Queens Chapel

Queens Chapel is certainly one of those neighborhoods which is on the up and up, and in a big way. The compact, brick-covered architecture, though uniform, is pleasant to look at and (most importantly) sturdy to live in. Those who do not want to incorporate a car into the mix are in luck. Three different metro lines run through the Fort Totten station, which can take you almost anywhere you need to go in the city without having to switch lines.

The neighborhood has also garnered its own sense of quiet pride through its community activism. The Lamond-Riggs library is a high point for culture and education in the area, and the recreation center furthers a strong current of togetherness throughout the area. This place is perfect for just about everyone- families, students without cars, and anyone who likes quiet, affordable housing and a sense of community spirit.

Queens Chapel is the home to 4,450 residents in the northeast section of the city and lies on the border between the city and the state of Maryland. In general the neighborhood is flanked by Galloway Place N.E., Eastern Avenue N.E., Riggs Road N.E. and the metro train tracks leading to the Fort Totten Metro station. The neighborhood is primarily made up of a mixture of attached and detached single family homes. In 2010 the average sales price for a home that was sold in this neighborhood was $197,742, with 66% of the homes are owner occupied.

There is only one school in the neighborhood and hat can be found a the LaSalle-Backus Education campus. Residents are fortunate enough to have the Lamond Riggs Library as well. Green space can be found at the nearby Fort Circle Parks as well as the Riggs Road Playground. A big draw to many will be the Backus Recreational Center. As with many neighborhoods, shopping is very limited and restaurants are limited to a few take out places. However there is a Giant food store as well as other stores at the Riggs Plaza Shopping Center on Eastern Avenue N.E. just outside of the neighborhood. Although painful to get to the beltway from here, many will enjoy the the Fort Totten Metro station as well as numerous Metro Bus stops within the neighborhood.

Recent crime statistics indicate that the neighborhood is relatively safe, with only a few scattered crimes against people and property. As always, check the recent crime statistics and make an informed decision as to the crime risk in any neighborhood that you are considering moving into. All in all seems like a nice neighborhood.

Queens chapel is a nice bedroom community type neighborhood. It has a few small shops and restaurants, but not many. Mostly, it is just a bunch of middle class families who like to have it quiet and go about their business. Being close to Catholic University, there are plenty of professors who live there. Notably, Queens Chapel is popular among families with kids. And why not? There’s a really nice, state of the art rec center for them to play in after school. The crime rate is very low, almost exclusively petty thefts. Nobody has to be afraid walking around there at night. Of course, there isn’t much to do in the neighborhood late at night, but that’s OK.
Just outside the perimeter of the neighborhood you will find the Fort Totten Metro center. This station has three lines running through it, so with a very small surface commute residents can get many places in the city quickly. That sure takes some of the bite out of being so far away from the heart of town. The Metro center is also why it is good that the neighborhood is safe, as those who might work a later or earlier shift than most don’t need to be overly worried about getting mugged.

Queens Chapel is a small, middle class neighborhood adjacent to Catholic University. It is made up primarily of middle income residents who live in its many single family homes, condominiums and apartment complexes.

The main center of activity in the community is the large Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center. This new, $10 million dollar complex includes an outdoor sprinkler park, basketball courts, and a state of the art weight room. It also has an excellent, well maintain computer room and meeting facilities. The area is particularly proud that it is a “green building,” designed around the highest standards of energy efficient technology.

The community has no large scale shopping centers or chain restaurants. The few eateries there are small and privately owned. There is also little in the way of public transportation. In general this is not a problem since most of the communities’ residents own their own cars.

Most of the residents of this primarily African American population work outside of the neighborhood in local and federal government jobs. Some of them are also involved in large and small businesses that offer services to governmental and private sector agencies.

So, if you are looking for a quiet, friendly neighborhood near the heart of the Capital, Queens Chapel may be right for you.