Crestwood Neighborhood -- Book Research (Washington: hotels, houses, to buy)

[The Siobhan]

Hi all,

I live in the other Washington but I'm currently working on a story involving characters living in DC. The main character is a middle aged African American woman whose husband built their house, sometime in the early 1970s. I was wondering if the Crestwood neighborhood would be a good setting for this? Also, in one scene, the MC travels to a local hotel to meet friends for dinner. Is there any special landmarks that I could use for that scene?

Many thanks!

[DCforever]

I live in Crestwood. I doubt you could get the permits to build your own house in DC. Maybe some people could correct me. It would be possible to buy an older run down house and renovate it.

One major feature of Crestwood is it's connection to Rock Creek Park. Going south Blagden Ave drops you at Beach Dr and Broad Branch. North you wind through Carter Baron parking lot to Joyce Dr. and end up at Beach and Military Rd. There are also trails, that access the park from Crestwood.

You could have your MC travel south on Beach Dr/Rock Creek Parkway to the Four Seasons in Georgetown.

Here is the neighborhood web site with quite a good history section. Crestwood History — Crestwood - Washington, DC

[The Siobhan]

Thanks for the link! I greatly appreciate the info. I'll call a local library branch in the morning and see if they can provide info about building permits in the 1970s.

Also - one of my characters is a prostitute (high end/escort) and I am wondering if there were any local hotels, restaurants, or lounges that have a reputation as a pick-up spot.

[DCforever]

I'm not sure the Four Seasons hotel was actually there in 1970. Alternatives would be the Shoreham or the Wardman. Both of them are just off Beach Dr and both are old enough that there have to be some scandals associated with them. Both hotels would be very high end as a place for an assignation.

[RozCat]

Have you read the D.C. Noir books? Maybe some good ideas in those stories for a setting that jibes with your character and time period.

When I think of old Black middle classdom in D.C. I think about the houses around Portal Street, Brightwood or maybe even Hillcrest in S.E. It was as if folks were making the last stand before heading into Silver Spring or Prince George's County in the 80s.

[DCforever]

Among old black middle class DC Crestwood was the "Gold Coast."