$429,591Average Value$223Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
Eastern D.C. neighborhood bordering Maryland with a close community
Capitol View is a deeply-rooted D.C. community east of the Anacostia River that has experienced struggle and success over its 100-year history. Capitol View first saw development in the 1920s by Black businessman John Whitelaw Lewis, making it one of the few neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., created "for African Americans, by African Americans," according to the Capitol View Civic Association. The area was a settled suburban neighborhood for decades, but social issues plaguing the neighborhood drove up crime through the '80s and '90s. Since then, the neighborhood has made strides to recover and push for redevelopment to improve the lives of the tight-knit community there. "There's a culture that is built from people being in the neighborhood for a very long time," says Mandla Deskins, president of the Capitol View Civic Association and NAACP national director of advocacy. "There's a lot of long-term residents, both homeowners and renters, who live in a certain level of harmony — in spite of the lack of resources and amenities and the difficulties that are put in front of them. People look out for each other. It may not be as wealthy, but there's still a feel of a relaxed, suburban community."
Semi-detached homes and public housing
Semi-detached brick homes built in the 1930s with simple awnings and minimal landscaping line the streets of Capitol View. Bungalows, ranches and colonial homes from the same era are also common and cost between $300,000 and $500,000. "There hasn't been a lot of residential turnover," Deskins says. The majority of people there now bought the house from people whose families were the first or second buyers of the house." Sidewalks and sometimes stairs lead up to the front entrance of homes, accommodating the neighborhood's hilly terrain, and cars park along the wide streets. East Capitol Dwellings, once D.C.'s largest public housing development notorious for its concentrated poverty and crime, was demolished in 2003 and replaced with the Capitol Gateway Complex. The Capitol Gateway Complex has mixed-income dwellings, including low-income senior apartments, privately owned single-family houses and townhouses in new traditional styles near the neighborhood's east side. "There are homeowners and some renters [in Capitol Gateway]. A lot of people moved out of East Capitol Dwellings into Capitol Gateway. They were long-term residents," Deskins says. The Southern Homes and Gardens Cooperative, in Capitol View's far eastern corner, has rent-to-own agreements for low-income residents in its townhouses.
Traditional public schools turned into charter schools
With the demolition of the East Capitol Dwellings in the early 2000s, several public schools shut down due to low attendance. "All the public schools became charter schools," Deskins says. Marion P. Shadd Elementary School closed in 2007 and reopened as the D.C. Scholars Public Charter School, which serves kindergarten through eighth grades. W. Bruce Evans Junior High School closed in 1996 and reopened in 2007 as Maya Angelou Public Charter School. Both schools earn a C-minus grade from Niche. The Maya Angelou School focuses on educating at-risk high school students. According to the school's website, 27% of its students have been incarcerated, and 39% of its students have special needs. Students attending traditional public schools often begin at C-minus-rated C.W. Harris Elementary School before progressing to C-rated Kelly Miller Middle School and C-minus-rated H.D. Woodson High School.
Marvin Gaye Trail and Recreation Center
Although no parks are within the neighborhood's boundaries, the Marvin Gaye Trail, north of the neighborhood, connects residents around the District. "It's a big, paved trail. It goes through Kenilworth Park, but it can also connect to a trail that goes by the Pepco plant, which drops you off on the Anacostia trail," Deskins says. "It's usable for a commute, and I used to use it to take my kids to school and the Metro station." Also just north of the neighborhood, the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center is a 7,200-square-foot facility completed in 2018. Its campus has playgrounds, softball and soccer fields, and basketball courts, as well as indoor fitness and community rooms. The building is made of steel on a concrete foundation that helps make it resistant to flooding; Watts Branch Stream runs through the campus, which is in a 100-year flood plain.
East Capitol Urban Farm and community events
Capitol View comes together for informal events throughout the year. "There are dedicated community members who create community for themselves," Deskins says. "Our neighbors on 54th Street put together a block party. There was music, tables set out for food, kids running around, things like that." The University of the District of Colombia maintains the East Capitol Urban Farm, a 3-acre community garden at the corner of East Capitol Street and Southern Avenue. The farm hosts a market each week where residents can get free produce and learn about growing and preparing fresh foods. The Capitol View Library, which also serves the Marshall Heights neighborhood, hosts story times, educational programs, book clubs and movie nights.
Getting groceries in Capitol View
There are limited shopping and dining restaurants in Capitol View, and the closest grocery store is Safeway on Benning Road, about 2 miles west. "Unfortunately, we live in a food desert like most Black neighborhoods," Deskins says. "There's a big empty lot on 58th that was supposed to be a grocery store that's been held up ever since Walmart got out of building it there." In 2022, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Council of the District of Columbia initiated eminent domain to reclaim ownership of the land from Walmart and move forward with developing the Capitol Gateway Marketplace anchored by a Giant Food store at the site. As of July 2024, construction has not yet begun. Locals can visit Capital Szechuan for Chinese takeout or Toni's Market for a small selection of grocery items and convenience foods. The intersection of Benning Road and East Capitol Street nearby also has more businesses, including a 7-Eleven, Denny's, and a pharmacy and beauty supply store in the Benco Shopping Center.
Getting downtown from Capitol View
"There's always parking, and there's not really any traffic other than the Main Road," Deskins says. He explains that many commuters from Maryland drive west through Capitol View into downtown D.C., and Marylanders also park at the Capitol Heights Metro station — just across the state border from the neighborhood — and ride in for work, making it busy in the morning. Both the Benning Road Metro Station and Capitol Heights Metro Station are on the Blue and Silver Lines toward downtown, about 6 miles west. The Blue Line also takes riders directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about 10 miles west. East of the River Health Center is a clinic off Benning Road, and United Medical Center Hospital is about 6 miles south. Capitol View has a CAP Index crime score of 6, indicating a higher crime risk than the national average of 4. The neighborhood's CAP index score is a 9 for homicide and an 8 for robbery and assault with a weapon.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tim Dudley,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Marvin Gaye Park
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Trails
Marvin Gaye Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Bike Trails
Woody Ward Recreation Center
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Pool
Kelly Miller Recreation Center
Basketball
Picnic Area
Pool
Harris Recreation Center
Soccer
Playground
Parking Lot
Transit
Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
20 min drive
Bus
E Capitol St SE & 56th Pl SE
Bus
Central Ave SE & 52nd St SE
Bus
East Capitol St SE & 52nd St SE
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Capitol View
US
Homicide
9
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Capitol View, Washington sell after 29 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Capitol View, Washington over the last 12 months is $424,305, consistent with the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome to this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home that perfectly blends comfort, style, and convenience. Step inside the bright, spacious layout and discover brand new LVP flooring throughout both the main and basement levels, creating a warm, modern feel. The formal dining room offers an inviting space for gatherings, while the newly renovated bathrooms showcase sleek, contemporary
Sonya AbneyCosmopolitan Properties Real Estate Brokerage
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tim Dudley,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,734
Median Age
37
Population Density
19 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$72,034
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$117,497
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.1%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
36.1%
Advanced Degrees
20.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
66%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
27°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
14''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
38/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
51/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
67/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
