The Changing Face of Cleveland Park

• August 4, 2009

by Mark Wellborn

In late May, we reported that the locally-owned grocery store Magruder’s was shuttering its Cleveland Park branch after being a staple in the neighborhood for years. The news came just over a month after the Starbucks up the street closed its doors.

Yesterday, DCist reported that the 7-11 on the corner of Porter Street and Connecticut Avenue was closing after being in business for decades.

Yes, two of these are national chains and their closings may be the result of the struggling economy. But it also seems that these establishments and others are being priced out of a neighborhood that prospective buyers have already deemed over-priced.

A local agent told UrbanTurf that home and condo owners in the area are pricing their properties above the market rate with the idea that the neighborhood still has the same allure that it did five or ten years ago.

“Granted the Uptown is still here and restaurants like Palena and Ardeo bring in crowds,” she said. “But, in general, young home buyers are looking to other neighborhoods to buy into and older home buyers now want homes in quieter neighborhoods like AU Park and Chevy Chase.”

We happen to still like Cleveland Park, and think that there isn’t a better movie theater than the Uptown in the city. How do you feel? Do you think Cleveland Park is changing?

8 Comments

1. CParkresident said at 11:29 am on Tuesday August 4, 2009:

   The recent closings are unsettling, but I still like the area. Places like Vace are still here and represent the good stores that have been in the neighborhood for decades. Even though it was here for a long time, I am not all that sad to see 7-Eleven go.

1. whatwhat said at 1:38 pm on Tuesday August 4, 2009:

   I wouldn’t worry, even some stores in CH are closing in this economy.  I’m in my late 20’s and living in CH and I still see CP as the place I want to eventually move to.

1. Former CP Resident said at 2:34 pm on Tuesday August 4, 2009:

   I just moved away from CP after living there for the past 3 years. I didn’t move because of the closings but there was definitely a feeling in the neighborhood that they are taking a toll on the area (just check out posting after posting on the subject in the CP listserv). My opinion is that the economy (in tandem with high commercial rents) is most if not all of the problem. Once either of those two things turns around, the neighborhood will be fine. Couldn’t agree more about 7-11 not mattering, now the bagel shop that went out of business a few years back, that’s another story…

1. CP resident said at 10:12 am on Wednesday August 5, 2009:

   and the cold stone creamery closed a few months ago too…

1. Rick said at 11:15 am on Wednesday August 5, 2009:

   I currently live in CP and I always go Firehook for my morning coffee/pastry.  I’m interested to see what business’ will move into the vacated Starbucks…Supercuts…Consignment Shop…Cold Stone (I could go on). 

   On the bright side I have noticed numerous renovation projects happening in CP.  A couple on Newark St (the Mackling [?] building on the corner of Newark/CT) and another apartment building up toward Wisconsin/Macomb.

   
   Seeing things like that lead me to believe our neighborhood will survive!

1. Rich said at 12:47 pm on Wednesday August 5, 2009:

   Cleveland Park will be fine.  The neighborhood’s fundamentals (proximity to Dupont, Adams Morgan, MtP/Columbia Heights, metro access, solid core population of families and young professional) haven’t changed.  Housing prices in the area have held up relatively well compared to other areas.  Commercial rents have gotten a little out of hand, but that is a sign of stregth, not weakness.

1. Jon said at 3:10 pm on Thursday August 6, 2009:

   I lived in CP when I first arrived in DC and I think that it’s relative lack of “urban” feel makes it not a very desirable place…not very mixed in terms of income or race, no creative community that I noticed…I hate to break it to you, CP, but you remind me of NoVa…

1. Riley said at 5:28 pm on Tuesday August 18, 2009:

   I am in my 20s and I just moved to Cleveland park with my husband and we absolutely LOVE it!!  I know there is a wine store going in next to the old market and a new walgreens is being built which will replace the 7-Eleven, and a great nail place just opened.  I think it is a fantastic neighborhood with great restaurants and lots of appeal!!