Throughout Washington D.C.’s history, its waterfront neighborhoods were some of the least desirable places to live, a real estate anomaly in comparison to other great American cities. Low-income housing, under-funded schools, and crime plagued these areas, affecting property value and curb appeal. What would otherwise be a neighborhood in high demand became a forgotten and avoided wasteland until recent years. At long last, these D.C. waterfront neighborhoods are getting the face-lift they so deserve. Now people are clamoring to get a look at these up-and-coming waterfront neighborhoods causing a stir in the capital city.
Check out The Keri Shull Team’s top three D.C. waterfront neighborhoods that are currently under development:
#3: Historic Anacostia
Historic Anacostia is a southeast D.C. neighborhood located east of the Anacostia River along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road. The area used to be one of the district’s most unsavory places to be after dark, but now it is quickly becoming one of the most desirable waterfront neighborhoods in the city. Prospective home buyers are drawn to the neighborhood’s charming homes dating back to the 1800s which are steadily rising in property value as commercial development occurs around the neighborhood. There are on-going plans to build new shopping centers, restaurants, parks, and residential buildings in Anacostia, and the neighborhood’s growing art scene lends the area a hip, eclectic vibe. Current residents have a lot to look forward to in the coming years, and prospective buyers need to act fast if they want to own a home in this up-and-coming waterfront neighborhood.
#2: Southwest Waterfront
Southwest Waterfront is an up-and-coming residential area along the Potomac River that is causing a lot of excitement in the district. This historic, waterfront neighborhood was decimated in the mid 1900s when the federal government cleared away thousands of buildings and homes as part of an “urban renewal.” However, now it is in the midst of being transformed into one of the city’s most luxurious hotspots. “The Wharf” — a multi-billion dollar mixed-use development project — is underway to bring dozens of restaurants and bars, multiple hotels, a concert hall, and hundreds of new apartment and condo buildings to the neighborhood. What’s a waterfront neighborhood without a marina, you say? Well that’s coming too, along with several new parks. Southwest Waterfront is growing fast, so interested home buyers must act quickly if they want to invest in this hot D.C. waterfront neighborhood.
#1: Capitol Riverfront
This waterfront neighborhood was recently rated the fastest growing residential area in the district, and it continues to impress prospective home buyers with exciting new development plans and projects. Capitol Riverfront is located in southeast D.C. between Capital Hill and the Anacostia River. It offers fun outdoor recreation all year long that you would expect to find in a waterfront neighborhood, along with free community events for residents and their families. By 2018, Capitol Riverfront will see more than a dozen new residential buildings break ground, a new Whole Foods, and thousands of square feet of retail space for restaurants and shops. The area will also become home to the new D.C. United stadium in a few short years. Property values are rising and this up-and-coming waterfront neighborhood is on the fast-track to becoming one of the most desirable places to live in Washington.
The Bottom Line
If you love water views and are looking to buy a home in D.C., make sure and keep these top three up-and-coming waterfront neighborhoods in mind. Capitol Riverfront, Southwest Waterfront, and Historic Anacostia are experiencing rapid waves of growth with both commercial and residential development plans underway. These neighborhoods are sure to become some of the most highly desirable communities in the district. We’d love to help with your home search, so contact the Keri Shull Team to get started!
