Washington Highlands
Encyclopedia
Washington Highlands is a large residential neighborhood in Southeast
Washington, D.C.
, bounded on three sides by Oxon Run Park and on the fourth (southeast) side by Southern Avenue. It is the largest residential neighborhood in Ward 8, the poorest and least developed section of Washington.
Most of the neighborhood it is low-income and public housing
apartment complexes, including the 204-unit Highland Dwelling public housing complex. The DC Housing Authority received 2009 stimulus funding, and has allocated $11 million towards rehabilitation of Highland Dwellings.
Wheeler Creek is a 314-unit community, developed with 1997 HOPE VI
grant, replacing Valley Green and Skytower. Wheeler Creek includes 48 low-income rental units, 100 senior apartments, 32 market-rate rental units, 30 lease/purchase unites, and the rest are for purchase.
Highland Additions was a 118-unit complex that was torn down in 2001. The DC government is seeking HOPE funding to redevelop the site as a townhouse community.
In recent years a gated community, Walter Washington
Estates, has drawn middle-class residents.
The most prominent landmark in Washington Highlands is Greater Southeast Community Hospital, the facility that serves the majority of public health-care needs in the District of Columbia, and whose funding and finances are stretched.
had been living for months in her rowhouse with the bodies of her four murdered children in advanced states of decomposition upstairs.
, (founder of the United Black Fund and Councilwoman), who lived on Foxhall Place, and country singer/entertainer Roy Clark
who grew up on First Street.
Washington, D.C. (southeast)
Southeast is the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and is located south of East Capitol Street and east of South Capitol Street. It includes the Capitol Hill and Anacostia neighborhoods, the Navy Yard, the Marine Barracks, the Anacostia River waterfront,...
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, bounded on three sides by Oxon Run Park and on the fourth (southeast) side by Southern Avenue. It is the largest residential neighborhood in Ward 8, the poorest and least developed section of Washington.
Demographics
As of 2007, Washington Highlands had a population of 8,829, including 3,242 households and a median household income of $28,885. 81.3% of residents in Washington Highlands are renters, and 18.7% are home owners. 71.6% of households are families.Most of the neighborhood it is low-income and public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
apartment complexes, including the 204-unit Highland Dwelling public housing complex. The DC Housing Authority received 2009 stimulus funding, and has allocated $11 million towards rehabilitation of Highland Dwellings.
Wheeler Creek is a 314-unit community, developed with 1997 HOPE VI
HOPE VI
HOPE VI is a plan by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is meant to revitalize the worst public housing projects in the United States into mixed-income developments. Its philosophy is largely based on New Urbanism and the concept of Defensible space.The program began...
grant, replacing Valley Green and Skytower. Wheeler Creek includes 48 low-income rental units, 100 senior apartments, 32 market-rate rental units, 30 lease/purchase unites, and the rest are for purchase.
Highland Additions was a 118-unit complex that was torn down in 2001. The DC government is seeking HOPE funding to redevelop the site as a townhouse community.
In recent years a gated community, Walter Washington
Walter Washington
Walter Edward Washington, was an American politician, the first home-rule mayor of the District of Columbia...
Estates, has drawn middle-class residents.
Landmarks
A new tennis and learning center, combining sports and education, is located in Washington Highlands. The DC Public Library is slated to re-open the renovated Washington Highlands branch in summer 2011, and has an interim branch open in the neighborhood.The most prominent landmark in Washington Highlands is Greater Southeast Community Hospital, the facility that serves the majority of public health-care needs in the District of Columbia, and whose funding and finances are stretched.
Crime
Washington Highlands is among the most violent neighborhoods in the District of Columbia; approximately one third of the city's 181 homicides in 2007 occurred there. The neighborhood became the focus of media attention in January 2008, when city officials discovered that Washington Highlands resident Banita JacksBanita Jacks
Banita Jacks is a Washington, DC resident convicted of murdering her four daughters, who ranged in age from 5 to 17 years old. On July 29, 2009, Jacks was convicted of the felony murder of all four girls, as well as child cruelty towards all four girls and first-degree murder of the younger three...
had been living for months in her rowhouse with the bodies of her four murdered children in advanced states of decomposition upstairs.
Notable residents
Former neighborhood residents include the late Calvin and Wilhelmina RolarkWilhelmina Rolark
Wilhelmina J. Rolark was a Democratic politician and activist in Washington, D.C. She was elected as Ward 8 member of the Council of the District of Columbia in 1976 and served four terms....
, (founder of the United Black Fund and Councilwoman), who lived on Foxhall Place, and country singer/entertainer Roy Clark
Roy Clark
Roy Linwood Clark is an American country music musician and performer. He is best known for hosting Hee Haw, a nationally televised country variety show, from 1969–1992. Clark has been an important and influential figure in country music, both as a performer and helping to popularize the genre...
who grew up on First Street.