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WDCEP230608-0708-revised

Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Developed beginning in the 1880s, Pennsylvania Avenue SE is often considered the gateway to Capitol Hill. Characterized by single-family homes and townhouses, the area is surrounded by Hillcrest, Penn Branch, Dupont Park, Fairfax Village, Fairlawn, Fort Davis, and Randle Highlands. These communities contribute significant consumer spending potential for the neighborhood’s diverse retail tenants.

Neighborhood Shopping Centers

Fairfax Village (34,400 SF), Fort Davis Center (44,000 SF), and the Shops at Penn Branch (89,000 SF) provide retail, restaurants, and services to nearby communities. Shops at Penn Branch
  • Renovations of the retail center at 3200 Pennsylvania Avenue SE were completed in 2019. The updated property features 17,000 SF of office space and 65,000 SF of retail anchored by a 20,000 SF Planet Fitness, Chipotle, Highlands restaurant, Alpha Custom Tailor, and Ms. Toya’s Southern Kitchen.
  • Phase II of the project will redevelop the rear 1.9-acre parking lot into a mixed-use project including 189 units of housing and additional neighborhood-serving retail.

Great Streets + Main Street + Proposed Zoning Changes

  • Pennsylvania Avenue SE’s designation as a Great Streets corridor allows small businesses to apply for grant funds to cover capital improvements and certain soft costs.
  • The corridor receives support from the Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Streets, under the auspices of the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, through community-based economic development programs.
  • Proposed Zoning Changes along the commercial corridor from Fairlawn Avenue SE to 27th St. SE could change from Mixed Use (MU) 4 zone (low-to-moderate-density) to a new Neighborhood Mixed Use Zong (NMU) to allow more density and height.

Pennsylvania Avenue East Small Area Plan (PAESAP)

  • The plan lays out the framework for a community-informed vision of a thriving commercial main street where all residents can live, work, eat, and play.
  • The PAESAP is framed around the following themes: Economic Development and Retail Opportunity, Transportation Access and Connectivity, Housing Opportunities and Affordability, and Vibrant Public Realm and Urban Design.
Photo courtesy of @MayorMurielBowser on Facebook

Fort Circle Parks

Pennsylvania Avenue SE runs through Fort Circle Park, an open space with walking and bike trails. The park originally served as a network of forts established to defend the U.S. Capitol during the Civil War. It is now home to a vast array of recreational options in Ward 7, such as the newly reconstructed Fort Dupont Ice Arena and Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.
Population
0-0.5mi. 0-1mi. 0-3mi.
Population 4,993 25,894 265,525
Daytime Population 4,158 19,485 252,022
Male 47% 46% 47%
Female 53% 54% 53%
High School Graduate + 65% 61% 67%
Bachelor’s Degree + 51% 38% 46%
Graduate/Professional Degree 27% 18% 24%
Households
0-0.5mi. 0-1mi. 0-3mi.
Households (HH) 2,348 12,401 119,749
Average HH Size 2.12 2.05 2.16
Owner-occupied 56% 39% 36%
Renter-occupied 44% 61% 64%
Median Home Value $576,389 $453,263 $489,469
Income
0-0.5mi. 0-1mi. 0-3mi.
Average HH $130,074 $96,357 $125,696
Median HH $84,038 $67,988 $84,022
HH Income <$50k 27% 35% 30%
HH Income $50 - $75k 17% 20% 15%
HH Income $75k+ 56% 45% 55%
Average HH Disposable $86,539 $66,468 $81,952
Graduate/Professional Degree 27% 18% 24%

Age

  • Age < 20
  • Age 20 - 34
  • Age 35 - 64
  • Age 65+

0-0.5mi.

0-1mi.

0-3mi.

Consumer Expenditures
0-0.5mi. 0-1mi. 0-3mi.
Apparel $6,494,055 $26,805,044 $344,577,577
Child Care $1,476,214 $5,804,396 $78,254,113
Computers & Accessories $597,187 $2,424,412 $31,265,308
- Pets $2,620,772 $10,212,218 $128,132,818
Food at Home $19,669,749 $80,919,924 $1,013,032,134
Food away from Home $10,561,646 $42,224,402 $552,735,175
Health Care $19,555,952 $77,239,391 $928,865,838
- Medical Care $6,958,068 $27,262,014 $328,427,052
Home Improvement $13,970,665 $49,213,876 $562,344,062
Household Furnishings $7,456,296 $29,333,257 $366,903,975
Personal Care Products $1,515,526 $6,269,507 $81,251,777
Vehicle Maint. & Repair $3,333,718 $13,364,883 $167,904,007

Commuting Preference

  • Drove alone
  • Public transportation
  • Bicycle
  • Walked
  • Worked at home
  • other

0-0.5mi.

0-1mi.

0-3mi.

Capital Bikeshare Locations

3

within 1/2 mile

Traffic Counts

17,600 – 42,000   Pennsylvania Ave. SE
7,600 – 15,700   Branch Ave SE
   

Walkscore

74

Very Walkable

Residents within a 10-minute car ride

203,252

Resources & Incentives

Great Streets

Supermarket Tax Incentives

Office to Anything Incentives

Housing in Downtown

DC Development Report

Economic Development Maps

Marshall Heights Community Development Organization
Latisha Atkins
Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Streets Director
(202) 396-1200
Latkins@mhcdo.org
mhcdo.org

Source data to go here once received.

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