The land that would become Columbia Heights started as 19th-century farmland outside the small but growing nation's capital. Now, it stands as one of D.C.'s most densely populated neighborhoods and is locally known as the go-to retail hub in Northwest D.C., hosting the DC USA Mall and a corridor of dining establishments and stores along 14th Street. “[It’s a] pretty centrally located area with lots of stuff to do; you don’t need a car,” says Kimberly Diggs, an associate broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate, “It’s close to U Street nightlife and restaurants on 14th Street.” Residents are a few blocks away from the Smithsonian Zoo to the west, a Rock Creek Park trailhead to the north, or the nightlife along the U Street Corridor to the south. They are also connected to Downtown via a metro station or a straight shot down 16th Street.
Locals can head to major retailers close to home at the D.C. USA Mall
The D.C. USA Mall is a large, mixed-use retail center along 14th Street in Columbia Heights. It's built on the site of an old Romanesque Revival streetcar garage, which was used when public trolleys dominated city streets from the 1860s to the early 1960s. Diggs says, “They have a Target, which is a big deal in a major metropolitan area; those amenities are not common in D.C.” Familiar retailers like Marshall's, Target and Old Navy anchor this mall. There's also a Lidl and Giant nearby for groceries. A couple blocks north of the mall are unique restaurants like Thip Khao, serving traditional Laotian cuisine, with curry noodles and fried catfish for entrees and laab, chopped meat with vegetables and aromatic spices. There's also Tequila & Mezcal, a Mexican diner with birria tacos and tart taramindo margaritas. A block south of Columbia Heights is the famous U Street Corridor, a nightlife destination for the whole city. U Street was once the heart of D.C.'s jazz scene, and that spirit is kept alive through the vibrant nightclubs on either side; in venues like Lyve @ U, Pure Lounge and Cloak and Dagger, locals can get drinks and dance to live music. Residents can also pick up fresh produce and other handcrafted goods at the FreshFarm Columbia Heights Farmer's Market, open year-round on Sunday mornings at Civic Plaza, a small park on 14th Street.
Columbia Heights is filled with high-rise condos and Victorian rowhouses
Home values range from $250,000 to $1.6 million, varying by square footage and age. Diggs says that “There are rentals and some condos, there’s lots of folks who start their [homeowning] process here because of the condo inventory. There’s also rowhouses and multi-unit properties for people seeking investment opportunities.” High-rise condos run from $250,000 for a studio or one-bedroom to $1.3 million for luxury three-bedroom units with over 1,000 square feet. Victorian rowhouses stretch from $600,000 to well above $1.5 million and usually start with three bedrooms or more. Since this is one of the city's most densely populated neighborhoods, detached single-family homes are harder to come by on the market.
Residents can stroll through Piney Branch Park to the north or Meridian Hill Park to the south
Columbia Heights hosts Meridian Hill Park to the southwest, locally called Malcolm X Park, and stands as one of the most ambitious examples of a 20th-century Neoclassical-style Park, with fountains and Italian gardens to create the feeling of walking through the Renaissance era. Locals congregate here on Sundays for drum circles, a tradition that's been going on for over 40 years. The modest Powell Recreation Center features a children's playground, a soccer field and tennis courts. The Smithsonian Zoo is a mile west of Columbia Heights and is regionally renowned for its in-depth exhibits. Visitors can see orangutans climbing overhead on the O-Line, a system of cables hanging over the zoo that the primates can use to climb between their enclosures. Residents can access D.C.'s premier green space, Rock Creek Park, through a trail in Piney Branch Park, a couple blocks north of the neighborhood border. Rock Creek Park stretches from Northwest D.C. deep into Montgomery County, Maryland, and is a popular destination for hikers and bikers in the region.
Tubman Elementary School offers education as well as farm-fresh food
Columbia Heights students will attend D.C. public schools such as Tubman Elementary School and Cardozo Education Campus, which both have B-minus overall ratings on Niche, while Columbia Heights Education Campus teaches grades 6-12; and has a B-plus overall rating. Tubman Elementary has a unique bilingual curriculum, after-school yoga, and its own farmer's market on Wednesdays, partnering with several regional farms to provide fresh produce and preserves for neighborhood families.
Columbia Heights metro station connects residents to Downtown in minutes
Residents can take the Green Line bound Columbia Heights metro station to the government employers of Downtown D.C. within 20 minutes or drive south along 16th Street to get there in 2 miles. Metrobuses run down main streets like 16th Street, 14th Street and 11th Street for more public transit options.
GreatSchools:
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There are jobs. Well paying jobs? not exactly. But it pays the bills.
4.0Niche User
4/5/2015Niche Review
Lots of unique places. There's a Starbucks. Nearby restaurants are Panera Bread, Manny and Olga's, IHOP, and then some local places, like a bar, a pizzeria, and Mediterranean restaurant and more.
4.0Niche User
6/18/2014Niche Review
There's so many great places to eat and there's plenty of options. My neighborhood is really diverse and there are so many great popular restaurants to eat from.
3.0Niche User
6/10/2015Niche Review
Rock Creek Park is quite accessible to most people in DC, so the outdoor activities are endless.
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Columbia Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Columbia Heights, Washington sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Columbia Heights, Washington over the last 12 months is $695,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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