil rights and woman’s suffrage lived at 326 T Street, a National Historic Landmark;
Walter Washington, the first mayor of DC elected under home rule resided at 408 T Street;
Clarence Cameron White, a prominent violinist and educator in fine arts (also a Howard U Alumnus;
Dr. Garnet C. Wilkinson, Superintendent of Colored Schools during segregation lived at 406 U Street;
Octavius Augustus Williams, a U.S. Capitol barber and first black person to move into LeDroit Park in 1893, who made his home at 338 U Street.

James McGill

One of the features that make LeDroit Park so special is its architecture. Victorian mansions, houses and row-houses designed by architect James H McGill are prized for their appearance and history. None of the original 64 homes McGill designed in LeDroit Park were identical and most were built between 1873 and 1877. Today, 50 of the original McGill homes remain. LeDroit’s protected housing stock includes 12 different styles of homes.

McGill designed his own home, which stood where the United Planning Organization (the old Safeway) now stands.

McGill (1853–1908) was a prolific 19th-century architect who also designed the Northern Liberties Market and Convention Hall in Washington D.C., completed in 1875. His designs helped shape early DC suburban expansion, with many surviving structures listed as historic landmarks.

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress nps.gov, Washington Post

LeDroit Park Schools

Seaton Elementary School Public Grades K–5 *is the designated in-boundary neighborhood elementary school for LeDroit Park. But for the 2026–2027 school year, Seaton is undergoing modernization and utilizing KC Lewis as its temporary swing space.

John Francis Education Campus Public Grades 6-8 *Following the Deputy Mayor for Education’s recent boundary study, a temporary feeder pattern adjustment is in effect. Students graduating 5th grade from Seaton ES have geographic feeder rights to John Francis Education Campus for 6th grade. This structure remains active until a new standalone middle school for the area opens.

Cardozo Education Campus Public Grades 9-12

Cardozo is the ultimate neighborhood “by-right” high school anchoring this geographic feeder branch. Students finishing 8th grade at John Francis EC automatically feed into Cardozo.

Disclaimer

Shaw Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 20:55:29 GMT

Shaw Neighborhood

Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Shaw is a historically rich and culturally vibrant neighborhood that has experienced a remarkable revitalization over the past two decades.

About The Shaw Neighborhood

Known for its iconic row houses, jazz history, and diverse community, Shaw has become a focal point for urban DC living. The neighborhood features historic landmarks such as the Howard Theatre and the U Street Corridor, contributing to its cultural significance. The area is characterized by its artistic flair, with murals adorning the streets, offering a pleasing mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. Blagden Alley offers unique fine dining & cocktail experiences, desirable alley homes, and popular Instagram backgrounds.

North Shaw shares in this transformation with a blend of the historic and modern; the creation of a new neighborhood off U Street.

The real estate market in Shaw and North Shaw reflects the neighborhood’s dynamic evolution. Historic row houses, some dating back to the late 19th century, coexist with newly developed condominiums and apartments. The demand for real estate in these neighborhoods has surged, fueled by the influx of those drawn to the area’s vibrant atmosphere and many amenities. The Shaw and North Shaw neighborhoods are not only residential hubs but cultural destinations, as well, with a burgeoning culinary scene, trendy boutiques, and galleries contributing to the area’s allure.

Whether enjoying live performances, exploring local art installations, or indulging in diverse culinary experiences, residents of Shaw and North Shaw find themselves at the intersection of history, culture, and contemporary city living.

What makes it desirable:

Vibrant and busy
Many amenities
Excellent dining options
Howard U
Eclectic architecture
N Shaw amenities

Nearby:

U Street Corridor
Shaw Metro Station
Pleasant Plains
LeDroit Park
Bloomingdale
Logan Circle

Shaw History

‘Uptown’

Originally named “Uptown,” the Shaw DC neighborhood grew from freed slave encampments outside the city boundaries, which ended at “Boundary Street,” known today as Florida Avenue. The neighborhood later took the name “Shaw” for Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the local school of the same name.

Shaw was a hub for black intellectual and cultural life at the turn of the 20th century, when Howard University was chartered. In the 1920’s the neighborhood was frequented by such notables as Alain LeRoy Locke, Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington.

1968

The 1968 riots hit Shaw hard, leaving the area without electricity and many of the neighborhood’s buildings were destroyed by fire.

A population drain followed, crime increased and the once thriving neighborhood would not recover for many decades.

Revitalization to Gentrification

Revitalization began in Shaw during the late 1970’s and conservationists battled over neighborhood lines. The 14th and U Street Coalition accused the Dupont Circle Conservancy trying to co-opt their neighborhood and its history.

During the early 2000’s, the demand for housing increased well beyond supply, and gentrification of Shaw began. Developers moved in, pushing longtime residents out, and ultimately resulting in the redesign of many portions of the neighborhood. As home values escalated, Shaw became one of the District’s hottest housing markets.

Today’s Shaw remains a neighborhood in transition, boundary lines expanded, but its identity intact. The neighborhood’s 19th century Victorian row houses are being protected and restored as new development from North Shaw to Truxton Circle continues to reshape and restyle the area.

Shaw Cultural Landmarks

The Shaw DC neighborhood boasts a number of cultural landmarks, including: Ben’s Chili Bowl, Lincoln Theatre, Howard Theatre, Dunbar Theater, White law Hotel, CityMarket at O, Shiloh Baptist Church, The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, Thurgood Marshall Center and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress

Shaw Schools

Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton elementary schools Public Grades PK-5

Cardozo Education Campus traditionally served grades 6-12, but DCPS is phasing out middle school grades at Cardozo to convert it into a traditional 9–12 high school by the 2027–2028 school year.

Public • Grades 9-12

Students in Shaw are traditionally fed into Cardozo Education Campus, but because Cardozo is phasing out its middle grades to become a traditional 9–12 high school, students from these three elementary schools temporarily feed into John Francis Education Campus for 6th grade. This temporary path remains until a new neighborhood middle school opens at the former Banneker building (800 Euclid St NW) planned for August 2028.

During the phase-out period, John Francis Education Campus temporarily expands its feeder program for these elementary students.

New Shaw Middle School will open in August 2028 at 800 Euclid St. NW (the former Banneker High School building) to permanently serve grades 6-8 for Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton elementary schools.

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

Kalorama Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:30:05 GMT

Kalorama Neighborhood

Section: Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Kalorama is a prestigious and historic Washington DC neighborhood known for pricey homes, six former U.S. presidents, old money and new billionaires; all within two zip codes.

This residential enclave is renowned for its beautiful mansions and grand townhouses, representing a mix of architectural styles such as Beaux-Arts, Georgian Revival, and Colonial Revival. Notable past residents include former presidents Obama, Roosevelt, Hoover, Harding, Taft and Wilson, as well as ambassadors, corporate heads, and influential and infamous figures. Kalorama is also home to several embassies, adding an international flair to its cultural landscape.

The Kalorama neighborhood offers a selection of detached and attached single family homes, cooperatives and condominiums, creating a diverse range of housing options for discerning buyers. The demand for real estate in Kalorama is driven by its historical significance, proximity to cultural institutions like the Phillips Collection, and its tranquil, yet central location. The neighborhood’s allure lies in its picturesque streets, proximity to Massachusetts Avenue and Rock Creek Park, and its status as an established and sought-after residential haven in the city’s northwest quadrant.

As a result of its reputation and desirability, the Kalorama real estate market has remained robust, with properties often commanding premium prices, many sold off-market to protect the privacy of owners. The exclusive nature of the neighborhood, combined with its rich architectural heritage, positions Kalorama as a distinctive and prestigious enclave.

Secure
Exceptional homes
Platinum real estate values

Kalorama Heights differs from The Kalorama Triangle, a neighborhood within Adams Morgan, bounded by Connecticut Ave, Calvert St., and Columbia Rd. The Kalorama Triangle Historic District is located in DC’s Kalorama Heights neighborhood.

