DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
City/District Offices
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 202-727-1000
https://dc.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
1213 K Street NW
Washington, DC 202-347-7201
https://dcchamber.org/
The area that comprises the District of Columbia is encircled by the Capital Beltway, an expansive, fast-moving superhighway that ensures an easy commuter link for residents in the surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs who work in the capital area. Excellent public transportation is a major reason for the growth of the entire metropolitan region. Washington’s Metrorail has been acclaimed as an outstanding, efficient subway system, while commuter rail service is provided by Amtrak, MARC (Maryland Rail Commuter Service) and the Virginia Railway Express.
Reagan National Airport is located just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, and is linked by Metrorail to Washington, DC International. Embassies, world class hotels, and modern office buildings are all part of an extensive downtown revitalization program that has transformed the face of the city. Key parts of this renewal include the Washington Convention Center and the adjacent Techworld, the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation and Washington Harbour on the banks of the Potomac River.
Services
Those who live in Washington, DC have access to some of the nation’s premier healthcare institutions. Many of Washington’s medical facilities include renowned teaching hospitals in the caliber of Howard University Hospital, the Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, George Washington University Hospital, and Georgetown University Hospital. Other respected hospitals and medical centers serving the area include Greater SouthEast Community Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Providence Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Washington Hospital Center. This impressive network of full-service and specialty hospitals includes layers of support facilities to meet every need.
Education has always been a high priority in this stimulating and highly intellectual environment, where field trips and extra-curricular activities can easily incorporate exposure to some of the world’s most celebrated cultural and scientific collections. The national capital area also offers hundreds of academic programs through well-known colleges and universities. Many of the private universities enjoy international fame. Several of these illustrious institutions are members of The Consortium of Universities of the Metropolitan Washington Area. This unique approach allows students to move beyond the resources of the institution where they enrolled and access the courses, faculty and libraries of any university in the consortium.
Quality of Life
Much more than the location of our nation’s Capitol Building and governmental center, the District of Columbia serves as a major tourist attraction and cultural center. Millions of visitors from around the globe generate over $4 billion in revenue each year in this vibrant and fascinating city filled with world-class monuments and museums. In addition to playing host to visitors and ambassadors from around the world, the District of Columbia offers a number of distinctive and charming residential neighborhoods.
Washington is more than a city of beauty that has been handcrafted and fashioned by human genius. The District of Columbia provides vast parkland and greenbelts that feature an abundance of recreational and sports facilities. Nature’s own scenic backdrop sets the state for the free outdoor performances of Shakespearean plays at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park. Throughout the city, free attractions and events entertain visitors but also draw out friends, neighbors, and family for everything from parades and sports competition to a kite-flying contest or colorful festivities. Washington is a city of ethnic festivals that preserve and celebrate the traditions of the diverse cultures who call this dynamic community home.
Whether you explore charming neighborhood shopping districts or stroll through elegant enclosed malls like Georgetown Park and Mazza Gallery, Washington is a shopper’s paradise. Nestled in the Capitol Hill area on Seventh and C Streets is the Eastern Market, the last brick city market in the District. This historical venue is home to performers and artists who display their talent and crafts throughout the week. On the weekend, craft and flea markets showcase handmade wares, antiques and collectibles from a variety of vendors. Antiques dealers have a permanent home across the street, and fresh produce and meats are available year round.
Throughout the District of Columbia, more than 120 neighborhoods offer intimate communities that are proud of their unique personalities and flavors. The area is loosely divided into the four quadrants of Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. The Northwest section of the city is the location of the White House and Pennsylvania Avenue. This area is also home to the city’s major business district and many government office buildings. Georgetown is probably the oldest and most famous neighborhood, while Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue is one of the most colorful and unusual. Here, a collection of handsome consulates and embassies display the coat of arms and flag of each country represented. East of Rock Creek are popular neighborhoods such as Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Kalorama, Shaw, Adams-Morgan, and Sheperd Park. These cosmopolitan neighborhoods offer a blend of elegant townhouses, single-family homes and magnificent estates.
Moving into the Northeast quadrant of the city, housing tends to become more affordable. Residential neighborhoods blend with sections of light industry and warehouses. The Southwest section of Washington is known for widespread urban renewal, offering high-rise apartment complexes and condominiums as well as townhouses. Serving as the site of Fort McNair and Bolling Air Force Base, this area boasts a fine waterfront with excellent seafood restaurants and popular fish markets. The Southeast is another point of sweeping renovation, bringing new life to the older neighborhoods near the Washington Navy Yard and the Navy and Marine Corps Museums. The area is also home to the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Wherever newcomers choose to settle in the 120 neighborhoods that make up this sophisticated metropolis, they will discover an upbeat, cosmopolitan lifestyle that has no rival.
