If you're at the time of your life when living in an interesting, vibrant neighborhood is what you want, the Columbia Heights section of D.C. could be your ideal destination. The area boasts a rich cultural heritage, ethnic diversity, affordable housing, and a huge new shopping center across from the Metro station. This is why I have called the neighborhood home since September 2008.
Located in the Northwest quadrant of D.C., the area is bordered by Spring Road, Georgia Road, Georgia Avenue, and 16th Street. About 40% of the area residents are between 25-40. One in four residents is a homeowner, although the area is a popular area for rentals too....so if holding onto a condo as an investment (down the road) sounds appealing, this could be your golden spot! Dominated by Victorian style architecture, Columbia Heights saw a rash of luxury modern-style condo building in anticipation of the opening of the D.C.USA shopping center in 2008. Given the sluggish economy, some of the condos have since been converted to rentals but are still thriving.
Columbia Heights was named after a college which has since changed its name to George Washington University and moved most of its operations to Foggy Bottom. The government bought some of the college property to build Meridian Park (also known as Malcolm X Park) the site of famous statues of historic figures. Only 15-20 minutes from downtown Washington, it quickly became the upscale home of government employees, Supreme Court justices, and military officers and other wealthy residents. The area became more urban as apartments were built to meet demand.
Demographic shifts in the 1940s made the area more middle class and changed the racial composition. Like many other Washington, D.C. neighborhoods, Columbia Heights was devastated by riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. In the decades following the riots, the area lay dormant....but all of this has changed in the past 5 years.
Now, Columbia Heights has been rediscovered. First, a Metro station was opened, which served as a catalyst for economic development and population influx. Much of the development has centered around 11th Street, already the site of a popular neighborhood bar called the Wonderland Ballroom (a favorite happy hour spot!), Columbia Heights Coffee, and other bars and restaurants. The mix of cultures that now populate the neighborhood make for an interesting mix of cuisine and cultural events. The biggest area attraction, DCUSA, has Target, Buy Buy, Marshalls & Washington Sports Club as anchor stores, plus ample underground parking (only $1/hr!), to serve neighborhood residents and pull in people from all over D.C.
The revitalization has made Columbia Heights properties attractive yet some of the most affordable in D.C.. Median values for a single family home is $597,000, while the condo median price is $399,000.
Does the "median value" still seem out of your price range? Right now on my Atlantic Coast Connection website, I have 90 properties in Columbia Heights that are listed for less than $250,000. Finding an affordable home in the area with parking or proximity to the Metro is part of what Rachel Valentino can do for you! Check out my website today to see my full array of listings in the greater DC area.
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