Kalorama Heights History

“Widow’s Mite”

Kalorama was a rural area until the close of the 19th century, located northwest of the original limits of Washington City from L’Enfant’s original plan. In 1795, DC Commissioner Gustavus Scott bought a portion of Anthony Holmead’s “Widow’s Mite” in 1795 and built a large home at 23rd and S Streets, naming it “Rock Hill.” Scott died 5 years later and his widow, Margaret, sold Rock Hill in 1803 to William Augustine Washington, who then sold it in 1807, to poet Joel Barlow before Washington’s death in 1810. Barlow renamed the property “Kalorama,” which means “fine view.” Barlow enlarged and improved the home during the short time he owned it, residing there until just before his own death in 1812. Perhaps the tract was apt in its original name.

Rebuilt and Razed

The residence burned during the American Civil War when it was utilized as a Union hospital. It was rebuilt and utilized as a single-family home until 1887, only to be razed by the DC government for the extension of S Street NW.

Exempt From The Grid

In 1893 Congress ordered L’Enfant’s design of the city of Washington extended outward to include the remainder of the District. Existing developments were exempted, which is why Kalorama is one of the few portions of DC not in compliance with the city’s street grid system. Calvert Street bridge and Taft Bridge were constructed over the Rock Creek Park gorge. It still spans Rock Creek Park today, adorned with imposing concrete lions. The Westmoreland was built as an apartment house at 2122 California Street in 1906 and was converted to a co-op in 1948.

Kalorama Triangle Historic District

The Kalorama Triangle Historic District is located in DC’s Kalorama Heights neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, and on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites since 1986, it is comprised of approximately 350 contributing properties.

Politically Connected

Sheridan-Kalorama was the home of these former Presidents in the early 20th century:

Woodrow Wilson at 2340 S Street, NW, in 1921. Woodrow Wilson House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and became a museum dedicated to Wilson’s memory;

William Howard Taft at 2215 Wyoming Avenue. The house is now the Syrian Embassy;

Franklin D. Roosevelt at 2131 R Street. The house currently serves as the residence of the Ambassador of Mali;

Warren Harding at 2314 Wyoming Avenue. The house is now the residence of the Ambassador of Monaco;

Herbert Hoover at 2300 S St NW. The home is now the Embassy of Burma (formerly Myanmar);

Barack Obama at Belmont Road NW.

Other Kalorama residents include Supreme Court Justices Charles Evans Hughes, Louis Brandeis, Harlan F. Stone and Joseph McKenna, Federal Reserve Governors Adolph C. Miller and Frederic Adrian Delano, the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, historian Elizabeth Eisenstein, and former United States Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew.

Sheridan-Kalorama diplomatic residences include the home of the French Ambassador at 2221 Kalorama Road, several embassies on its south side and much of Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue.

Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress

Kalorama Heights Schools

Public Feeder Schools

Marie Reed Elementary School Public Grades PK-5 (located in Adams Morgan)

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

We are not attorneys, historians, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:22:07 GMT

Mount Pleasant Neighborhood

Section: Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Neighborhood Profile

Mount Pleasant is characterized by the neighborhood’s historic architecture, eclectic atmosphere, and strong community spirit. Mount Pleasant has long been a hub for cultural diversity, with a rich history of welcoming residents from various backgrounds.

Mount Pleasant offers a mix of row houses in various architectural styles adorned with colorful facades on tree-lined streets. A lively commercial corridor along Mount Pleasant Street adds to the neighborhood’s distinct character. The entirety of Mount Pleasant is a historic district, where architectural components are carefully preserved.

The Mount Pleasant Library is a Carnegie Library that has been supporting the community with events and services since 1925. This beautiful historic library not only provides a wealth of resources to residents, but also serves as a symbol of the neighborhood’s commitment to education and intellectual enrichment.

Mount Pleasant Real Estate

The real estate market in Mount Pleasant offers a range of housing options, reflecting the neighborhood’s architectural and population diversity. Within its borders are historic row houses with charming features, stately apartment buildings and condominiums.

The demand for real estate in Mount Pleasant is fueled by its reputation for community engagement, proximity to Rock Creek Park, and the local amenities along Mount Pleasant Street. Residents enjoy a sense of belonging, fostered by community events, neighborhood festivals, and the active involvement of local businesses.

What makes it desirable:

Great architecture
Renovated attached homes
Mt Pleasant retail
Schools
Proximity to Rock Creek Park
Proximity to ColHi Metro

Nearby:

Columbia Heights
Lanier Heights
Crestwood
Rock Creek Park
Adams Morgan

Mount Pleasant History

Holmead Estate

Mount Pleasant began as the estate of James Holmead. In 1727, Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore, governor of the Maryland Colony, awarded Holmead a land grant that included the territory of the neighborhoods we know today as Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Pleasant Plains. Inherited by his son Anthony in 1750, it was renamed Pleasant Plains. With the creation of the District of Columbia in 1791, it folded into Washington County and was eventually sold off. In 1850, US Treasurer William Selden purchased 73 acres north of Peirce Mill Road and built home overlooking Piney Branch Road, relocating to Virginia at the start of the Civil War and sold the property in 1862 to Samuel P. Brown. The Union Army occupied the property during the Civil War and used the house as a hospital.

Mount Pleasant Village

When the war ended Brown sold his land in parcels, naming the area Mount Pleasant Village for its attribute of having the highest elevation of the original estate.

Brown kept the plot surrounding his house at 3351 Mount Pleasant Street, NW, which was unfortunately destroyed in the 1890s.

Mount Pleasant settlers built wooden frame houses and worked small farms, stores and small retail establishments sprouted up at 14th and Park. Mount Pleasant was divided from DC by undeveloped land and was therefore considered rural, allowing its street grid to be laid out differently from DC’s grid.

A Growing Neighborhood

In 1870, a horse-drawn streetcar made its appearance and was operated from the retail center to downtown DC. Development accelerated after a more modern streetcar line was installed in 1903. During that time, 16th Street was extended and the neighborhood began to be associated with the area west of 16th. Mount Pleasant’s first establishments were constructed opposite the streetcar terminal at Lamont Park. A developer, Fulton Gordon, bought up a good deal of the neighborhood in 1907 and promoted the properties under the name “Mount Pleasant Heights.” The construction of homes and multifamily dwellings in the early 1900’s further populated the neighborhood and a library, partially funded by Andrew Carnegie, was erected in 1925. The budding neighborhood offered shady, tree-lined streets, terraced gardens and charming row houses with front porches and rear sleeping porches. Considered an upper-middle class neighborhood, Mount Pleasant was home to US Senator Robert La Follett, actress Helen Hayes, baseball pitcher Walter “Big Train” Johnson, who was married at a “regular apartment at 1498 Monroe Street.”

Racial Segregation Ends

The Mount Pleasant neighborhood was racially segregated until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. ‘White flight’ increased after the 1968 riots, and rowhouses were divided into rental flats for lower-income residents. Some properties were neglected and much of the original landscaping was destroyed, changing the characteristics of the neighborhood. A new black and latino population began to settle in Mount Pleasant during that decade.

Affluent professionals returned in the early 1980s. Housing prices rose, homes were renovated, and during the following two decades demographics shifted again. Housing prices continued to spiral. From 2005 to 2018, the Mount Pleasant neighborhood experienced some of the District’s strongest home value surges.

Mount Pleasant Schools

Bancroft Elementary Public BL Grades PK3-5

Alice Deal Middle School Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Sources

Wikipedia

Library of Congress

DC Historic Preservation

NPS

Disclaimer:

Glover Park Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:27:04 GMT

Glover Park Neighborhood

Glover Park residents take pride in the peaceful, laid back vibe and unity of their neighborhood. It’s an urban suburb ringed by parkland, filled with single family homes and sporting a bustling little downtown.

Glover Park is prized for its leafy streets and proximity to both urban amenities and natural spaces. Its school and community events foster a close-knit feel.

