Living in Capitol Hill...Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dream is to live on Duddington Pl! I love the location--close to metro, parks, Eastern Market, Yards, and Nats Park--and I just love the story behind why that street is name what it is.[/quote]

Well, don't leave us hanging.

https://thehillishome.com/2010/09/lost-capitol-hill-duddington/

"...Taking advantage of a quiet weekend, I have teased out the different strands of this remarkable family, and bring you the story of one of the grandest houses in the District of Columbia in its earliest years.


Daniel Carroll of Duddington (1764-1849) was the son of Charles Carroll of Duddington (1729-1773) (sometimes also referred to as Charles Carroll of Carrollsburg, and not to be confused with his cousin, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, (1737-1832) signer of the Declaration of Independence).

Charles Carroll of Duddington had inherited a large tract of land from his father, Daniel Carroll of Duddington (1707-1734), who had in turn received it when he married Ann Rozer.

Daniel Carroll was one of those who owned a fair piece of the Federal City in 1790, in fact, he owned all of the land on which the Capitol now sits.

...It all began when he built a new home for himself in 1791 – unfortunately, right where Pierre L’Enfant had planned for New Jersey Avenue SE was to run. Major L’Enfant had the house torn down in the middle of the night. ...
Thus in 1793, Daniel Carroll was ready to begin again. This time, he built entirely within square 736. The four acres of ground were enclosed by a brick wall, and within were – along with the grand mansion – a number of smaller buildings, including servants quarters. ...

Daniel Carroll retreated into his house, and spent much of the later years of his life a recluse there. His unmarried daughters continued to live there after his death in 1849, but in 1886, they sold out the lands to a developer, the mansion was razed, and replaced with simple worker’s rowhouses. All that remains to remind us of this once-grand mansion is the short street Duddington Place, which runs from 1st to 2nd Streets SE between E and F."

[Anonymous]

Apparently L'enfant didn't just order that the house be torn down, but actually went there and started helped tear the place down.

L'enfant spent the last years of his life living as the guest of an estate owner (whose name escapes me) in Bladensburg. The wife of the estate owner was one of Daniel Carroll's daughters. Life is funny sometimes.

Charles Carroll of Duddington/Carrollsburg owner most of what is SW and Capitol Riverfront. Hence all the stuff named Carrollsburg.

Okay, local history geek time over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently L'enfant didn't just order that the house be torn down, but actually went there and started helped tear the place down.

L'enfant spent the last years of his life living as the guest of an estate owner (whose name escapes me) in Bladensburg. The wife of the estate owner was one of Daniel Carroll's daughters. Life is funny sometimes.

Charles Carroll of Duddington/Carrollsburg owner most of what is SW and Capitol Riverfront. Hence all the stuff named Carrollsburg.

Okay, local history geek time over.

That's cool! I love this stuff! where do you find this stuff? Is there a library dedicated to books about DC history?

[Anonymous]

There's an excellent book on L'enfant and DC called Grand Avenues.

There are some good local history groups that do presentations, walking tours, etc.

[Anonymous]

My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

+1 it is trying to replicate Ward 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

+1 it is trying to replicate Ward 3

You could say that about the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Park Slope in Brooklyn or Dearborn Park in Chicago. When I moved to the Hill in 1999 there was only one black family on my block and I am now only the second person of color, so it hasn't changed that much. That said, there are still many mixed neighborhoods on the Hill, perhaps more than NW ones like Adams Morgan or Woodley. Don't forget that we have a number of low-income housing complexes on the Hill too. But overall these are the unfortunate consequences of gentrification. On a further tangent, I don't think most neighborhoods in the suburbs are becoming more diverse within themselves. There are some suburbs with neighborhoods that are one ethnicity or another adjacent to each other. This isn't that different than the Hill.

[Anonymous]

To OP's point, Ward 6 has the most public housing in the city. A significant portion is in SW, but there is considerable traditional public housing as well as low-income and section 8 housing all over the Hill. And for crying out loud, the city homeless shelter is right there! Don't try and tell me the Hill and surrounding environs is lilly white and just like Ward 3.

[Anonymous]

^^crap, that should read "PP" not "OP." Damn autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

+1 it is trying to replicate Ward 3

You could say that about the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Park Slope in Brooklyn or Dearborn Park in Chicago. When I moved to the Hill in 1999 there was only one black family on my block and I am now only the second person of color, so it hasn't changed that much. That said, there are still many mixed neighborhoods on the Hill, perhaps more than NW ones like Adams Morgan or Woodley. Don't forget that we have a number of low-income housing complexes on the Hill too. But overall these are the unfortunate consequences of gentrification. On a further tangent, I don't think most neighborhoods in the suburbs are becoming more diverse within themselves. There are some suburbs with neighborhoods that are one ethnicity or another adjacent to each other. This isn't that different than the Hill.

PP here, yes. The DC metro area has become dramatically more diverse over the last 30 years, just like most metropolitan areas. The DC metro area was about 94% black and non-Hispanic white in the 80s, but now it’s around 70% black and non-Hispanic white. Most of the Asian, Hispanic, and mixed/other increases have been in the suburbs. While suburbs might be segregated, they are more diverse than DC proper.

