Arboretum

Arboretum is a very small neighborhood in the northeast section of the city adjacent to the National Arboretum, which is beautiful and is a fun place to visit and is a really nice feature of the neighborhood. The boundaries of the neighborhood are formed by R Street N.E., Bladensburg Road N.E., Hickey Lane N.E. and New York Avenue. The neighborhood includes several hotels as well as several commercial businesses in addition to the residential area, which is made up of numerous single family homes as well as a few multifamily apartments.

Since the neighborhood is small, it lacks many of the amenities that many residents expect in a neighborhood. Shopping and restaurants are not found within the neighborhood. There are no schools or places of worship here. On a positive note the Arboretum Recreational Center is located in here, offering residents of all ages activities. There are numerous Metro Bus stops along Bladensburg Road allowing residents to gain access to the rest of the expansive Metro system. The location to those that may be commuting by car to jobs in Prince George's County as I95 access is great via Rt 50 and will be a reverse commute for many.

The neighborhood has a bad reputation as far as crime is concerned, however the most recent crime statistics do not support the reputation. The number of crimes reported here in the last 30 days was actually low and focused on a few property related crimes. I am sure that the Police station located in the neighborhood is a bid factor! As always check the most recent crime data to make an informed decision as to the crime risk in any neighborhood. I think that the lack of amenities is that would deter me from living here.

It is sad to think that right next to one of the most beautiful places in the city lies a small neighborhood which is so ridden with crime few people want to live there. the National Arboretum attracts lots of tourists every year, but sadly the more affluent citizens don't want to enjoy the view. Instead, Arboretum is home to plenty of gangs, drugs and violence. Couple that with tourist season, and you will see a place where there are plenty of pickpockets and other undesirables.

Because nobody has any money in Arboretum, there aren't many restaurants or shopping options. There is a rec center like in most DC areas, but one wonders how much it is used. Of course, the arboretum being close does offer opportunities to go somewhere beautiful and a little more safe, but with all the tourists this might not be as valuable. In winter, the Arboretum is covered in snow.

My advice? Unless you have no money to spend on rent, stay as far from here as you can. If you must live here, get a big dog and don't leave the house after dark. If visiting, guard your valuables with your life, and don't leave the hotel alone after dark either. Better yet, spend a few extra dollars and save yourself the hassle.