Lanier Heights, Washington

As the title says, this was my place of residency for a year, and I loved it. Absolutely loved it. My old roommate was so fond of it that when our lease ran out, he snagged a condo down the road from our old building. It's right in the middle of Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, and even though it's super close to where thousands of frat boys are getting drunk on the weekend, it's still very quiet, and has a wonderful small town feel.

The real estate leans toward the pricey, but I actually know several 20-somethings in the area who have managed to make it work and live in a great apartment, even if their income isn't quite what they're hoping for just yet. Starbucks, Safeway, and dozens of independently run businesses. Some streets can be a little iffy at night, but I have never felt anything but safe here. Also, it's a stone's throw away from the Woodley Park Zoo. I may be biased, but I find this neighborhood perfect, and I still miss it.

Lanier Heights is a great neighborhood of approximately 7,782 residents located in the northwest section of the city close to the National Zoological Park. The neighborhood’s boundaries are generally defined as being within the footprint of Beach Drive N.W., Harvard Street N.W., Columbia Road N.W. and Calvert Street N.W. In 2010, the average price of a home sold here was $682,095 with 27% of the homes. being owner occupied. Homes here tend to be the typical “attached “row house” homes found in many neighborhoods within the District. In addition, you will find many apartment buildings as well as condominiums here as well. .

Outstanding restaurants and a variety of shopping options are located within the neighborhood, particularly along Columbia Road N.W. There is no need to travel outside of the neighborhood for these activities. Public transportation is available with numerous Metro Bus stops being located in the neighborhood. Dedicated green space is available in Rock Creek Park and of course the zoo is a wonderful place to visit. One of the downsides here is that parking can be very challenging.

Crime within the neighborhood exists. Recent crime statistics indicate that crimes against people and property are frequent. As always check the most recent crime statistics and make an informed decision as to the crime risk in any neighborhood. Despite the crime, the neighborhood is great and I never tire of the zoo so I would love to live here.

Lanier Heights is an historic neighborhood with a strong sense of community and an activist neighborhood association. Recently the activists have fought a war over the potential to make Lanier Heights an official historic district, with varied (and much debated) results. One can easily understand why such a battle is being fought, however: development is going on all around the single-family homes of Lanier Heights, and not everyone is going to be happy about that. The declaration of an historic district would essentially stop most development, including the construction of new condo or apartment complexes.
Regardless of the outcome of this campaign however, Lanier Heights does have some important advantages. Being right next to the amenities of Adams Morgan, residents can walk to any sort of restaurant or shop they desire. And close by you will find both the National Zoo and two Metro stations. While this does mean an uptick in tourism during summer, there is plenty of space for everyone. Like surrounding neighborhoods, Lanier Heights has decent public schools. Because housing is more reasonable, it is mostly occupied by young professionals. For those fortunate to have children, there are plenty of private schools in addition to the public ones. In short, Lanier Heights is a nice place in the middle of the city.

Lanier Heights is a growing neighborhood in northwest DC. It is unique in that some people do not believe it even exists. Many in the greater Washington community maintain that Lanier Heights is not its own, independent neighborhood but just a small part of Adams Morgan. So, you can literally walk down a single street and meet next door neighbors who disagree on which neighborhood they live in.
Originally developed during the 1880s as a home for Smithsonian Institution employees, Lanier Heights quickly grew into a comfortable, upper middle class neighborhood. Though it was completely segregated prior to the 1950s, it is now a diverse, well-integrated community that attracts people of all races and walks of life. In fact, it now attracts so many people who want to live there that house prices have grown out to outrageous levels.
In addition to quality housing, Lanier Heights features several supermarkets, fast food establishments and family friendly restaurants. In many ways it is almost suburban in nature, with local doctors and dentists also available, along with churches and a large public park.