The Petworth neighborhood is located in the Northwest quadrant of the District. Its irregularly shaped and somewhat disputed borders are roughly outlined north by Emerson St. NW, east by Rock Creek Church Rd. NW and Rock Creek Cemetery, south by Rock Creek Church Rd. NW and Spring Rd. NW, and west by Arkansas Ave. NW and 16th St. NW. Along with many bus lines, the neighborhood is served by the Georgia Ave. Petworth Metro station.
The land comprising of Petworth today culminated from the aggregation of county estates. The former Benjamin Ogle Tayloe and Marshal Brown estates were combined by developers during the late 19th century and registered as a development plan of “Petworth” with the city government in 1889. Additional plots of land were purchased and added to the development up until 1900. A streetcar line on Georgia Ave. facilitated rapid growth. Many of the typical brick row-houses built accommodated the influx of mostly Jewish, Polish, and Irish working-class residents up until the 1930s. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, the population shifted to predominantly African-American.
This mostly residential up-and-coming neighborhood has seen slow but steady redevelopment since 2000. The population has increased and diversified in recent years. Median home prices have risen significantly from $177,000 in 2000 to $460,000 in 2010. More recently, municipal projects and businesses have opened to cater to this resurgent neighborhood. Places like Chez Billy (French), Domku Bar and Cafe (Scandinavian), Sala Thai, Sweet Mango Cafe (Jamaican), and the Hitching Post (Soul food) can accommodate a wide range of palates. Most stores and ethnic restaurants dot along or near the neighborhood’s main business thoroughfare, Georgia Ave. With slower growth, when compared to commercial hubs like the U St. Corridor or Columbia Heights, there is still a sense of harmony among the residents. In the warmer months, the weekly community farmer’s market is a prime example of this local diverse community coming together.
There are a number of historic places and public art pieces to view. One can find contemporary sculptures and murals along with The Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery, Soldiers’ Home National Historic Site, and Adams Memorial to name a few. Lincoln Cottage, where President Lincoln lived from 1862-1864, is a national monument on the grounds of Soldiers’ Home. It is also where he wrote an early draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. This area has significant history and is well worth a visit.
If you plan on buying in this relatively affordable neighborhood, then please call one of our Exclusive Buyer’s Agents. We love working with foreign and local home-buyers alike, and possess fluency in multiple languages. We have attained additional training to be Accredited Buyer’s Representatives (ABR designation). We carry vast local knowledge and expertise from living in the Washington DC area for many years. With high standards of integrity and professionalism, our ABR agents can help you find the perfect home with ease and confidence in Petworth or any Washington DC community.
