The D.C. Tax Revision Commission received a report from four experts in local government and local universities that named eighteen transitioning or "gentrifying" neighborhoods in the District. These neighborhoods include some areas like the Atlas District, Trinidad, Petworth, Columbia Heights, Eckington and 16th Street Heights where the change has been very visible. However, other neighborhoods such as Anacostia, Deanwood, Barry Farms and Congress Heights have also made the list, despite recent talk that gentrification conversations about such regions are premature. The point these residents make is valid: that spots in Ward 7 and Ward 8 lack the amenities of their Northwest neighbors such as:
· Large Grocery Stores (like Giant and Safeway)
· Large Pharmacy Retailers (like CVS)
· Higher End Fast Food (Chipotle, Starbucks, Sweetgreen)
But these experts aren't looking at the explosion of hip bars and restaurants or even a grocery store boom necessarily. Here's what all eighteen neighborhoods (which also include Chillum, Brentwood, Brookland, Fort Dupont Park, Ledroit Park, Lily Ponds, Marshall Heights and Randle Heights) have in common.
· The median property value in all of the neighborhoods was below the city average in 2001 and above it in 2011.
· The median gross income was below the city average in 2001 and is now above it.
· The percentage of younger working people in each neighborhood is now higher than the percentage of people under 15 and over 64.
· Single people make a higher percentage of the population than married people.
· Condos! Condos have shown up in all neighborhoods in greater numbers.
This isn't to say that the neighborhoods east of the river aren't still lacking in amenities, but perhaps the increase in development projects does merit at least a gentrification conversation. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
· 18 gentrifying D.C. neighborhoods identified [WBJ]
· 6 reasons the east of the river "gentrification" panic is a tad premature [Congress Heights on the Rise]
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