Wisconsin Avenue serves as the neighborhood’s main commercial corridor, hosting a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Glover Park Real Estate

The real estate market in Glover Park features a range of housing options, including historic row houses and townhomes, condominiums and apartments. Demand is driven by its detached home supply, accessibility to parks and parkland, public transportation, and the convenience of Wisconsin Avenue retail, dining and grocery options.

Laid back vibe
Desirable schools
Nearby Metro
Glover Archibald Park
Proximity to MedStar Georgetown U Hospital
Proximity to Whitehaven Pkwy
Proximity to Georgetown

Nearby:

Cathedral Heights
Burleith
Georgetown
Woodley Park

Glover Park History

“Wilberforce”

The eastern part of Glover Park falls within the northern extension of Georgetown. The earliest record of the settlement of what is now known as Glover Park is folded into Georgetown records. According to Glover Park historian Carlton Fletcher; “Peter Colter, a German immigrant, and Murray Barker, a free black man, appear in Georgetown tax assessments between 1808 and 1810. Colter and Barker raised families along what is now Wisconsin Avenue, in the village of Wilberforce, a long-forgotten subdivision of Georgetown, and both supported themselves, in part, by growing produce for the local market. For a newly arrived immigrant, or a newly freed slave, with only a small amount of land to work with, market gardening made sense. In general, the early population of upper Georgetown consisted of native-born whites (quite often from Pennsylvania), immigrants (from Germany and Ireland), and African Americans (both free and slave).”

“Knave’s Disappointment”

Glover Park west of Huidekoper Place evolved from Salop, a 17th century land grant. The portion east of Huidekoper Place grew from Salcom, later dubbed “Knave’s Disappointment.” This parcel was incorporated into the 1769 Beatty and Hawkins’ Addition to Georgetown, expanding Georgetown by 300 lots. Of those, the 50 lots on either side of Wisconsin Avenue, from R Street north to Davis Street, and west to Huidekoper Place, made up the northern extension of the corporation of Georgetown.

Charles C Glover

The western portion of the neighborhood originated as an estate owned by butcher Henry Kengla, c. 1911. Charles C Glover purchased the property from Kengla. Glover Park’s residential development began in earnest in the early 1920’s, which is when it was given its name.

“Mount Alto”

The Russian Embassy sits on “Mount Alto” on Wisconsin Avenue in the Glover Park neighborhood, constructed on property leased to the Soviet government for 85 years as part of an agreement between the Soviet Union and USA, concluded in 1969. A 1972 agreement guaranteed equal territory in Moscow to the US for a new embassy with the same terms, and stipulated that occupation would commence simultaneously. Soviet architect Michael Posokhin designed the building. Posokhin also designed the State Kremlin Palace among other notable buildings in Moscow. The residential building, school, kindergarten and sports fields were completed in 1979, administrative and ceremonial buildings in 1985. Most interesting, the late 1980s, the FBI and the NSA built a tunnel under the compound for espionage purposes in the late 1980’s, but it was never successfully utilized due to Robert Hanssen disclosing the information to the KGB. Hanssen is a former FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States for 22 years, from 1979 to 2001.

Glover Park Schools

Stoddert Elementary School Public Grades PK4-5

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8

MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Sources

Wikipedia

Library of Congress

nps.gov

npc.gov

Disclaimer

Georgetown Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:00:03 GMT

Georgetown Neighborhood

Georgetown offers luxury homes, a yacht-filled waterfront, fine dining, upscale retail, luxe hotels and a famous university. From tobacco port to elegant residential address and commercial success, Georgetown has always been integral to DC’s identity.

Georgetown is one of Washington DC’s most iconic neighborhoods. A historic enclave renowned for cobblestone streets, Federal-style architecture, and a waterfront destination along the Potomac River, Georgetown exudes a unique blend of historical charm and contemporary sophistication.

You’ll find an array of high-end boutiques, fine dining venues, and cultural institutions, including Georgetown University. Its picturesque streets are lined with well-preserved row houses, many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, contributing to the neighborhood’s distinctive character. The C&O Canal, trails, and scenic waterfront offer recreational activities.

Georgetown Real Estate

The real estate market in Georgetown is dynamic and competitive, offering a mix of historic luxury homes and modern residences. Historic townhouses with iconic red-brick facades coexist with upscale waterfront condominiums, providing a diverse range of options for potential buyers.

Georgetown’s desirability is driven by its history and national recognition, proximity to prominent institutions and Key Bridge, as well as its strong sense of community. The demand for real estate in this neighborhood is robust, attracting a mix of affluent professionals, diplomats, and individuals who value the unique ambiance and prestige associated with living in Georgetown.

Unique history
Nationally reknowned
Exceptional homes
Desirable schools
Platinum real estate values

Nearby:

Burleith
West End
Foggy Bottom

Georgetown History

“Tohoga”

Before becoming an English port, Georgetown was a fur trading post. English fur trader Henry Fleet documented a Nacotchtank village named “Tohoga” in 1632 and established trade there. A tobacco inspection house was added by George Gordon along the Potomac in the mid-1700’s. The site was already a tobacco trading post by then. Warehouses, wharves, and other buildings followed, and Georgetown rapidly grew into a ambitious community that evolved into a bustling port and town. The port of Georgetown was active 40 years prior to the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington. Georgetown was built on the fall line and was the last port upstream that oceangoing vessels could travel on the Potomac River.

George II of Great Britain

Georgetown was founded during the reign of George II of Great Britain and it is widely believed that the town was named for him, although its founders were both named George (Beall and Gordon). Georgetown was officially founded in 1751 and issued a charter by the Maryland Legislature and incorporated in 1789, but never officially made a city. Georgetown held to its status as a separate municipality until Congress created a new consolidated government for the District of Columbia in 1871. It wasn’t until 1895 that Georgetown’s remaining local ordinances were repealed by a separate Act. The neighborhood’s streets were then renamed to conform with the street plans in the City of Washington.

The Old Stone House

The Old Stone House was built in 1765 on M Street and is the oldest original structure in the District. The first church in Georgetown was a Lutheran house of worship located on High Street. A Presbyterian church followed in 1784 and the Trinity Catholic Church was built in 1795 including a parish school-house. St. John’s Episcopal was consecrated in 1809. Georgetown’s first newspaper was the Republican Weekly Ledger, first printed in 1790, followed by The Sentinel, published in 1796, and others. Next came the banks. Farmers and Mechanics Bank opened in 1814, followed by the Bank of Washington, Patriotic Bank, Bank of the Metropolis, and the Union and Central Banks of Georgetown. Postal service began in 1790. The neighborhood’s first tavern, City Tavern, was established in the late 1700’s and is still operating today near Wisconsin Avenue and M Street.

Georgetown Schools

Georgetown, Washington, D.C. is served by a specific by-right public school feeder pattern under District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), centered around Hyde-Addison Elementary School, Hardy Middle School, and the newly established MacArthur High School.

Hyde-Addison Elementary School Public Grades PK3–5 in-boundary for most of Georgetown

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6–8 in-boundary for Georgetown and Burleith

MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12 The designated by-right destination high school for graduating 8th graders from Hardy Middle School.

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

Foggy Bottom Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 21:40:18 GMT

Foggy Bottom Neighborhood

Foggy Bottom is a historic neighborhood long associated with the District’s political and cultural institutions. Home to George Washington University and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Foggy Bottom offers a unique blend of academic, cultural, and government influences. The U.S. State Department and nearby landmarks such as the White House and the National Mall make Foggy Bottom an ideal neighborhood for those who appreciate the city’s rich history and vibrant cultural scene.

Foggy Bottom Real Estate

The real estate market in Foggy Bottom is characterized by a mix of attached federal style homes, condominiums and apartments. The neighborhood attracts a diverse demographic, from students and professionals, to Hill staffers and diplomats.

Foggy Bottom’s treasured alley enclaves Hughes Mews and Snows Court offer charming and unusual 1800s row houses sprinkled with a few modern boutique condominiums.

