$353,133Average Value$289Average Price per Sq Ft7Homes For Sale
A historically Black community on the Anacostia River
The northeastern D.C. neighborhood of River Terrace began as a planned community of rowhouses and semi-detached homes on the eastern banks of the Anacostia River. When construction started in the 1930s, exclusionary covenants prevented Black families from buying houses in the neighborhood, but when some restrictions waned in the late 1940s, they began moving to River Terrace. White families began moving away, and River Terrace became a thriving, predominately Black community by the 1950s. “People stay in River Terrace for a long time. They’re known for having a long-established community and an active civic association,” says Renee McElrath, a D.C. native and real estate agent with Douglas Elliman Metro D.C. Activism and community engagement are integral to the Ward 7 neighborhood, as moving to the area in the 1940s was an act of resistance. Since then, the community has advocated for the closure of the toxic PEPCO power plant that was just north of River Terrace on Benning Road, leading to its closure and subsequent demolition in 2014, and for their local elementary school to remain open, though it ultimately closed in 2012. Today, residents continue to show pride in The Terrace by contributing to an online scrapbook of local history and attending monthly civic meetings.
Beautiful night scenery at Anacostia Park.
Unique artwork is no stranger to the River Terrace neighborhood.
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Basketball courts and nature trails at River Terrace Park
On the banks of the Anacostia River, the River Terrace Park is the neighborhood’s outdoor gathering space. Kids run around the playground, teenagers join pickup games on the basketball courts, and neighbors meet for matches on the tennis courts. Spacious grass fields peppered with tall trees fill the park, and residents are frequently spotted walking their dogs, pushing strollers, biking or jogging on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. The paved pathway winds for miles along the riverfront, curving through grassy fields and forested land. Currently, 12 miles of trailway are open to the public, but the D.C. Department of Transportation is working to build the Anacostia Riverwalk out to over 20 miles.
River Terrace Park looks out onto the Kingman and Heritage Islands, man-made islands resulting from the heavily polluted Anacostia River being dredged in the early 1900s. To this day, toxic chemicals and high E. coli levels prevent Washingtonians from being able to swim in the river, but locals can walk over the Ethel Kennedy Bridge to explore Kingman and Heritage Islands Park, which sits directly west of River Terrace. Anglers may cast a line at the park, though they should never eat the fish they catch. Kayaking is also encouraged, and many people enjoy hiking or biking along the nature paths.
Children love playing on the playground at Kingman and Heritage Islands Park.
River Terrace Park has tons of walking trails and scenic views.
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Brick rowhouses and semi-detached homes on gridded streets
River Terrace’s densely gridded streets are lined with narrow concrete sidewalks, brick multifamily homes and rowhouses from the 1930s and ‘40s. Some homes have small driveways in the back of the property, but most do not, so parked cars also line the streets. Chain link fences encircle many front lawns, which are often brightened with shrubbery, colorful blooms and neat walkways. “There are concerns about residents being priced out of their neighborhood. The citizens and community association have advocated to keep developers out where they can,” McElrath says. Housing prices in the neighborhood are lower than most of the district, with rowhouses usually selling between $250,000 and $480,000.
Styles differ in River Terrace row homes, like these colonial-style houses along Clay Pl NE.
Attached row homes are a popular housing style in the River Terrace neighborhood.
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Casual takeout restaurants on Benning Road
The neighborhood has a couple of businesses, like a tire shop and liquor store, on Benning Road, but there aren’t any restaurants in River Terrace. “People will head over to Benning Road or Minnesota Avenue for takeout food,” McElrath says. “It’s a lot of mom and pop places and convenience stores—that area has never had a huge restaurant scene.” Mornings may start with a classic breakfast platter from Norma’s Breakfast, a casual carryout spot. Minnesota Seafood serves a variety of dishes, from fried seafood to lo mein and fried rice. For a sit-down option, there's Sala Thai for curry or pad thai. The East River Park shopping center is also off Benning Road, a mile east of River Terrace. Along with staples like a CVS Pharmacy and a Safeway supermarket, the retail center has shoe stores and a beauty supply store.
River Terrace residents frequent Minnesota Seafood for lunch.
Near River Terrace, locals can get food at Norma’s Homestyle Breakfast on Minnesota Ave NE.
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Monthly association meetings and local library programs
The River Terrace Community Organization has monthly meetings where locals learn about neighborhood happenings. The association elects officers who serve two-year terms and block captains who act as points of contact for their block. River Terracers may join the community’s bike club, a group of cyclists who traverse the nearby bike paths or meet for picnics and chit-chat with neighbors in the park. On Sundays, many gather at the local Methodist church, Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church About a mile east of the neighborhood is the Benning/Dorothy Irene Height Library, a public library serving Ward 7 with events like book clubs, computer classes and job-seeking assistance programs.
Bikers enjoy waterside trails at Anacostia Park.
River Terrace is home to Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.
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STEM career academies at H.D. Woodson High School
The neighborhood used to have a local elementary school, but it closed in 2012 due to low enrollment. The school district renovated the building to create the River Terrace Education Campus, a city-wide school dedicated to serving neurodivergent students with specialized programs and disability support services. Most local children don’t attend the education campus and are zoned to Thomas Elementary School, which is 2 miles from the neighborhood and earns a C-plus rating from Niche. Students can progress to Kelly Miller Middle School, which has a C rating, and then to H.D. Woodson High School, which is rated a C-minus. The high school has STEM career academies where students can study engineering, information technology and finance.
Kelly Miller Middle School cultivates intellectual and social growth.
H.D. Woodson High School serves grades 9 through 12.
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Bus and Metrorail stops near River Terrace
Though sidewalks line the residential streets, allowing neighbors to walk to friends’ houses or the park, most rely on public transportation or cars to run errands. Sidewalks lead to bus stops operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Bus route U4 most frequently services River Terrace. There are two Metrorail stations within about a mile of the neighborhood; commuters may board the Orange Line at Minnesota Avenue or the Silver or Blue Lines at the Benning Road station. The neighborhood is bounded by Route 295, so drivers can easily merge onto the roadway to travel throughout the district. River Terrace's CAP Index crime score is 7 out of 10, particularly influenced by higher-than-average violent crime rates.
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
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to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
River Terrace
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
9
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
9
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
River Terrace Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in River Terrace, Washington sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in River Terrace, Washington over the last 12 months is $385,000, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
