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We are considering a short term rental on a place on E. St. SE between 10th and 11th. Having heard mixed reviews, and not knowing DC very well myself, I am hoping someone cal tell me how safe this area is. Specifically, how would I feel as a woman walking small children to and from the Eastern Market Metro stop after dark? (Not late, say 7:30 at night.) What about during the day? There will be times when my husband is in meetings and I will be taking the kids out. Thanks for your help.
Metropolitan Police Department (http://crimemap.dc.gov/presentation/query.asp - broken link)
There is a large public housing project at about 12th street that has seen some crime around it. Walking toward Eastern Market would be safer than say walking toward Potomac Ave, but it is generally pretty good for the Hill.
Still, there is an edge. Take a look at the crime map and compare it to other parts of the city you might be more familiar with to get a real idea.
You're going to be right on or just off of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. This is the main drag through Eastern Market, and it is not an area you need to worry about. The walk from the Metro is 2-3 blocks, and it is well-lit and well-populated at all sensible hours. This will be urban living of course, so normal urban precautions should be taken and observed, but basically you've got female yuppies and sahm's out there with the kids or the dogs or just for a jog by the score every morning and evening and the local news is not filled with reports of their having been victimized by anybody. By and large, this is a very nice area so long as you simply mind your urban p's and q's. I have a part-time place up a bit from 7th and PA, and I don't give a second thought to being out and about on foot until maybe midnight or so, and even then you've not got much that's of any actual concern out there...
This area of Southeast is difficult to describe. It's not a bad neighborhood, but it's not perfectly safe either. I would say with confidence that it's trending upwards, but it's not being gentrified or "yuppiefied" like other neighborhoods in the District. Some families (of different races and ethnicities) choose to live in this area; some don't. I would recommend that you visit the neighborhood first and decide for yourself.
You'll be facing PA Avenue between Fragers and the Old Naval Hospital. While this isn't the fanciest part of the Hill, it's now within the more desirable borders so long as your practice some common sense about the environment. There are plenty of other moms and small children around. If the kids want to play, I recommend Marion park (@ 6th and E, although that end is about the dogs... the kids are over at 5th and E).
Have you seen 8th St, SE lately. Completely redone. The area is definitely gentrifying. In fact, condos are being built on the corner of 11th and Penn, SE that are pretty pricey. 1 bedrooms on the first floor starting at $350,000, with 3-bedrooms at $1.3 million. A parking space will cost you and extra $50,000. I think the building is called "Butterfield House."
Like most areas of the city, there are some bad spots and Potomac Gardens tenements are a couple of blocks away. The funny thing is that another luxury condo development is being built on Pennsylvania and 14th St., SE which will have a Harris Teeter, etc. Houses on 9th and 10th st., SE are still selling within two weeks. I live here so I know.
When people say SE is dangerous, they mean the SE across the river... Anacostia. It is the NE side of Capitol Hill that you want to avoid. People who don't know the area should not be commenting.
Yeah, Ellington's, Alberto's, Banana Cafe...lots of stuff. Ten years ago, the liquor store was a brown-bag place...now they do wine-tastings. That's progress for you.
Actually, the Hill is spreading northward into NE as well. Even halfway up to Gallaudet is in pretty good shape now. I feel like if the NoMa construction stays on schedule, there will be a lot of upgrade pressure to the east. That'll knock a few more blocks into the 'nice' category...
Last edited by saganista; 12-09-2007 at 04:22 PM..
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