Central to many neighborhoods
Metro
Rows of beautiful attached homes
A wealth of amenities

Nearby:

West End
Georgetown
Capitol Hill

Foggy Bottom History

“Hamburgh” and “Funktown”

Foggy Bottom was one of the District’s first neighborhoods, part of the town officially named Hamburgh, but called “Funktown” by local residents, for its German developer Jacob Funk. Funk bought the land, consisting of approximately 130 acres, with two other developers; Robert Peter and James Lineman. The trio divided it into 287 lots, with Peter and Lineman taking control of the parcel now known as Foggy Bottom.

“Foggy Bottom”

In 1791, the territories were given to the city of Washington and the United States government. Funk set aside land in Hamburgh for a German-speaking congregation in 1768. Concordia German Evangelical Church, located at 1920 G Street NW was finally founded in 1833. Between 1850 and 1860, the neighborhood experienced a growth spurt when The District’s population doubled. Industrial properties such as Godey’s lime kilns, the Washington Gas and Light Company, the glass works, and the Abner/Drury and Christian Heurich breweries moved in. Poor immigrant workers followed. Around this time, the village was nicknamed “Foggy Bottom” for its location on low elevation, swampy land near the Potomac river and its fog and industrial pollution.

Alley Houses

The mid-1800s gave rise to an alley housing boom in Foggy Bottom and across the city. Irish and German immigrants came to the neighborhood to be close to work, but there was no housing available. They were forced to move into the uninhabited alleys located in the middle of the squares. Home owners quickly realized there was a good profit to be made by building modest alley homes for rental purposes. These early alley dwellings were simple, frame construction additions with no indoor plumbing or heat. Shared water pumps, outhouses and lack of a sewerage system contributed to unhealthy alley conditions. Following the Civil War, a large influx of black Americans into the city greatly increased the number of inhabited alleys. In 1871, the Board of Health was established primarily to address the alley dwelling issue. Across the District, the Board condemned and demolished over 300 alley dwellings and hundreds more were slated for rehabilitation. The Board of Health was abolished within a decade and alley dwelling condemnations ceased. This created a second alley dwelling boom. Rental rates had no limits and the population soared as more renters shared alley dwellings. In the 1920s, prohibition enforcement began and a wave of newcomers set up bootleg operations in the alleys. In 1912, the George Washington University’s 42-acre main campus came to Foggy Bottom. In 1934, after conditions in the alleys had again deteriorated, the government created the Alley Dwelling Authority, a new government entity that specifically dealt with improving the city’s alleys. The ADA was authorized to demolish or redevelop alleys and decide whether or not they were worth saving. The ADA’s documentation was sent to legislation for approval. Individual legislators included Eleanor Roosevelt. Common reasons given for alley renovation designation were: too many people in one home; too many African Americans in and around the area; exterior paint had faded. After the ADA gained approval from legislation, gave occupants of the cited houses from two to four months to vacate. By July 1, 1944, all of the houses in Foggy Bottom had been evacuated and plans were set forward for renovation.

Beer And Luxury Real Estate

Foggy Bottom was also the name of a line of beer marketed by the Olde Heurich Brewing Company, founded by German immigrant Christian Heurich’s grandson, Gary Heurich. He tried to revive the tradition of his family’s Christian Heurich Brewing Company, which had ceased production in Foggy Bottom. Christian Heurich Brewing Company’s most successful products bore such local names as Senate and Old Georgetown. The brewery ceased operations in 1956 and shortly thereafter, its buildings were razed to make way for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Heurich, Jr., and his two sisters donated a portion of the brewery land to the Kennedy Center in memory of their parents, and established the Christian Heurich Family as one of the Founders of the national cultural center. Although the firm was founded in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, the modern beer was brewed in Utica, New York.

Between 1950 and 1970, a drastic change took place in Foggy Bottom. Luxury co-op and apartment buildings were constructed and the population of the neighborhood became more affluent.

Foggy Bottom Historic District

The Foggy Bottom Historic District is comprised primarily of private residences and, except for a single alley warehouse and a few buildings built as corner stores, only rowhouses survive. When designated, the historic district had only 135 contributing buildings out of 226 total. The heights of the historic buildings are almost all two stories in height. Only four contributing buildings were erected at three stories originally. These modest dwellings were built in a limited range of materials and styles and were primarily flat-fronted. One of the earliest Foggy Bottom houses is a frame home at 25th and I Streets. The homes were built low to the ground rather than on elevated basements. This may have been due to the swampy nature of the land, or a cost-cutting measure. Foggy Bottom’s architecture is enhanced by the charming 19th century alley dwellings located in Snow’s Court (between 24th and 25th Streets and K and I Streets) and Hughes Mews (between 25th and 26th Streets and K and I Streets).

Foggy Bottom Schools

John Francis Education Campus Public Grades PK-8

DCPS does not restrict high school enrollment strictly to a single geographic feeder from this zone; families go through the My School DC lottery process.

Neighborhood High School: School Without Walls High School sits directly in Foggy Bottom on the George Washington University campus. Admission is managed via a selective citywide application and lottery rather than a standard geographic feeder right.

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Sources

Wikipedia Library of Congress nps.gov npc.gov

Foggy Bottom Historic District

DCist The Alleys of Foggy Bottom

Disclaimer

Dupont Circle Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 20:40:52 GMT

Dupont Circle Neighborhood Profile

Dupont Circle is a dynamic and culturally rich neighborhood renowned for its historic charm, diverse community, vibrant social scene and a very popular outdoor farmer’s market. The neighborhood centers around the iconic traffic circle at its center, and is surrounded by tree-lined streets, historic row houses, and a mix of architectural styles ranging from Victorian to Beaux-Arts. A hub for art, nightlife, and culinary experiences, Dupont Circle is home to numerous art galleries, embassies, trendy boutiques and restaurants, contributing to its lively atmosphere.

Dupont Circle Real Estate

The real estate market in Dupont Circle is diverse, offering a mix of historic row houses, condominiums, and apartments, showcasing historic, classic and contemporary designs. The demand for real estate in Dupont Circle is driven by its central location, cultural vibrancy, and accessibility to downtown DC and public transportation. The neighborhood appeals to those who appreciate the blend of historic architecture, cultural amenities, and the cosmopolitan atmosphere that Dupont Circle has to offer.

Central location
Metro
A wealth of amenities

Nearby:

Logan Circle
Kalorama
West End
Meridian Hill Park

Dupont Circle History

Early History

Early Dupont Circle started out as a brickyard and slaughterhouse. The neighborhood creek, Slash Run, began near 15th Street and Columbia Road and ran from 16th Street near Adams Morgan, through Kalorama within a block of Dupont Circle. The Board of Public works under Alexander “Boss” Shepherd paved the way for the development of Dupont Circle. Nevada Senator William Morris Stewart led the “California Syndicate” that purchased tracts of undeveloped land. They quickly set about designing a fashionable neighborhood. Stewart set the standard by building his own grand mansion in the 1870s.

Architecture

Examples of the architectural style of early Dupont Circle are the Christian Heurich Mansion at 1307 New Hampshire Avenue, c.1804 Victorian designed by John G. Meyers for the owner of the Heurich Brewery; Stanford White of McKim, Mead and White designed the Thomas Nelson Page House at 1759 R Street c. 1896 (Colonial Revival) designed by Stanford White; Embassy of Columbia at 1520 20th Street c. 1906 (French country Chateau) by Jules Henri deSibour; The Beaux Arts Perry Belmont House c. 1901 by Samson and Trumbauer at 1618 New Hampshire Avenue and the Boardman House (Embassy of Iraq) at 1801 P Street by Hornblower and Marshall c. 1890. The Weeks House (Women’s National Democratic Club) was designed by Harvey Page in 1892 with an addition by Nick Satterlee in 1966. Another large, commanding building is St. Matthew’s Cathedral and Rectory at 1725-39 New Hampshire Avenue designed by Heins and LeFarge in 1893.

