Property Management in Washington DC: Living in Columbia Heights

December 30, 2018 Washington DC

This article is part of a series on the neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.  This article discusses the Columbia Heights neighborhood’s demographics, atmosphere, and characteristics to help you get a feel for types of renters likely to be interested in the neighborhood, as well as how to market your property to them.

Facts and Figures

In Columbia Heights, renters live in two-thirds of the neighborhood’s homes. Property owners live in 18 percent of its homes. On average, there are 3 residents per home, and residents spend a median of 3.2 years in Columbia Heights. Nearly 29 percent of households have children, and the annual residential turnover is 15 percent. An experienced property management company with expertise in Columbia Heights can leverage in-depth knowledge about the local rental market to place the most qualified tenants in your rental home more quickly.

Neighborhood Atmosphere

In the 19^th century, the Columbia Heights area consisted mostly of farmland. The area began developing as a suburb when horse-drawn trolley service to downtown began after the Civil War. After Congress expanded the City of Washington’s boundaries to include all of the District of Columbia. In the early 20^th century, the neighborhood became known for upscale residential development and became home to some of the Washingtonian elite. The expansion of streetcar service also contributed to the neighborhood’s growth. Since the opening of the Columbia Heights Metro station in 1999, the neighborhood has enjoyed a revival of housing development and remains a great place to live for prospective residents of the area.

Neighborhood Features

The dining and nightlife offerings in the neighborhood include Pho 14, Adams Express, Redrocks Firebrick Pizzeria, Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats, Los Hermanos, El Pollo Sabroso, and Mi Cuba Café. The Tivoli Theatre, the Josephine Butler Parks Center, and Meridian Hill Park are among the neighborhood attractions. Potential tenants will also find various retail establishments, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, and Target, at the DC USA mall in Columbia Heights.

Major Transportation

Columbia Heights is quite walkable, with public transportation and cycling infrastructure to give residents easy access to work and various entertainment and shopping nearby. The Columbia Heights Metro station is on the Green and Yellow lines.  Metrobus routes 52, 53, 54, D32, H1, H2, H3, H4, H8, W45, and W47 serve the neighborhood, as does the D.C. Circulator Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square route. Zipcar, RelayRides, and Hertz On Demand offer 23 car shares, and bike shares are available through Capital Bikeshare. On WalkScore.com, Columbia Heights has a Walk Score of 92, a Transit Score of 83, and a Bike Score of 86, each out of 100 points.

Unique Neighborhood Events

The Columbia Heights Community Marketplace offers a farmers’ market at the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza on 14^th Street and Park Road NW in the neighborhood. The market is held on Saturdays between 9 am and 1 pm from April to December.

Columbia Heights Day is an annual community festival held in October in Columbia Heights. It celebrates the neighborhood through a number of fun activities, which involve local artists, musicians, and businesses.

The Washington Post has additional demographic and statistical data about the neighborhood that would be helpful if you are preparing to market your property. For professional help, a property management company with Columbia Heights expertise could help you determine a competitive rental price, place qualified renters and manage the day-to-day need of the property and tenants.