What’s happened on Capitol Hill, is a middle class mixed community has been turned in a Upper-middle class to wealthy white enclave. With the black middle class being removed and priced out. For those that say that The Hill is diverse because of public housing, all I can do is laugh and roll my eyes. There’s no significant public housing in the areas around Stanton and Lincoln parks and Eastern Market. Further, just because you have some token “poors” doesn’t make an area truly diverse, since those people are not fully part of the community at large, I.e mom circles, yoga classes, coffee shops, dinner parties, children’s groups etc. The “Poors” and the others DO NOT mix, live in separate worlds, and essentially live in different neighborhoods. . They are ornamental decoration to make the neighborhood appear integrated to make limousine liberals feel good about themselves. This reeks of white privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

+1 it is trying to replicate Ward 3

You could say that about the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Park Slope in Brooklyn or Dearborn Park in Chicago. When I moved to the Hill in 1999 there was only one black family on my block and I am now only the second person of color, so it hasn't changed that much. That said, there are still many mixed neighborhoods on the Hill, perhaps more than NW ones like Adams Morgan or Woodley. Don't forget that we have a number of low-income housing complexes on the Hill too. But overall these are the unfortunate consequences of gentrification. On a further tangent, I don't think most neighborhoods in the suburbs are becoming more diverse within themselves. There are some suburbs with neighborhoods that are one ethnicity or another adjacent to each other. This isn't that different than the Hill.

PP here, yes. The DC metro area has become dramatically more diverse over the last 30 years, just like most metropolitan areas. The DC metro area was about 94% black and non-Hispanic white in the 80s, but now it’s around 70% black and non-Hispanic white. Most of the Asian, Hispanic, and mixed/other increases have been in the suburbs. While suburbs might be segregated, they are more diverse than DC proper.

What’s happened on Capitol Hill, is a middle class mixed community has been turned in a Upper-middle class to wealthy white enclave. With the black middle class being removed and priced out. For those that say that The Hill is diverse because of public housing, all I can do is laugh and roll my eyes. There’s no significant public housing in the areas around Stanton and Lincoln parks and Eastern Market. Further, just because you have some token “poors” doesn’t make an area truly diverse, since those people are not fully part of the community at large, I.e mom circles, yoga classes, coffee shops, dinner parties, children’s groups etc. The “Poors” and the others DO NOT mix, live in separate worlds, and essentially live in different neighborhoods. . They are ornamental decoration to make the neighborhood appear integrated to make limousine liberals feel good about themselves. This reeks of white privilege.

Um ok, I don't totally disagree with you, but at school we definitely mix with the "poors." Also, obviously, the "poors" have their own community ... you're defining "community at large" as the rich community, which seems wrong to me. We all see each other in school, in the park, in the grocery store, at the pool ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

This is a good question. And now with the advent of the super-luxe apartments at Eastern Market, even the normal rich white people will be pushed out by the SUPER rich cosmopolitan elite! Still, the Hill as a whole is diverse - maybe not Eastern Market, but definitely Rosedale, Kingman Park, Hill East.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem with the Capitol Hill neighborhood is that it’s become an enclave for wealthy white people. The neighborhood was traditionally very mixed, where black and white families lived side by side. Even during the peak of the 80/90s drug and crime wave, the Hill was always mixed.

Now, you’d be hard pressed to find more than one black family on a block, unless I’m not seeing them.

For all those that talk about diversity as a reason why you moved to the Hill, my question is, where? I recognize that Capitol Hill is in a great location and has beautiful houses, but urban living to me means inclusion. If I wanted to be in a homogeneous environment I could easily live in North Arlington or parts of PG County.

This is a good question. And now with the advent of the super-luxe apartments at Eastern Market, even the normal rich white people will be pushed out by the SUPER rich cosmopolitan elite! Still, the Hill as a whole is diverse - maybe not Eastern Market, but definitely Rosedale, Kingman Park, Hill East.

I don't disagree that parts of the Hill are becoming way more of a rich person's playground--just look at the Hine development. But in the greater Hill area (say, the area defined by MOTH) there's still a ton of diversity. My street, which is right off of H NE, goes like this: white woman, white couple, black family, my (white) family, white family, mixed household of young singles, black gay couple, black family, white-Latino family. Then again, our family couldn't afford to buy our house today, so our block's economic diversity, at least, probably won't last much longer.

[Anonymous]

I agree about the lack of diversity in some parts of the Hill. I moved to DC a few years ago and visited the Eastern Market area with a friend who lived there at the time--it was this weird mix of like, walking J.Crew catalog, and a few scattered black people, who were all homeless.

My friend, who is AA (like me), was a homeowner there and had her kid in PK3 at one of the popular Hill schools. She said her kid was literally the only black kid in the class--I was very surprised. She has since moved elsewhere in DC, and she and husband have their kids in a more diverse private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To OP's point, Ward 6 has the most public housing in the city. A significant portion is in SW, but there is considerable traditional public housing as well as low-income and section 8 housing all over the Hill. And for crying out loud, the city homeless shelter is right there! Don't try and tell me the Hill and surrounding environs is lilly white and just like Ward 3.

Agree. It really depends on what part of the area you live in. A lot of folks wouldn't say the homeless shelter is in Capitol Hill per se but is actually in Hill East - so there's that. But I live on the Southeast edge of the historic district - so I figure I can say that's Capitol Hill and our neighborhood is still about 50/50 now.

But it's not clear how long that will last. I love my neighborhood -before it gentrified and still do now that it is gentrifying, but to be honest, I'm not thrilled with the way it's moving toward another expensive enclave. But by the time it reaches that point I'll be ready to retire and move on.