DC population now exceeds Baltimore's?

[Baltimatt]

New state-level population figures.

Not even three years ago, it seemed like there was still a long way to go before D.C. had more people than Baltimore. At the time of the 2010 census, Baltimore had nearly 20,000 more residents than Washington: 620,961 to 601,723. But Washington's growth has been booming for more than a decade, while Baltimore's population is stagnant.

The District gained more than 13,000 residents between July 2011 and July 2012. The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday put D.C.'s population on July 1, 2012 at 632,323 -- up from 619,020 a year earlier. In contrast, on July 1, 2011 Baltimore's population was estimated by the Census Bureau to be 619,493, down from 620,560 a year earlier.

What is DC doing right? 13,000 new residents in a year!

[bmore_ken]

I know it sounds simplistic, but gentrification

[Baltimatt]

Ken---

Yes, but what's behind it? What makes Washington so much more attractive for gentrifiers, enough that the city can attract a net of 13,000 new residents in one year's time?

[bmore_ken]

Here's a good article on it matt. Former Mayor Williams started the plan to attract young people quite some time ago. I guess the short version of it is if you build it they will come

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...U_story_1.html

[Baltimatt]

Thanks, Ken. It will be interesting to see if DC can keep the young people when they marry and start families, or if they'll have to recruit the next age cohort to come along.

[boink]

There is a lot to attract people to live in Washington.

First and foremost is proximity to the federal government and the jobs it spins off, not only federal jobs, but lobbying, consulting, etc.

I spend a lot of time in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC around Eastern Market, and the place is teeming with young professionals. Many are families with young kids. In the northern end of Eastern Market, there's a large empty hall where you can see many children with their nannies and au pairs from all over the world.

H Street and north are the next areas to be gentrified. Union Market recently opened in an area of wholesale shops and cheap liquor stores.

Some longtime residents are grumbling about the change. Former Mayor Fenty lost the black vote because many thought he was catering to the needs of white voters, dog parks, bicycle lanes, etc.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...091804286.html
How D.C. Mayor Fenty lost the black vote - and his job

Union Market
http://unionmarketdc.com

H Street
http://hstreet.org

H Street NE: America’s 6th-hippest hipster neighborhood, according to Forbes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ab04_blog.html

Capitol Hill Rag
http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/...epage/hill-rag

[buzzthefuzz]

Ken---

Yes, but what's behind it? What makes Washington so much more attractive for gentrifiers, enough that the city can attract a net of 13,000 new residents in one year's time?

Matt, that's where the money for both the have and have-nots.

[The Eternal White Belt]

I agree with what has already been said. DC has a job market that's 100 times better than Baltimore's, many more nightlife options, way better public transportation, more free entertainment than you can shake a stick at and a reputation that helps pull money into the city.

[ivanbalt]

The mass transit alone makes it more attractive than Baltimore. But hey, we'll have a Red Line in 15 years.

[BlandFood]

I know it sounds simplistic, but gentrification

Does either city do the $1 dollar sales anymore? Balt did in the 70's I think but the buyer was committed to restoring it by contract. No idea how it turned out.

[boink]

Someone paid over $760,000 for a house in poor condition near H Street.

Location, location, location.
-------------------------------------------------

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...196_story.html

D.C. house inspires 168 bids in red-hot real estate market

It didn’t look like a house anyone would pay $400,000 extra for.

Several walls inside the gray townhouse with blue trim were streaked with water stains. The first floor was noticeably uneven. And termites had dined in front.

The big pluses: It was 2,850 square feet, had off-street parking, and was in walking distance of Union Station and the bars and restaurants along H Street NE. Then there was the list price: $337,000. Similar houses in the neighborhood were going for closer to $500,000.

[Eastside Terp]

Someone paid over $760,000 for a house in poor condition near H Street.

Location, location, location.
-------------------------------------------------

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...196_story.html

D.C. house inspires 168 bids in red-hot real estate market

It didn’t look like a house anyone would pay $400,000 extra for.

