moving to Washington, DC

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 7/7/11 at 10:42pm

Anybody here live in DC? Would anyone be able to give me some info about where to live in the city if I'm working in Anacostia? I'm thinking about the SW Waterfront, Columbia Heights, Gallery Place/Chinatown, and Eastern Market. Anyone know about the safety of these areas, fun things to do, etc.? Thank you so much!!

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 10:11am

Well, I don't suggest living in Anacostia.

Gallery Place/Chinatown is getting to be a happening place, but it's still not very residential. It's a well-populated area due to all of the theatres, restaurants, shopping and the Verizon Center. I would never live there, but I go there regularly for shows/restaurants.

Eastern Market is nice. It's on Capitol Hill and much more residential than Chinatown. Some sketchy areas nearby, but mostly nice...just use common street smarts. Home of the famed market, a lot of restaurants, and some nearby theatres (small black boxes or community theatres).

Columbia Heights is an up and coming area. They've built some nice condos near the metro stop there as well as some shopping centers and restaurants...mostly chains. Still, if you venture much outside of the area where the metro is, it will get interesting for you. Diverse area now though. Also home of the Gala Hispanic Theatre (the area has historically been heavily Hispanic). Seems to be a younger 20 and 30-something population moving in, especially near the metro.

SW Waterfront is the home of Arena Stage, Ft McNair, and the waterfront, as well as a university. There's not much nice around other than Arena Stage and some restaurants on the Waterfront, but they are trying to clean it up (and have since Arena's renovation). I personally don't like walking alone at night around there, but it's an ok area in comparison to say Anacostia. Besides Ft. McNair, which is home to many a soldier, it is pretty much a lower middle class neighborhood.

Hope that helps. I don't know what your price range is, but if you will be working in Anacostia, any of these places would be accessible to that area. Although if you take Metro, you'd have to change trains if you live in Eastern Market.

Updated On: 7/10/11 at 10:11 AM