As one of the most storied neighborhoods in Washington, DC, Georgetown is often perceived by tourists as a stately and prosperous area, home to senators, congressmen, diplomats, and legendary hostesses. Within the Beltway, however, there is a long-standing perception that Georgetown has two sides: the East Village (east of Wisconsin Avenue NW) and the area to the west. The popular notion is that the wealthy inhabit large estates in the East, while the less privileged live in the West Village. Some longtime residents scoff at this theory, pointing to traffic and crime as bigger problems.
The east side of Georgetown offers the convenience of being within walking distance of Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom, giving residents easier access to the subway. Despite movies like 1987’s “No Way Out” in which bad guys chase Kevin Costner up the Georgetown subway escalator, there are no subway stops in Georgetown. And it’s true that the West Side is full of Georgetown University students, who typically care less about maintaining their property. However, each side has its wealthy residents. Sense. John Kerr and Max Baucus have homes on the west side, the former sen. John Edwards recently sold his west side mansion. Famed journalists Ben Bradlee, Sally Quinn, and Bob Woodward call the East Side home. Prominent West Village properties include Halcyon House and Prospect House. In fact, some of the most historic houses from the Federal period are located on N, O and P Streets, NW in the West. Not to be outdone, the East Village boasts Evermay, luxurious Dumbarton Oaks, and Tudor Place.
The east side also features a number of smaller properties that were built for free blacks and slaves, a holdover from Georgetown’s history as a thriving African-American community. Georgetown’s history predates that of the capital city. The community was founded as a tobacco port by two men named George (perhaps foreshadowing the split) during the reign of George II. The actual city of George Town evolved over time and was incorporated into the District of Columbia after Maryland ceded the territory to help create the nation’s capital city. In 1967, the neighborhood was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Regardless of the lighthearted bickering, residents agree that parking is always a challenge and finding a property for less than half a million dollars is even more of a challenge these days.
