Safer areas within Capitol Hill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do schools matter to you? Because I live nearby in southwest, have done for ten years, and haven't been impacted by crime at all. It's more residential but I also think the projects just aren't as shady as in parts of the Hill. I'm very comfortable walking back and forth from metro later in the evening and so forth. There is some street crime but my sense is it's a lot quieter than the Hill. On schools, though, the good news is that SW is zoned for Wilson. The bad news is that before that, there's Amidon and Jefferson, neither of which are, I don't think, considered all that good.

You MUST be very lucky then, SW by the metro? I worked here for 6 years, There are tons of crimes happening maybe while I am posting this. You have "green leaf" right next to the police station where a guy got shot right there, then you have James creek..... Maybe you should get an app on your phone, listen to the police radio or read the crime stats online. I am still amazed when u said that. Oh, that's why there are a lot of condos having difficultly selling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that Capitol Hill has changed a lot in recent years and that gentrification continues to spread north, east, and south. Am considering a move to the area with young children. I understand that crime happens within so-called safer areas, but what would you consider to be the boundary streets for the safer area within Capitol Hill? Currently live in Adams Morgan so I am not unaware of what city living entails.

The Hill's proximity to Wards 7 and 8 and easy, quick access to Pa Ave and the South East/South West Freeway make it unique among DC neighborhoods. Some areas may seem more safe than others but it's really just the illusion of safety.

There have been two horrible crimes in the last six months and one of them happened in the best section of the Hill, further proof that the safest part of Capitol Hill is Georgetown.

I live in the area of 15th and G street, Se and I love it there. One block from the metro, few blocks to the Harris teeter and Safeway. It's a pretty busy street which I like as I take the metro and really don't want to walk alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This feature by the Washington Post might be insightful for you:

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/investigative/homicides/?tid=rr_mod

This would not help me.

I am not concerned about homicide, but street crimes like muggings and rape and home invasion and property crimes.

The odds of being murdered are pretty slim. The odds of being mugged are another story.

You have young children. I'd be quite concerned. How would your kids feel if you or your husband were hurt in any way, or if their home was invaded? Or if they were robbed? Not real safe. Kids come first. You can move to Capital Hill when they are grown and out of the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that Capitol Hill has changed a lot in recent years and that gentrification continues to spread north, east, and south. Am considering a move to the area with young children. I understand that crime happens within so-called safer areas, but what would you consider to be the boundary streets for the safer area within Capitol Hill? Currently live in Adams Morgan so I am not unaware of what city living entails.

The Hill's proximity to Wards 7 and 8 and easy, quick access to Pa Ave and the South East/South West Freeway make it unique among DC neighborhoods. Some areas may seem more safe than others but it's really just the illusion of safety.

There have been two horrible crimes in the last six months and one of them happened in the best section of the Hill, further proof that the safest part of Capitol Hill is Georgetown.

I live in the area of 15th and G street, Se and I love it there. One block from the metro, few blocks to the Harris teeter and Safeway. It's a pretty busy street which I like as I take the metro and really don't want to walk alone.

Then it's not safe.

[Anonymous]

Pp, well when I go shopping, I like it where there's a lot people, I don't want to walk alone shopping as well. So I don't know what you meant "not safe" I like it here

[Anonymous]

I think it gets down to your level of comfort with crime. If you're "risk aware," you'll be more comfortable than if you're "risk averse." You just have to know your level of tolerance.

[Anonymous]

Have lived on the Hill for many many years. Love it. There are definitely some more dicey areas and then nicer areas and they are often just a block or 2 away from each other. Find a good real estate agent who works pretty much exclusively on the Hill. Identify some places you like and then drive around them at night. If you see people having a very robust social life at midnight on the sidewalk, you probably want to steer clear. Also check out the school boundaries, though they are set to change. Also, SW is unlikely to be zoned for Wilson when the boundaries change.

The Hill is great for families, improving elementary schools, getting there with the middle schools, convenient to charters. Some of us are willing to take minor "risks" to have major benefits. That said, I'm extremely careful, don't do things that would make me a target, and have (knock wood) never been a victim of a crime worse than a couple of broken car windows. Ironically those incidents were in a much nicer part of the Hill than I live now and were years ago. Alternatively, my car was jacked from in front of a very expensive house in Upper NW.

Welcome to the Hill. Make sure to join Moms on the Hill once you move here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with looking at current crime patterns when buying is that they change. Things go in waves. I actually live near Potomac Gardens, which is in SE Capitol Hill but the impression I am getting from police reports, listserve traffic, and WaPo reports is that there is more crime occurring in NE Capitol Hill closer to H St NE because of the bar and restaurant traffic. Lately it also seems like there's been more muggings north of Pennsylvania Ave SE than down here by Potomac Gardens and to the west near Barracks Row (8th St).

But a) this is only an impression - haven't actually done the research and b) even if it's true, these things change over time. About 2 or 3 years ago, there was a guy who lived on 1000 block of 15th St SE who was breaking into lots of houses in the neighborhood. They caught him and things have been quieter since then but it could pick up again if some guy decided to start working the neighborhood again.