Not all the lovely homes in Dupont Circle were grand mansions. The neighborhood’s popular pre-1900 rowhouses were built in a variety of styles from the 1880s into the first decade of the 20th century. Styles include Queen Anne, Dichardsonian Revival, Renaissance and Georgian Revival. Variations on Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque were most common in this neighborhood. Some of the rows were designed as a unit by a single architect while others were individually built and designed. The row on the south side of the 1700 block of Q Street, designed in 1889 by T.F. Schneider, is one of the most impressive Richardsonian rows in the area. The north side of the 2000 block of N Street is one of the finest Second Empire rows in the District, built 1879 to 1881 by Christopher Thom. The charming 2000 block of Hillyer Place offers a variety of styles including Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque. One of the most varied and architecturally intact blocks is the 1700 block of N Street which reflects the breadth of architectural talent in the area.

“Strivers Section”

As development spread further from the circle, a sub-neighborhood dubbed “The Strivers’ Section” was born. This enclave of upper-middle-class Black Americans, often community leaders, grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name is taken from a turn-of-the-20th-century writer who described the district as “the Striver’s section, a community of Negro aristocracy.” Residences in The Strivers’ Section are primarily late 19th and early-20th century rowhouses from the Edwardian era. These stately, symmetrical homes have become some of the most appreciated and recognizable in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. The Strivers’ Section Historic District (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) boundaries are roughly Swann Street on the south, Florida Avenue on the north and west, the 16th Street Historic District on the east, and 19th Street on the west. Today, the Strivers’ Section Edwardians are joined by some apartment and condominium buildings along with small businesses. The area includes some 430 buildings constructed between 1875 and 1946 that are contributing properties to the historic district. In 1871 the Army Corps of Engineers started construction on what was planned as “Pacific Circle,” but 1882 Congress authorized a memorial statue of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis duPont in recognition of his Civil War service. The bronze statue was placed in the center of DuPont Circle 1884. Several prominent duPont family members who deemed the tribute too small to honor their ancestor petitioned to have the statue moved to Rockford Park in Wilmington, DE in 1917. The statue was replaced in 1921 by a double-tiered white marble fountain designed by sculptor Daniel Chester French and architect Henry Bacon. Three classical figures, symbolizing the Sea, the Stars and the Wind are carved on the fountain’s central shaft.

15 Dupont Circle

One of the grandest mansions in Dupont Circle is the marble and limestone Patterson Mansion at 15 Dupont Circle. This Italianate icon of marble and limestone is the sole surviving residence of the many mansions that once ringed the circle. Built in 1901 by New York architect Stanford White for Robert Patterson, editor of theÂ Chicago Tribune, and its heiress, his wife Nellie. In the early 1920s, ownership of the house passed to daughter Cissy Patterson. It served as temporary quarters for President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge in 1927 while the White House underwent renovation. The Coolidges hosted Charles Lindbergh after his historic transatlantic flight. Lindbergh and the Pattersons became friends with shared isolationist and pro-Nazi views. Cissy Patterson later acquired the Washington Times-Herald and used it to attack Franklin D. Roosevelt from 15 Dupont Circle. She continued throughout World War II to push the policies that earned her the title “the most hated woman in America,” echoed in the New York Daily News, run by her brother Joseph Medill Patterson, and the Chicago Tribune, run by their first cousin, Colonel Robert R. McCormick. Patterson became and alcoholic and reportedly paranoid toward the end of her life. She slept with guns by her bed and believed the FBI and her own servants were spying on her. She died at age 66 from a heart attack.

Growth In Dupont Circle

1872 brought a new British embassy on Connecticut Avenue at N Street. By the 1920s, Connecticut Avenue had become a retail corridor. Some residences, including Senator Philetus Sawyer’s mansion at Connecticut and R Street, were razed in favor of office buildings and shops. Patterson House, at 15 Dupont Circle, served as a temporary residence for President Calvin Coolidge while the White House was being repaired in 1927, bringing additional cachet to the neighborhood. In 1933, the National Park Service took over administering the circle. Connecticut Avenue was widened in the late 1920s to accommodate increased traffic and medians and traffic signals were installed in 1948 to separate the through traffic on Mass Avenue from local traffic. In 1949, traffic tunnels and an underground streetcar station were built beneath the circle as part of the failed Capital Transit project. The tunnels allowed trams and vehicles traveling along Connecticut Avenue to travel quickly past the circle. Streetcar service ended in 1962, the entrances to the underground station were filled in and paved over. Only the traffic tunnel remained.

Decline And Resurgence

The Dupont Circle neighborhood fell into decline after World War II, along with many other Washington DC luxury neighborhoods, especially following the 1968 riots. In the 1970’s, Dupont Circle experienced a resurgence when “urban pioneers” who sought stylish, affordable properties moved in. Dupont Circle built a reputation as an historic locale in the development of American gay identity. DC’s first gay bookstore, Lambda Rising, opened in 1974 and gained national recognition. With this influx of homeowners who improved and restored neglected homes, Dupont Circle re-emerged as a valuable, luxury neighborhood.

Dupont Circle Schools

Ross Elementary School Public Grades PK4-5

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

Cleveland Park Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:02:51 GMT

Cleveland Park Neighborhood Profile

Cleveland Park and North Cleveland Park offer the serenity of tree-lined streets, recreational areas & Rock Creek Park. You’ll find architecture with character, historic cooperatives, and a Metro station.

About Cleveland Park

Cleveland Park sits between Rock Creek Park (east) and Wisconsin and Idaho Avenues (west), Klingle and Woodley Roads to the south, and Rodman and Tilden Streets to the north. The Cleveland Park neighborhood is characterized by a mix of single-family homes (about 1100 detached single family homes compared to N Cleveland Park’s est. 550), apartments and townhouses, attracting a diverse community of residents. It has its own Metro station and is home to the historic National Cathedral.

What makes it desirable:

Pivotal Location
Metro Station
Retail Corridor
Housing Diversity

Nearby:

Cathedral Heights
Burleith
Woodley Park
Observatory Circle
Massachusetts Avenue

Real Estate

The Cleveland Park market is driven by detached single family homes on tree-lined streets bordered by a main retail thoroughfare. The entire neighborhood is part of the Cleveland Park Historic District, which creates a NIMBY effect by limiting new development, protecting existing structures, and preventing the construction of homes it deems incompatible with the neighborhood’s established historic scale, massing, and architectural style This artificial scarcity keeps single-family home prices permanently elevated.

The convenience of a dedicated Metro Station adds to the neighborhood’s appeal.

The east side of the neighborhood is bordered by Rock Creek Park, and Rosedale Conservancy is a popular feature.

Cleveland Park History

“Pretty Prospects”

The first American settler was General Uriah Forrest, an aide-de-camp of George Washington. IN 1793, he built an estate on nearly 1,000 acres, original named “Pretty Prospects” and later renamed Rosedale. The estate served as home for the Youth For Understanding international student exchange organization for some time. In 2002, the Rosedale grounds were placed in a public conservancy and the farmhouse, said to be one of the oldest houses in the District, returned to residential use. Gardiner Greene Hubbard, first president of the National Geographic Society, built a colonial Georgian revival called “Twin Oaks” on 50 acres in 1888 as a summer home for his family. It is now site of the diplomatic mission of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Tregaron, present-day home of the Washington International School, is a Georgian house that was built in 1912.

“Oak View”

The neighborhood acquired its name after 1886, when President Grover Cleveland purchased a stone farmhouse directly opposite Rosedale and remodeled it into a Queen Anne style summer estate called Oak View (aka “Oak Hill” and “Red Top”). Cleveland lost re-election in 1888 and the estate was sold, with the Oak View subdivision subsequently platted in 1890.

The Cleveland Heights subdivision was platted around the same time, and the Cleveland Park subdivision soon thereafter. Most of the houses built during this period were intended use as summer houses with wide porches, large windows, and long, overhanging eaves to combat seasonal heat.

