Define Capitol Hill (crime, houses, neighborhood)

[orion1778]

Most broadly, I've heard the Capitol Hill neighborhood defined as everything east of i395, north of i295, west of the Anacostia River, and south of H Street NE/Benning RD NE.

On the other hand, I've heard the "livable" areas of Capitol Hill defined as the above, no further east than 13th Street and no further north than Massachusetts Ave NE.

Is this a fair description of the livable part of Capitol Hill? Is it an outdated evaluation of the area? Or will the parts of Capitol Hill currently on the "fringes" become more livable in the future?

Discuss!

[PenguinSix]

20 years ago, I'd say Capitol Hill was a triangle, with Mass Avenue on the North and North Carolina Avenue on the South, meeting at Lincoln Park. Inside that area was pretty good and over the border it started to get sketchy.

But things have certainly changed. Today I think the borders have expanded in just about every direction. Major housing projects just south of the freeway closed, leading to a drastic decrease in project<-->metro station foot traffic. Barracks Row was rebuilt, and the push south of North Carolina and East toward Potomac Avenue started. The car barn which was once sort of an oasis slowly got pulled into the area and the border pushed a block or two farther to the East.

On the north side, H is still a mental barrier to many, though you'll find houses 'north of H' starting to approaching South of H prices. Many want to push the border all the way up to Galludet, but I think it's more accurate to call that NoMa or North Capitol Hill for now.

My favorite pick to live would be between Capitol South and Eastern Market metros. Easy access to the subway, some retail and restaurant options, and not that far from the Mall if I felt like exercising down there.

[orion1778]

Thanks PenguinSix.

On a related topic, how far from the Capitol building does the US Capitol Police patrol? Do they watch the streets or primarily buildings?

[PenguinSix]

Originally Posted by orion1778

Thanks PenguinSix.

On a related topic, how far from the Capitol building does the US Capitol Police patrol? Do they watch the streets or primarily buildings?

On paper or in reality? On paper I think they're suppose to assist on Capitol Hill upto some point, but I think in reality they only patrol that area VERY VERY close to the Capitol. You'll occasionally see cars heading around the Hill checking on this Congressman's house or that one, but since 9-11, I think they've been focused on their core area.

In the early 90s I recall listening to a scanner one night on the Hill and there was a DC cop screaming for backup. Capitol Hill police requested of their command to come to his aid. They were denied (I think they went anyway). A few years later, when crime got even worse, they were allowed to patrol certain areas of the Hill, but then with 9/11, things sort of changed.