We also had two summers a few years ago where kids were actively harassing people and throwing rocks. While the muggers and burglars don't necessarily live in the neighborhood, the kids who threw rocks did appear to live in Potomac Gardens or use it as a base. It's been quieter in recent years but it's always a possibility that it could start up again. (FWIW, I raised a kid a block from Potomac Gardens and we've done okay but we're very careful.)

Question for you, OP: Everything I read about Adams-Morgan makes it sound like there's a lot more street crime up there than down in Capitol Hill. Are you looking to move to a safer neighborhood or are you under the impression that Capitol Hill is more dangerous than Adams-Morgan? Cuz I was always under the impression that crime is worse up in Adams-Morgan based on what I see in police reports.

Anyway, here's my guess. I think the closer you are to the Capitol, the safer you are except I would avoid living near the bars and restaurants on 8th St and Pennsylvania Ave. Some (maybe most) muggers are going to focus on people leaving those bars and restaurants - which I think is also happening up at H St NE. BTW, H St is really cool but I think now it's more of a target for criminals than it used to be. They follow the drunks with money!

Good luck with your research!

I find this very disturbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with looking at current crime patterns when buying is that they change. Things go in waves. I actually live near Potomac Gardens, which is in SE Capitol Hill but the impression I am getting from police reports, listserve traffic, and WaPo reports is that there is more crime occurring in NE Capitol Hill closer to H St NE because of the bar and restaurant traffic. Lately it also seems like there's been more muggings north of Pennsylvania Ave SE than down here by Potomac Gardens and to the west near Barracks Row (8th St).

But a) this is only an impression - haven't actually done the research and b) even if it's true, these things change over time. About 2 or 3 years ago, there was a guy who lived on 1000 block of 15th St SE who was breaking into lots of houses in the neighborhood. They caught him and things have been quieter since then but it could pick up again if some guy decided to start working the neighborhood again.

We also had two summers a few years ago where kids were actively harassing people and throwing rocks. While the muggers and burglars don't necessarily live in the neighborhood, the kids who threw rocks did appear to live in Potomac Gardens or use it as a base. It's been quieter in recent years but it's always a possibility that it could start up again. (FWIW, I raised a kid a block from Potomac Gardens and we've done okay but we're very careful.)

Question for you, OP: Everything I read about Adams-Morgan makes it sound like there's a lot more street crime up there than down in Capitol Hill. Are you looking to move to a safer neighborhood or are you under the impression that Capitol Hill is more dangerous than Adams-Morgan? Cuz I was always under the impression that crime is worse up in Adams-Morgan based on what I see in police reports.

Anyway, here's my guess. I think the closer you are to the Capitol, the safer you are except I would avoid living near the bars and restaurants on 8th St and Pennsylvania Ave. Some (maybe most) muggers are going to focus on people leaving those bars and restaurants - which I think is also happening up at H St NE. BTW, H St is really cool but I think now it's more of a target for criminals than it used to be. They follow the drunks with money!

Good luck with your research!

I find this very disturbing.

This was around 2008 -- so almost 5 years ago now. Hasn't been a problem since then, but yes, it was disturbing at the time.

[Anonymous]

Actually, on MOTH there were mentions of rock throwing at cyclists in 2012.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, on MOTH there were mentions of rock throwing at cyclists in 2012.

Muggings, murders, theft from auto, breaking and entering, crappy schools and now now teenagers throwing rocks at people? What the actual fuck Capitol Hill?

[Anonymous]

I live nearby 15 and Kentucky se and I like it. It's more reasonable price compare to like just right next to the Capitol. I think you can get a pretty decent one just under 700k vs one over a million just next to the Capitol.

Best thing is still Capitol Hill and still hold its value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp, well when I go shopping, I like it where there's a lot people, I don't want to walk alone shopping as well. So I don't know what you meant "not safe" I like it here

Are you afraid to walk alone while shopping/to shopping due to the area or do you simply like someone with you when you do both? If it's a personal preference, then I misunderstood your post.

[Anonymous]

I find this very disturbing.

It's just kids throwing rocks. The disturbing part, and I live in the neighborhood, is that you must check your natural inclination to beat the crap out of them. They live here, are not very bright (to say the least) and have nothing to lose. They know where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is really a lot of variety block-by-block on the hill. Personally, I would prefer to live west of 14th St, south of F street NE, and not near Potomac Gardens or Options Charter School. As someone said above, generally the further west and the closer to the NE/SE border, the "safer" the neighborhood is, although there are no guarantees.

You are right on point, every block is different. I would avoid house directly by: 12th G the potomac garden, or right next to the stadium metro. I would suggest u do some researches, I always find it funny how buyers buy or make offers base on the property's size, but not its location thinking that its within the zip code and that wrong. All in all Capitol Hill is a nice area to live and like most of the dc property value, it will only increase or hold its value pretty good.

I think this advice is good. I lived on the Hill and got mugged at PA avenue S.E. and 6th street. Parking is also problematic, especially if you have small kids. I like the Hill a lot, but if I returned, it would have to have secure parking and also a building where mail, large packages, flowers, etc. can be delivered during the day without someone at home.