UrbanTurf Reader Asks: What Do You Know About Kingman Park?

• July 20, 2011
• 10 Comments

by UrbanTurf Staff

Home for sale in Kingman Park

In this installment of UrbanTurf Reader Asks, a reader wonders what the UrbanTurf audience knows about the northeast DC neighborhood of Kingman Park. The approximate boundaries of Kingman Park are 15th Street to the west; C Street to the south; Benning Road to the north; and Anacostia Park to the east.

I am wondering what the UrbanTurf audience can tell me about the Kingman Park neighborhood. It seems like a nice area, but I am wondering if it is considered "on the Hill" or not. I clocked it at just two miles to the Capitol building and half a block from the trolley, and also Kingman Nature Island is right there. The Wikipedia piece is strong but can the value really be there?

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This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/urbanturf_reader_asks_what_do_you_know_about_kingman_park/3830

10 Comments

1. East_H said at 9:08 pm on Thursday July 21, 2011:
   If you're looking for a good value and great investment, I think Rosedale/Kingman Park have some of the best options in the city. Just to confirm what most everyone has said, it's a great neighborhood, often overlooked, with some tremendous values. We looked around in Kingman Park before settling on Rosedale a few blocks west, to be easy walking distance to H Street. The neighborhood has changed a lot in the year and a half we have been here. Like anything else, it's not perfect--the streetcar is coming, but who knows when... and while Kingman & Heritage Island Park really is a hidden treasure, it has a ways to go to reach full potential. The RFK lots are really awful, but that entire complex will be redeveloped at some point in the next 10-20 years. The area is much more metro accessible than people give it credit for. The X2 is very reliable, and Stadium/Armory station is a 15-20 minute walk. Also, while it's not part of Capitol Hill, you will be part of a lot of Capitol Hill events and community spirit. We're *technically* 1.5 blocks from the edge of Cap Hill proper, but regularly walk to Lincoln Park, Eastern Market, bike to Nats games, etc etc. Good luck!

1. Nikki said at 9:35 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   I looked at that area when I was house hunting. The Rosedale Citizen's Alliance also covers Kingman Park. Their blog is a good resource: http://rosedalecitizen.blogspot.com/ I once inquired with the RCA about living in that area, and all the responses were quite positive. I have to admit, though, I'm skeptical about delivery of the trolly by 2013. When they were saying they already had cars waiting in the Czech Republic, it turned out it was really only a half dozen or so. I don't know where the money will come from... I would also watch 16th and E/Isherwood closely. I seem to remember one of the MDP floodlight stations and a permanent surveillance team monitoring the area. I would take a close look at the crime stats and talk to some of those cops.

1. mark said at 3:40 am on Thursday July 21, 2011:
   Thanks everyone! I'm going to give this area close inspection and hope to find the right place...prices for finished homes are about $100K less than those just 4 or 5 blocks away. This has been really helpful, despite some of the sad, snarky angry comments.

1. Blair said at 7:20 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   Mark, I have lived in Kingman Park for three years and have grown to love it. I rent, so don't know much about how much the homes cost but it is close to h st and cap hill as you know and my neighbors are quite friendly. Hope you move here!

1. Tim said at 7:57 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   Hi Mark - We bought in August 2010 and love Kingman Park. We were able to pick up a short sale at around $200K, put $20K in upgrades and the house is great. We think our house is already worth at least $75K more than we bought it for. With the proximity to H street (15-20 min walk, 5 min bus ride), trolley tracks down, trolley hopefully coming down in 2013, home values should consistently rise the the next three years. A bunch of houses were flipped in the last year and sold for $300-$380K. We feel safe and a bunch of young people are moving into the area. Good luck!

1. Katie said at 4:26 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   I agree - it's not really considered the hill, but it's a great part of town with close access to the parks and watershed (and Langston Golf Course). There was a great bluegrass festival in Kingman Park last month - so much fun!

1. D said at 4:51 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   The homes are uber cheap compared to other parts of town.

1. Ryan Freel said at 5:15 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   Did the questioner really cite the "strength" of the neighborhood's wikipedia page in relation to its "value", or did you just add that last sentence to make them look completely ridiculous?

1. Joyce said at 4:23 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   Kingman Park is not thought of as part of the Hill, but it is a nice option if you can't afford the Hill itself. A number of bank-owned properties are for sale there now, but the houses are solid options for young buyers.

1. Mark said at 7:04 pm on Wednesday July 20, 2011:
   To Ryan: I asked the questions about Kingman Park. The wikipedia page is quite comprehensive for Kingman Park, more so than other "neighborhood pages" I've seen. Obviously people care about this neighborhood and have done a strong, informative write up: When people care about their neighborhood it's a place others want to live. It's not completely ridiculous. Your posting seems angry, are you an angry person?