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Deanwood Community Guide Real Estate An affordable neighborhood with a small-time feel

Updated 4/3/2023

History and Flavor

In Northeast Washington DC, Deanwood is one of the Northeast’s oldest neighborhoods and one of the oldest African-American suburbs in the District. Early 20th Century wood-frame and brick-style homes and a lot of foliage give Deanwood a quaint small-town feel.

Established in 1833 for slaveholder Levi Sheriff, a new railroad station constructed in 1871 created interest in the area. Sheriff’s daughters inherited the land and subdivided it to sell the lots as single-family homes. Deanwood attracted a diverse group of working-class people. 

By 1900, Deanwood was mainly an African-American neighborhood. By the 1920s, a development boom fostered by black architects helped make this a well-established urban neighborhood. 

Washington D.C.’s first–and only–amusement park, Suburban Gardens, was opened in 1921 and stayed open until the beginning of World War II. Today, the heart of Deanwood is the Deanwood Recreation Center.  There is an indoor pool, sports leagues, crafting classes, and even a sound studio. 

Deanwood has been designated an Opportunity Zone, which provides tax incentives for new businesses and commercial project investments. 

Deanwood is served by two Metro stations: Deanwood at Polk Street NE and Minnesota Avenue NE. Several bus lines run through the neighborhood. Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue and the Anacostia Freeway are the nearest significant thoroughfares.

Entertainment

Parks & Sights

  • Deanwood Recreation CenterA place for leisure, recreation, and enjoyment! There is a tech lab, indoor basketball court and a library. The fitness center and indoor pool open at 6:30 am. There’s also a football/soccer field.
  • Marvin Gaye ParkWashington’s longest municipal park, spanning 1.6 miles through the far-northeastern DC neighborhoods. It’s a vital greenway and trail system winding its way through Deanwood, Burville, Hillbrook, Lincoln Heights, and Northeast Boundary.
  • Lederer GardensA 40-plot community garden in Lincoln Heights.
  • Deanwood Aquatic CenterHome to an indoor slide, a separate children’s pool located within the Deanwood Recreation Center.  

Shopping/Restaurants 

Popular Shopping and Eats

  • A&S GroceryKnown to locals as the best grocery store in D.C.
  • Benco Shopping Center – You’ll find a laundromat, hot wings, Subway, and a Dollar Discount store here.
  • East River Park –  a cornerstone for the ongoing evolution within Ward 7 in Northeast Washington, D.C. Anchored by a Safeway Supermarket, the site sees traffic of 50,000 cars each day and serves the community in several important ways. Its nationally recognized tenants include CVS, USPS, Citibank, and a new Green-Light Uber Hub. 
  • Shops at Dakota Crossing430,000 square feet of retail services including —Costco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Marshalls. 

Best Public High Schools

Best Public Elementary Schools

Public Transportation

Buses/Trains

Deanwood Subway Station

Division Ave NE & Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE Bus Stop

Eastern Ave NE & Dogwood Ln Bus Stop

Kenilworth Ave NE & 44th St NE Bus Stop

Median Home Value

$385,000 as of 2023

Renters: 53%

Owners: 47%

Demographics

Population 13,792

Median household income –  $50,077

Median age: 34

Families with children – 22%

High school diploma or equivalent – 39%

College Degree: 45%

85% African American

15% Hispanic/White/Other

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