The extension of the Georgetown and Tennallytown electric streetcar line along Wisconsin Avenue generated development in Cleveland Park, but the real success of the neighborhood was the result of the Rock Creek Railway, built on Connecticut Avenue in 1892. Once Cleveland Park was connected to downtown Washington, the neighborhood’s second phase of development, as a “streetcar suburb,” similar to Chevy Chase, began.

The Cleveland Park Company oversaw construction on numerous plots starting in 1894. Most houses were designed by individual architects and builders, including Waddy B. Wood, resulting in an eclectic mix of the popular architectural styles of the time, notably the Queen Anne style, Georgian Revival, and the Mission Revival.Later, simpler designs like Prairie style and Tudor Revival were popular.

From Depression Era To Today

Development was sporadic, affected by events such as the bankruptcy of the Cleveland Park Company in 1905 and the Great Depression. This resulted in a diverse collection of dwellings of different sizes, types and styles, often built next to one another. In the later 20th century, noted architects Winthrop Faulkner and I. M. Pei designed houses in the neighborhood.

Today’s Cleveland Park offers a diverse collection of architectural styles and home sizes of varying price points, along with some multifamily buildings and a growing retail center.

Cleveland Park Schools

Hearst Elementary or John Eaton Elementary School* Public Grades PK-5

Alice Deal Middle School or Hardy Middle School* Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9 -12

*Address dependent

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

North Cleveland Park

Adjacent But Different

Don’t confuse North Cleveland Park with its southern neighbor Cleveland Park, though both sprung from the original tract of land on which President Grover Cleveland built his 1880s summer estate.

North Cleveland Park is adjacent to Cleveland Park on the north, bordered by Albemarle Street NW to the north, Rodman or Quebec Streets to the south, Wisconsin/Nebraska Avenues to the west, and Connecticut Avenue to the east. Served by the Van Ness–UDC Metro station.

North Cleveland Park Real Estate

The North Cleveland Park market is heavily influenced by institutional infrastructure, academic hubs, and a demand for slightly more affordable residential living.

The neighborhood is a draw for those working in or attending its top-tier educational institutions. The neighborhood is adjacent to elite private schools like Sidwell Friends School and the Sheridan School, and feeds into highly-rated public schools. North Cleveland Park also borders the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and a massive cluster of foreign embassies near the Van Ness area. This creates a steady, recession-proof demand for housing from diplomats, professors, and international professionals.

Commercial zones are restricted to the neighborhood’s outer edges (Connecticut and Wisconsin Avenues) so the interior streets of North Cleveland Park tend to be much quieter and less active than those in Cleveland Park.

Detached single-family homes in North Cleveland Park are somewhat more reasonably priced than those in Cleveland Park, while neighborhood amenities are very similar.

North Cleveland Park History

North Cleveland Park in Washington, D.C., evolved from 18th-century farmland like Springland Farm into a scientific hub, educational center, and diplomatic corridor.

Early Beginnings

The land once served as an agricultural estate owned by John Adlum, who cultivated the first native American wine grape varietal here.

Scientific Center

The National Bureau of Standards established a major facility in the area, turning the neighborhood into a center for American scientific innovation where milestones like the first atomic clock were developed. Following World War II, the neighborhood expanded with red brick co-ops, garden apartments, and rowhouses.

Academia

The arrival of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) on Van Ness Street in the 1950s anchored the neighborhood with a vibrant academic campus.

North Cleveland Park evolved to become home to the Van Ness campus of the University of the District of Columbia, elite private schools.

Diplomatic

The latter half of the 20th century brought a global shift, welcoming numerous international embassies along International Drive and transforming the area into a culturally connected diplomatic hub. Some of the embassies include: Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Slovakia and the United Arab Emirates.

Many of these embassies are located within the International Chancery Center, the former site of the National Bureau of Standards.

North Cleveland Park Schools

Phoebe Hearst Elementary School Public • Grades PK-5

Alice Deal Middle School Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Disclaimer

Adams Morgan Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:00:21 GMT

Adams Morgan Neighborhood

Fun, brash and frenetic by night, funky and colorful by day, bohemian Adams Morgan is never boring.

About Adams Morgan

With its Victorian homes, funky shops and eclectic buzz, Adams Morgan is a whirl of sights and activity. Adams Morgan is characterized by a mix of historic charm and contemporary living. The streets are lined with a diverse array of architectural styles, including charming row houses and converted condos. The neighborhood maintains its historic appeal while offering a mix of modern development and innovative retail.

The demand for real estate in Adams Morgan is driven by its central location, providing residents with easy access to cultural amenities, nightlife, and public transportation. The Adams Morgan market reflects the neighborhood’s popularity, and although competitive, it offers a unique blend of housing options that cater to both long-time locals and newcomers drawn to the area’s vibrant atmosphere.

What makes it desirable:

Bohemian vibe
Eclectic architecture
Central location
Location value
Schools

Nearby:

Woodley Park
Cleveland Park
Glover Park
Burleith
Georgetown
Dupont Circle

Adams Morgan History

Washington Heights Historic District

The Washington Heights Historic District is located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. It includes 347 contributing properties that date from 1891 to 1950. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, Washington Heights was a mostly white, middle-class neighborhood of single family rowhouses until the early 1920s when immigrants from Europe and Asia moved in. They started small businesses along 18th Street and worked in neighborhood embassies and homes as staff. The black population began moving into their rooming houses converted from larger homes in the 1930s, especially along Vernon Street. When white families migrated to the suburbs in the 1950s and 1960s, Latinos began moving in, taking advantage of affordable housing and work in Latin American embassies. Their population grew with political unrest in Latin American countries during the 1960s and in the 1970s they were joined by people from the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Africa, creating today’s vibrant, multicultural neighborhood.

Kalorama Triangle

The Kalorama Triangle Historic District is located in DC’s Kalorama Heights neighborhood. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, included on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites since 1986, it is comprised of approximately 350 contributing properties.

The Kalorama Triangle is a neighborhood within Adams Morgan, bounded by Connecticut Avenue, Calvert Street, NW and Columbia Road.

Lanier Heights

Lanier Heights is one of the early subdivisions created within the District, sited outside of the original, officially-planned City of Washington and two miles north of the White House. Lanier Heights is located within the larger, newer neighborhood of Adams Morgan. Its boundaries are considered to be 16th Street (east), Adams Mill Road and the National Zoo (west), Columbia Road (south), and Harvard Street (north). Like Mount Pleasant and Crestwood, Lanier Heights was developed from a large parcel of land granted to John Bradford in 1714. He named this tract Plain Dealing. In 1763 the parcel was acquired by Robert Peter of Georgetown, who also built the first home in Meridian Hill. The land that would become Lanier Heights was only used periodically for common farming until shortly after the end of the Civil War, when Washington started to develop rapidly. In 1883 the “Lanier Heights Subdivision” was created, planned and financed by Elizabeth Lanier Dunn and her husband General William M. Dunn. A few years later, banker Archibald M. McLachlen and biologist George Brown Goode of the Smithsonian Institution helped shape the neighborhood’s identity as a community for Smithsonian employees and other professionals in Washington. Introduction of an electric streetcar line on Columbia Road in 1897 and construction of The Ontario apartment building (c. 1902-06; converted to a co-operative in 1953) heightened the neighborhood’s profile and increased its population. As time went on, the Lanier Heights subdivision became a well-to-do neighborhood comprised of families, professionals, intellectuals, and city workers, developing in to a diverse compilation of people and cultures.

