The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 areas vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. This week we'll have two matchups per day, and all the results and the full tournament bracket will be reviewed on Friday. Voting for each pairing ends 24 hours after it begins. Let the eliminations commence!
These two Washington, D.C. neighborhoods are located only about three miles away from each other. While both Northwest neighborhoods (and both ending in "Heights"), there are a variety of other similarities that may cause these contenders to be difficult to choose from for the Curbed Cup. Be sure to also vote on whether or not Petworth is better than H Street Corridor or vice versa in this poll. The full roster of neighborhoods up for the Curbed Cup will be revealed this Friday. Columbia Heights was once a primarily residential neighborhood, but in the early part of the twentieth century, the area transformed into an urban center before the 1968 riots caused a myriad of residents to move out and stores to become vacant, according to We Love DC. Today, the area is known for its variety of retail options, from Target to Bed Bath and Beyond to Best Buy. As a mixed-use neighborhood, Columbia Heights is also one of the most ethnically and economically diverse neighborhoods in the city. Another big plus to the area is the Meridian Hill Park. Two major issues to the neighborhood are its gangs and drugs, reports We Love DC. One Curbed reader who nominated Columbia Heights, said, "Everything is within walking distance (grocery store, shopping district, small businesses, schools)."
As a fairly small and quiet neighborhood, Cathedral Heights is known for its detached single-family houses and older apartment and condo complexes. Despite its residential atmosphere and popularity among families, the neighborhood isn't known for having a tight-knit community, according to UrbanTurf. Expect little traffic and few pedestrians in Cathedral Heights and upper-class residents like doctors and ambassadors. Some of the minuses of the neighborhood include that it has no Metro stop (though the Netflix series House of Cards did imagine one) and there are few to no restaurant or retail options.
The below poll closes at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16.
· Columbia Heights coverage [Curbed DC]
· Cathedral Heights coverage [Curbed DC]
· All Curbed Cup 2015 coverage [Curbed DC]
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