One of the city’s most demographically
and economically diverse neighborhoods, Columbia Heights
is located in the northwest quadrant of DC. It is bounded
by 16th Street to the west, Spring Road to the north,
Sherman Avenue to the east, and Florida Avenue to the
south. Its central location affords quick access to the
adjacent neighborhoods of U Street, Adams Morgan, Mount
Pleasant, Petworth, Park View, and Pleasant Plains. It
is served by the Columbia Heights Metro station (Green/Yellow
lines).
After the Civil War, the area became
known as Columbia Heights when it began its transformation
as a suburb to the downtown neighborhoods. Upscale development
began around 1900 and became the preferred area for some
of Washington’s wealthiest and most influential
people. By 1914, four street car lines served the area
providing transportation to Washington’s downtown
in 20 minutes.
While Columbia Heights retained much
of its upscale residential appeal, supporting establishments
such as the ornate Tivoli Theatre at 14th Street and Park
Road struggled through the mid-1900s. The 1968 riots brought
steep economic decline to the neighborhood. With the opening
of the Columbia Heights Metro station in 1999, the community’s
renaissance began. New shops, restaurants, gyms, and residential
housing all have contributed to the neighborhood’s
reemergence as a popular shopping, dining, and living
destination.