Meridian Hill

Meridian Hill Park, originally ‘Peter’s Hill’, was owned by Robert Peter, a wealthy Georgetown merchant. In 1804 President Thomas Jefferson placed a geographic marker there, centered exactly north of the White House, to establish a longitudinal meridian called the “White House meridian”. Commodore David Porter purchased the hill in 1816 and renamed it “Meridian Hill.” Porter built a huge mansion close to the marker. Its strategic location prompted the Army to seize the home and hill for use as a Civil War encampment named Camp Cameron. Meridian Hill mansion was damaged by fire following the war and was razed. The property was subdivided, with a large number of lots selling in 1887 to former Senator John Brooks Henderson and Mary Foote Henderson, who were relocating from Missouri. On the west side of newly extended 16th Street, they built ‘Henderson Castle,’ an elaborate stone home designed to resemble a castle. Mrs. Henderson cultivated friendships of members of Congress, then lobbied them to help her execute grandiose plans for the neighborhood, including an unsuccessful bid in 1900 to erect a presidential mansion there to replace the White House, and a failed proposal for the site to be used for the planned Lincoln Memorial. She finally pushed for a park and personally paid for the construction of a string of elaborate mansions and embassies lining 15th and 16th Streets. In 1901, the Senate Park Commission reconfigured the city’s National Mall and moved forward with plans for Meridian Hill Park, which was officially established by an Act of Congress on June 25, 1910.

Adams Morgan Schools

Marie Reed Elementary Public • Grades PK3-5 Spanish dual-language immersion program
H.D. Cooke Elementary School Public Grades PK3–5
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Primary Campus Public Grades PK3–3 (Woodley Park)
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Intermediate Campus Public Grades 4–8
Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12
Roosevelt High School Public Grades 9-12

Students living in the Adams Morgan boundary or completing the standard track have a guaranteed right to attend Jackson-Reed High School. This applies to students completing their 8th-grade year at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School. It also applies to students who progress through local neighborhood pathways from Marie Reed Elementary and H.D. Cooke Elementary via their designated middle schools.

Because Adams Morgan is home to heavy dual-language immersion programming, students have an automatic programmatic pathway to a specialized high school curriculum. Eighth graders graduating from the Spanish-English dual-language tracks at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School and Marie Reed (via MacFarland Middle School) have a guaranteed programmatic right to enter the Dual-Language program at Roosevelt High School

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

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American University Park Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:43:49 GMT

American University Park

American University Park is home to some of the District’s highest elevations and an institution of higher learning.

American University Park Neighborhood

Named for the university, American University Park (AU Park) is blanketed with single family homes in a wide variety of architectural styles.

American University Park stands out as a peaceful and family-friendly neighborhood with a strong sense of community. Known for its tree-lined streets and a mix of architectural styles, including Colonial and Tudor Revival homes, AU Park exudes a suburban feel while maintaining urban accessibility. The neighborhood’s proximity to American University contributes to its academic ambiance, attracting both students and professionals.

The real estate market in AU Park is characterized by detached single-family homes and rowhouses. The demand for real estate in AU Park remains steady due to its excellent schools, green spaces like Turtle Park, and convenient location near amenities and public transportation. The housing market reflects a mix of historic charm and contemporary updates, making American University Park a desirable residential destination for those seeking a blend of tranquility and city living.

What makes it desirable:

Generous lot sizes
Highly-rated schools
Proximity to Wisconsin Ave amenities
Family vibe
Proximity to university

Nearby:

Chevy Chase DC
Spring Valley
Tenleytown
Wesley Heights
North Cleveland Park
Cathedral Heights

American University Park History

Friendship Tract

From a 3,124 acre wooded tract named “Friendship” granted to James Stoddert and Col. Thomas Addison, the land that would evolve into the American University Park neighborhood was settled in 1713 and passed down through the Addison family. In 1760, relation John Murdock built the area’s first residence, a single story frame house on what is now Massachusetts Avenue, near the southern border of the property. Eventually, a chain of farms grew in the area, linked to one another and Murdock Mill by Murdock Mill Road. The mill was located near today’s Dalecarlia Parkway, and the Murdock family ran it until 1889. John Murdock enjoyed entertaining and hosted many notables, including George Washington and Abraham and Mary Lincoln at his estate. One of the area farms belonged to brothers Samuel and Levi Burrows, who purchased the land between the mill and what is now Western Avenue, from John Murdock’s grandson, W.D.C. Murdock, during the mid-1800s. The Murdocks kept about 800 acres south of the mill in the family, including what are now Ward Circle and the Katzen Arts Center. During the Civil War, Murdock’s tract became Fort Gaines. The American University campus functioned as a training center and the Burrows property, adjacent to Fort Bayard, was used as barracks and parade grounds. Local lore states that Mrs. Burrows was personally acquainted with President Lincoln and hosted him for informal meals during his visits to the fort.

AU Park Subdivision

According to wdchumanities.org; “The American University Park subdivision was the product of real estate investors John D. Croissant and David D. Stone” and “the first purchase of land for American University Park included an area of 54.367 acres. The second purchase included 70 acres along Murdock Mill Road.” The first house Croissant & Stone built was 4701 Fessenden Street, a large 2.5 story Queen Anne-style residence, c. 1880. By 1897, ten more Queen Annes were under construction and in the next five years, construction would being by others in the area on such projects as the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge, Washington Cathedral School for Girls and St. Albans School for Boys. Development slowed in the Croissant & Stone subdivision, mostly due to last of transportation, and just 7 new homes were built by 1903. One of these was a small Queen Anne designed for David Stone’s son Robert in 1900 at 4901 47th Street. John Croissant died, and his son DeWitt took over the subdivision, which had stopped selling altogether by 1904. For more than 20 years, only one completed house sat on each block, with the exception of 4900 47th Street, a speculative Craftsman bungalow c. 1911, built by DeWitt Croissant.

Murdock Mill

In 1889 the “Friendship” tract, including the Murdock estate house, was purchased by Achsah C Davis. Less than a year later, Davis, or the Davis estate, sold 90 acres of two tracts known by then as “Saint Philip and Jacob” and “Friendship” to Bishop John Hourst on February 28, 1890 for $100,000.00. Also in 1890, the Georgetown and Tennallytown Railway line started to run across a stretch of land that is now Wisconsin Avenue. By late 1892, Congress had chartered the university, but funding took thirty years and it wasn’t dedicated until 1914. In 1896-97, the Burrows brothers sold a parcel north of Murdock Mill Road for the American University Park subdivision.

A New Chapter

It wasn’t until the 1940’s that homes completely filled the empty lots between the original farmhouses and the Croissant & Stone dwellings. The neighborhood was re-energized by a population boom and new builders bought the lots abandoned by failed developers. Spec homes sprouted up and larger lots were further subdivided. Historians say that in 1925, the remaining 50-acre tract of the Burrows estate was sold and platted into residential building lots. American University Park soon became a completed middle-class residential neighborhood with architectural styles including Colonial, Craftsman, and Tudor Revival. The Burrows farmhouse, located near what is today the corner of 45th and Ellicott, stood through all the subdivisions and commercial development and in 1924 was relocated to 4624 Verplanck Street, where it still sits. Other surviving farmhouses are 4716 48th Street and 4308 46th Street. The construction date of 4308 46th Street is debatable, possibly elements of an original structure c. early 1800’s are present but much of the residence has been rebuilt over time.

Evolution of AU Park

AU Park never became a “hot” Washington DC subdivision, but today it is an upscale and vital neighborhood with steadily rising real estate values and a desirable school pyramid.

AU Park Schools

The public schools zoned for the American University Park (AU Park) neighborhood in Washington, D.C., are Janney Elementary School, Alice Deal Middle School, and Jackson-Reed High School.

Janney Elementary School Public • Grades PK-5

Alice Deal Middle School Public Grades 6-8 Public IB program

Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

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Bloomingdale Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:10:17 GMT

Bloomingdale Neighborhood Profile

Section: Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Authenticity and charm abound in Bloomingdale. Enjoy colorful Victorian rowhouses, a brightly-painted downtown district and striking murals in this hip, boho neighborhood.

Bloomingdale is known for its sense of community and architectural charm. Lined with picturesque row houses, many in the Victorian and Edwardian style, and home to a diverse mix of residents, the neighborhood offers a unique blend of local businesses, trendy eateries, and a strong community spirit.