Several walls inside the gray townhouse with blue trim were streaked with water stains. The first floor was noticeably uneven. And termites had dined in front.

The big pluses: It was 2,850 square feet, had off-street parking, and was in walking distance of Union Station and the bars and restaurants along H Street NE. Then there was the list price: $337,000. Similar houses in the neighborhood were going for closer to $500,000.

I read that article the other day and was just .......

[kandace]

I read that article the other day and was just .......

H Street is the new Georgetown. Walk along H street on a Friday night at 11pm and the nightlife is rocking like Georgetown used to in the 1980s and 1990s. And the nightlife is of a certain vanilla hue.

[Omaha Beach]

H Street is the new Georgetown. Walk along H street on a Friday night at 11pm and the nightlife is rocking like Georgetown used to in the 1980s and 1990s. And the nightlife is of a certain vanilla hue.

Why did you feel it was worth mentioning the race of the people enjoying themselves there? Who cares?

[Eastside Terp]

Why did you feel it was worth mentioning the race of the people enjoying themselves there? Who cares?

its those demographics that are driving the crazy home bidding wars .........

[tsmonk]

Why did you feel it was worth mentioning the race of the people enjoying themselves there? Who cares?

DC used to be called Chocolate City. That is a thing of the past.

http://dcist.com/2012/05/dc_chocolate_city_no_more.php

The white population now makes up 35.3 percent of the city's total pie. This marks the highest percentage of whites living in the District since the 1960s, when whites were leaving the city for the region's more spacious suburbs.

[Sprightly]

There is a lot to attract people to live in Washington.

First and foremost is proximity to the federal government and the jobs it spins off, not only federal jobs, but lobbying, consulting, etc.

I spend a lot of time in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of DC around Eastern Market, and the place is teeming with young professionals. Many are families with young kids. In the northern end of Eastern Market, there's a large empty hall where you can see many children with their nannies and au pairs from all over the world.

H Street and north are the next areas to be gentrified. Union Market recently opened in an area of wholesale shops and cheap liquor stores.

Some longtime residents are grumbling about the change. Former Mayor Fenty lost the black vote because many thought he was catering to the needs of white voters, dog parks, bicycle lanes, etc.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...091804286.html
How D.C. Mayor Fenty lost the black vote - and his job

Union Market
http://unionmarketdc.com

H Street
http://hstreet.org

H Street NE: America’s 6th-hippest hipster neighborhood, according to Forbes
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ab04_blog.html

Capitol Hill Rag
http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/...epage/hill-rag

Don't forget Adams Morgan! Love Adams Morgan!

[newpoppop]

I remember when the neighborhoods near Union Station were redeveloped, and the resulting property tax assessments forced many lifelong residents to move, because they couldn't afford the taxes.

[boink]

Don't forget Adams Morgan! Love Adams Morgan!

How about Madam's Organ?
http://www.madamsorgan.com

[boink]

Navy Yard too....when I'm in that area I like to stop at Cap Liquors at South Capitol and N Street, across from the Nationals Stadium
-----------------------------------

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/a...h-an-ice-rink/

Navy Yard
The city's only neighborhood with an ice rink, a trapeze school, and no grocery store

Gentrification has taken an odd turn in Navy Yard, a neighborhood wedged between the Anacostia River and I-395 once known for its strip clubs and crime stats. The process began as usual, with developers replacing housing projects with luxury condos, million-dollar town homes, and a bit of low-income housing. Then came some less-typical tenants, such as the New York Trapeze School, which vaulted a series of zoning challenges to land prime real estate with river views. And with the recent opening of Canal Park Ice Rink, Navy Yard residents can practice their double toe loops as well as their flying trapeze moves. Until the long-promised Harris Teeter opens, though, denizens of newly branded Capitol Riverfront must trek a mile or more to the nearest grocery store—which must make the area the only neighborhood in the country with an ice rink and a trapeze school, but no supermarket. But don’t send in Michelle Obama just yet. Unlike other food-desert dwellers, yuppies can afford takeout.