In a perfect neighborhood one can usually find minimal crime, shops and houses appealing to the eyes, a place for children to go to release their energy and a cove for the entire community to gain a bit of education. Cleveland Park offers more than the average community in Washington D.C. It is a small neighborhood that’s welcoming to those within and beyond the borders of Connecticut Avenue. As an official historic district, it is expected that Cleveland Park is a sight to see.
Designated as a Washington D.C. historic district in 1986, Cleveland Park was home to then president Grover Cleveland 100 years earlier. The area served as the residence to Cleveland’s summer White House. In 1886 he purchased a farmhouse to be remodeled, but when he lost re-election in 1889, he sold his estate and from that came land development and the continuation of the architectural history that Cleveland Park is famous for. Many historic homes in the neighborhood are modeled after classic architectural styles such as Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Georgian Revival and modern styles which began surfacing in 1936. Cleveland Park still prides itself on architecture to this day. The Cleveland Park Historic Society which was founded in 1985 was created to uphold the architectural heritage of the neighborhood. Soon after the first architectural era passed, the neighborhood became a streetcar suburb when a track was built connecting the neighborhood to downtown Washington D.C.
Cleveland Park, located in Ward 3 of Washington D.C., is a cozy area in between the zoo and two college towns. American University and the University of the District of Columbia are not too far from Cleveland Park, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if students took advantage of the neighborhood’s offerings for occasional dates. The metro rail’s red line runs through Cleveland Park.
The average income for the northern parts of Cleveland Park along with Forest Hills and Van Ness is $130,277 while the average family size is 2.67. The median age of northern Cleveland Park residents is 38.85. Racial demographics are rarely documented representing just Cleveland Park; therefore a look at Ward 3 will give somewhat of an idea of the people who live in this neighborhood. Six percent of Ward 3 is African-American while 88 percent is Caucasian and the remaining 6 percent is a combination of other races. Of these numbers, 72 percent of the northern Cleveland Park residents are expected to be college graduates.
Although Cleveland Park is bordered by Wisconsin and Connecticut Avenues, Tilden Street and Kingle Road, there are a host of restaurants and specialty shops along two blocks of Connecticut Avenue alone. The area is reminiscent of a 1950’s movie set with the addition of consignment and furniture shops with antique furniture and keepsakes. The Uptown Theater, a national landmark, is located in the center of Cleveland Park. The box office is located outside and the theater screens one film at a time. Restaurants range from sushi bars, Irish pubs to Italian eateries.
Mary M Cheh currently serves as the city council representative for Ward 3. Cheh focuses on bettering Ward 3 by focusing on consumer affairs, the environment, health, life issues and education. Ward 3 benefits from her interest in consumer protection which assists residents with applying for home mortgages and protects them against home equity robbery and payday loan traps. The Ward 3 newsletter outlines plans for the ward in detail.
Cleveland Park is home to the second largest cathedral in the United States. The Washington National Cathedral has been named the National House of Prayer by Congress. Also, the Cleveland Park Public Library is a staple to the community which was a project made possible by the Cleveland Park Citizens Association (CPCA). The firehouse located on Connecticut is also unique as it is the oldest commercial building in Cleveland Park.