Bloomingdale’s real estate market is driven by its proximity to downtown, the neighborhood’s historic aesthetic, and the ongoing development of amenities. Renovated homes, in particular, showcase a mix of classic features and modern updates, contributing to the area’s appeal. Bloomingdale’s real estate landscape reflects a dynamic mix of old and new, making it an exciting destination for those seeking a historic, yet vibrant, living experience in the nation’s capital.

What makes it desirable:

Victorian architecture
Short residential streets
Proximity to Shaw amenities
Unique retail

Nearby:

Shaw
LeDroit Park
Mt Vernon Triangle
Eckington

Bloomingdale History

Bloomingdale Estate

The neighborhood began as several large estates and orchards located just outside the original boundary of the City of Washington. Bloomingdale residential development began in the late 1880s, shortly after the County of Washington was absorbed by the City of Washington. Boundary Street (Florida Avenue), was the dividing line between paved, planned streets to the south and rural country to the north, where landowners maintained orchards and large country estates. Later, some of these gave way to commercial properties.

George Beale and wife Emily purchased a 10-acre parcel of land along the City boundary in 1823 and named it the “Bloomingdale Estate.” The estate eventually grew to 50 acres and the name stuck. After Emily Beale’s death in 1885, her heirs began to sell large tracts of the estate to developers, who created residential developments between the already established LeDroit Park and Eckington neighborhoods. By 1887, city planners were talking about extending the city’s paved street grid into Bloomingdale. By 1894.roads were improved, curbed, and paved. Streams and creeks like Tiber Creek were buried or re-directed south of Bloomingdale. One section of the Tiber Creek in Bloomingdale ran along what is now Flagler Place.

Modern Bloomingdale

Some of the earliest Bloomingdale homes were built between 1892 and 1900. One of the first was 2122 1st Street, built in 1900 by Samuel Gompers. In 1903, eleven homes were built along Rhode Island Avenue. Spec homes by developers like Harry Wardman, S. H. Meyers and Francis Blundon followed. Many of Wardman’s early Bloomingdale homes incorporate elements of Richardson Romanesque architecture, while his later designs on Adams and Bryant Streets, were designed in the set-back, brick with covered front porch style for which he’s most famous. Blundon built several homes along 1st Street including his own home at 100 W Street. In 1904, Nathaniel Parker Gage School was constructed on the 2000 block of 2nd Street.

By 1909, the old estates had all been sold and divided, and the neighborhood street layout had been fully developed into its present configuration. Many homes in the northern section of Bloomingdale retain carriage houses, some of which have been converted to private residences.

The Gage School was converted to condominiums in 2007. On May 22, 2010, the city officially dedicated a new alley street, Bloomingdale Court, N.W. between the 100 block of U and V Streets, N.W., and the 2000 block of 1st Street and Flagler Place.

Bloomingdale Schools

Public & In-Boundary Schools (DCPS):

Langley Elementary School Public Grades PK–5

McKinley Middle School Public Grades 6–8

Cardozo Education Campus Public Grades 6–12

Dunbar High School Public Grades 9–12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

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Burleith Neighborhood

Susan Isaacs — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:56:22 GMT

Burleith Neighborhood Profile

Section: Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist

Burleith is a 535 residence urban village, snuggled between Georgetown and Glover Park. A place where trees and people grow.

About Burleith

Burleith is characterized by its residential tranquility and proximity to urban amenities. Composed of detached homes, row houses and townhomes, Burleith offers a mix of architectural styles that contribute to its distinctive character.

The neighborhood’s appeal lies in its peaceful atmosphere while still being in close proximity to Georgetown and other bustling areas.

The real estate market in Burleith has seen increased demand due to its family-friendly environment, well-maintained streets, and easy access to parks and schools. Housing options range from historic properties with classic charm to modern renovations. As a result, the real estate landscape in Burleith reflects a balance between the neighborhood’s historic roots and the desire for contemporary living, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a harmonious blend of residential comfort and urban convenience.

What makes it desirable:

Unpretentious
Excellent location
Trees
Desirable schools
Rapidly growing in value

Nearby:

Georgetown
Cleveland Park
Glover Park
Woodley Park

Burleith History

“Alliance”

Henry Threlkeld was an early settler who bought “Alliance,” an estate of 1,000 acres bordering on the Potomac River. A portion of this tract came to be known as Berlieth (now ‘Burleith’). Threlkeld’s son John, was mayor of Georgetown in 1793. In 1822 he put an 11.5 acre parcel of land to his daughter Jane in a trust administered by his son-in-law John Cox. Cox also served as mayor of Georgetown from 1823 to 1845. He built “The Cedars,” a mansion on the site now occupied by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Cox’s grand estate home was consumed by fire in 1847 but was rebuilt by his son Richard, an apparent southern sympathizer who lost use of the home during the Civil War. It was confiscated by the government and used as the Home for Destitute Colored Women and Children. In 1866, the mansion was returned to Cox when the Home for The Destitute relocated. Misses Earles’ Seminary, an academy for girls subsequently took ownership and in 1892, Western High School was built on the site of the seminary. The area where the school and parts of today’s Burleith are located was known as “Cox’s Woods.”

Dickens On Burleith

Burleith was built on elevated ground, so its temperatures were slightly cooler than those in most areas of the city. Charles Dickens put it this way in 1842: “The heights of this neighborhood, above the Potomac River, are very picturesque; and are free, I should conceive, from some of the insalubrities of Washington. The air, at that elevation, was quite cool and refreshing, when in the city it was burning hot.” Developer Frederick W. Huidekoper purchased the Burleith tract in 1886, erected a few buildings, kept most of the land intact and subdivided it. Huidekoper is said to have filled the “lake” at the intersection of what is now 37th and S Streets with 3,200,000 cubic yards of dirt because of the amount of water that poured down the ravine near T Street when it rained. The work was completed before Huidekoper sold the subdivision to Shannon & Luchs.

The Great Burleith Fire

Shannon & Luchs built approximately 450 homes in Burleith between 1923 and 1928. Most offered six rooms. Their architectural style is primarily ‘American Colonial’ utilizing brick in a variety of colors, accented by stone, wood, and plaster. Machine-made trimmings and moldings could be ordered from a catalogue.

The price of the Burleith homes ranged from $8,950. to $13,500. and tempted buyers with features and finishes typically found in higher-end residences. These included hot water heat, ‘real’ floors and plaster. An additional block of new homes in Burleith was added in 1928, by Cooley Brothers. They built Tudor-style row houses on the north side of T Street between 38th and 39th.

Few homes had been occupied when “the Great Burleith Fire” destroyed seven of the new homes on 37th Street. Efforts to put out the fire were hampered by the subdivision’s own construction on S and T Streets, which blocked fire extinguishing equipment.

Buyer Of Moderate Means

Shannon & Luchs decided in 1923 to develop housing for “the buyer of moderate means, but of more than ordinary good taste.” Their 1926 promotional brochure touted the “ideal location” of Burleith as “adjacent to historic old Georgetown,” and proximity to “two great educational institutions: Georgetown University and the Convent of the Visitation” as well as “the magnificent estate of the Archibald family.”

The publication also promoted “tracts recently purchased by the U.S. Government for purposes of forming a connecting link between Glover-Archbold Parkway and the Rock Creek Park system.” (Whitehaven Parkway, the three-block northern boundary of Burleith, was never built through, although sections of Whitehaven are found between Macarthur Blvd. and Foxhall Road, and near the British Embassy on Massachusetts Ave.).

Burleith Schools

The in-boundary public schools for the Burleith neighborhood in Washington, DC are Hyde-Addison Elementary School, Hardy Middle School, and Jackson-Reed High School (with some tracks also associated with MacArthur High School).

Hyde-Addison Elementary Public Grades PK-5

Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8

Jackson-Reed High School (in Tenleytown) Public Grades 9-12

MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12

For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.

Sources

burleith.org/burleith-history

Wikipedia

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