Chevy Chase
City Hall
301-654-7144
www.townofchevychase.org
Chamber of Commerce
301-652-4900
https://www.greaterbethesdachamber.org
The tranquil residential haven of Chevy Chase falls within Montgomery County but also stretches into the District of Columbia. Public transportation combines with easy access to a number of exciting shopping districts, restaurants and recreational amenities for a convenient yet somewhat secluded lifestyle. Community spirit is strong, and well-kept older homes are especially impressive. Single-family homes tend to be graced by mature trees and meticulous landscaping, while attractive new high rises provide maintenance-free options. In addition to the town of Chevy Chase, the village of the same name covers less than half a square mile. These two municipalities join Bethesda to form the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase community from the District of Columbia border to beyond the Capital Beltway. The area is served by the metro subway system and public pub systems for convenience commuting.
NEIGHBORHOODS
Adams Morgan
Gaining in popularity in recent years, Adams Morgan provides a neighborhood with an abundance of natural charm. Many newcomers are being attracted to this well-established area, drawn by the wide selection of affordable housing and the spirit of revitalization that is changing the face of the cityscape. Many of the townhomes dating back to the 19th century are being carefully restored in keeping with their original character and individuality. The area is well known for its wonderful cafes and fine restaurants that feature international cuisine. Residents and visitors alike enjoy shopping for bargains in the many secondhand stores and thrift shops. Quaint boutiques, as well as stores that meet daily needs for merchandise, can be found along Connecticut Avenue and also at nearby Dupont Circle.
Anacostia
The elegant, hilltop home of abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass is one of the first visible sites across Washington’s Anacostia River. The National Park Service site stands almost exactly as this African American hero left it upon his death in 1895. This historic neighborhood is filled with magnificent buildings that include St. Elizabeth’s hospital, a landmark in the history of mental health. This treasure chest from yesterday holds the legacy and legends of Native Americans, European, African Americans and other culturally diverse groups who made history in its homes and on its streets. This neighborhood also provides a rare view of the nation’s capital as well as a medley of wonderful places to dine and relax.
Brookland, Michigan Park
The Northeast neighborhoods of Brookland and Michigan Park are convenient to downtown and yet manage to retain a family-oriented, community ambiance. Brookland offers a stable, comfortable neighborhood of row houses built in the 1920s. Trinity College, the Catholic University, and the Washington Hospital Center are local landmarks and major employers. Located at the edge of the District of Columbia, Michigan Park offers its residents all the advantages of the city within an attractive suburban atmosphere. This well-maintained community of ramblers and colonials is graced by the greenery of wide lawns and mature trees. Neighborhood schools, playgrounds, community parks and major universities maintain a vibrant presence.
Capitol Hill, Hillcrest
As the focal point of the city, Capitol Hill bustles with activity. The Eastern Market area offers a popular retail center while serving as prime residential enclave. Just a short walk from government offices, galleries, shops and museums are tranquil tree-canopied streets lined by impressive townhouses and modern condominiums. Small parks are scattered throughout the neighborhood, adding to the charm of the cityscape. Many political organizations and private clubs have chosen this prestigious address. Local restaurants serve as popular meeting places for senate and congressional staff members. The area known as Hillcrest provides more affordable housing options, yet the neighborhood enjoys an enviable location just minutes from downtown and Capitol Hill. The predominating home style is colonial with charming front porches and convenient garages.
Cleveland Park
This well-established neighborhood enjoys a strategic location only five minutes from the center of downtown Washington. Although Cleveland Park dates back to the early 1900s, this close-knit community has managed to retain its popularity. The neighborhood is characterized by rambling, solidly built single-family homes that tend to be well kept and sought-after when they appear on the real estate market. Victorian architecture is common, graced by embellishments such as cupolas and gingerbread trim. Other residences in varying architectural styles were constructed in the 1940s or 1950s, creating a pleasing blend of period variety. Typically, the residential enclaves nestled in Cleveland Park feature spacious homes with inviting, wrap-around porches. The National Zoo and National Cathedral are nearby, and the neighborhood is convenient to a number of shopping centers.
Dupont Circle, Kalorama
Reflecting the grandeur of a neighborhood populated by yesterday’s diplomats, senators, and millionaire entrepreneurs, these Northwest neighborhoods offer a dynamic community that excels in convenience. While a myriad of attractions are available within walking distance, a Metrorail subway station places all of Washington, DC, as well as northern Virginia and suburban Maryland only minutes away. The home of brewing magnate Christian Heurich and the grand St. Matthew’s Cathedral are just two of the many landmarks. Foreign embassies, art galleries, ethnic restaurants, and unique bookshops make this Washington’s most cosmopolitan neighborhood. Most of the townhouses in this lively area were constructed between 1890 and 1910 in the style of Victorian duplexes and triplexes.
Georgetown
Tucked away in the oldest part of the city is the famous Georgetown neighborhood, designated as a National Historic Landmark and known for its elegant Federalist and Victorian homes. Tree-canopied streets, cobblestone walks, hidden alleyways and footpaths create an idyllic ambiance for upscale shops, exotic restaurants, quaint bookstores and lively coffeehouses. Georgetown University, with its impressive Gothic architecture, forms the cornerstone of the neighborhood. Housing options include townhomes in a variety of styles and single-family residences from cozy bungalows to magnificent estates. New construction is extremely limited, although renovation is popular. Because Georgetown has preserved its desirability through the decades, property values remain relatively high.
