Kenilworth

Kenilworth is a neighborhood of approximately 1,29 residents located in the northeast section of the city and is home to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The neighborhood’s boundaries are generally defined as being within the footprint of Olive Street N.E., Douglas Street N.E., the Anacostia River and the Maryland state line. Currently there is only one home for sale in the neighborhood and the list price of the home is $239,965. The data indicates that 38% of the homes in Kenilworth being owner occupied. Homes here tend to be mainly multifamily rentals, with some single-family detached homes. As with many neighborhoods there is a commercial component to the neighborhood as well.

The neighborhood does not have any schools or recreational facilities within its boundaries. Very few restaurants and shopping opportunities are located within Kenilworth, so many will want to venture out for these activities. Public transportation is available with numerous Metro Bus stops being located in the neighborhood and the Deanwood Metro station is nearby. Dedicated green space is available in Anacostia Park as well as in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Residents have 3 places of worship within the neighborhood.

Crime is where the neighborhood may lose its appeal to many. Recent crime statistics indicate that crimes against people and property are frequent, with two homicides occurring recently. As always check the most recent crime statistics and make an informed decision as to the crime risk in any neighborhood. Although the green space is excellent it is hard to be enthusiastic about Kenilworth given the crime issues.

Kenilworth is a very poor neighborhood, and has a lot of public housing. Normally I would consider that to be mostly or completely bad, but not this time. Why? Because there is a magnet school in Kenilworth, and because the residents are more empowered than most in this area. In fact, there was an attempt back in the eighties to have residents own their own condos within the public housing units. There was a lot of organization, but politicians being who they are it didn’t work. Nonetheless, these residents are not the type to be resigned to their situation: they are trying to better themselves. They get their high school diplomas and work hard; in a rare combination of factors there isn’t much crime. This makes the private housing options worth purchasing and living in, and you could safely raise a family in this area. Real estate is nonetheless reasonably priced. An added bonus is the aquatic gardens run by the National Park Service. Because of the influx of tourists during the summer there are a few more services than in many neighborhoods east of the Anacostia. Nonetheless, residents will have to drive into Maryland to purchase many of their needs.

Kenilworth is a small residential neighborhood in northeast DC. Catering mostly to low-income families, the centerpiece of the neighborhood is a large government funded public housing project. Her main claim to fame is that this complex, Kenilworth Courts, was part of a major government initiative in 1988 to sell the housing project to its current tenants. Sadly, this plan failed. However, past possibilities still linger on, and residents hope that some sort of change may yet come about.
Kenilworth’s main show piece is the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, located on the edge of the Anacostia River. This national park features a series of marshy ponds that come alive in early summer with lotus flowers and water lilies. These blooms attract visitors, and tourist dollars, to the area every June.
During much of the rest of the year, residents are more interested in the Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, which features a weight room, basketball court and several meeting areas. It provides a safe place for young people to meet and play, and offers classes in various academic and artsy subjects throughout the year.