DC REAL ESTATE
SHAW
The Isaacs Team | Compass
Neighborhood Profile
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NW DC
20005
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Shaw Neighborhood
The neighborhood features historic landmarks such as the Howard Theatre and the U Street Corridor, contributing to its cultural significance. The area is characterized by its artistic flair, with murals adorning the streets, offering a pleasing mix of traditional and contemporary architecture. Blagden Alley offers unique fine dining & cocktail experiences, desirable alley homes, and popular Instagram backgrounds.
North Shaw shares in this transformation with a blend of the historic and modern; the creation of a new neighborhood off U Street.
The real estate market in Shaw and North Shaw reflects the neighborhood’s dynamic evolution. Historic row houses, some dating back to the late 19th century, coexist with newly developed condominiums and apartments. The demand for real estate in these neighborhoods has surged, fueled by the influx of those drawn to the area’s vibrant atmosphere and many amenities. The Shaw and North Shaw neighborhoods are not only residential hubs but cultural destinations, as well, with a burgeoning culinary scene, trendy boutiques, and galleries contributing to the area’s allure.
Whether enjoying live performances, exploring local art installations, or indulging in diverse culinary experiences, residents of Shaw and North Shaw find themselves at the intersection of history, culture, and contemporary city living.
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Why We Love It
- Vibrant and busy
- Many amenities
- Excellent dining options
- Howard U
- Eclectic architecture
- N Shaw amenities
- U Street Corridor
- Shaw Metro Station
Nearby
- Pleasant Plains
- LeDroit Park
- Bloomingdale
- Logan Circle
Shaw Market Data
Shaw History
‘Uptown’
Originally named “Uptown,” the Shaw DC neighborhood grew from freed slave encampments outside the city boundaries, which ended at “Boundary Street,” known today as Florida Avenue. The neighborhood later took the name “Shaw” for Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the local school of the same name.
Shaw was a hub for black intellectual and cultural life at the turn of the 20th century, when Howard University was chartered. In the 1920’s the neighborhood was frequented by such notables as Alain LeRoy Locke, Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington.
1968
The 1968 riots hit Shaw hard, leaving the area without electricity and many of the neighborhood’s buildings were destroyed by fire.
A population drain followed, crime increased and the once thriving neighborhood would not recover for many decades.
Revitalization to Gentrification
Revitalization began in Shaw during the late 1970’s and conservationists battled over neighborhood lines. The 14th and U Street Coalition accused the Dupont Circle Conservancy trying to co-opt their neighborhood and its history.
During the early 2000’s, the demand for housing increased well beyond supply, and gentrification of Shaw began. Developers moved in, pushing longtime residents out, and ultimately resulting in the redesign of many portions of the neighborhood. As home values escalated, Shaw became one of the District’s hottest housing markets.
Today’s Shaw remains a neighborhood in transition, boundary lines expanded, but its identity intact. The neighborhood’s 19th century Victorian row houses are being protected and restored as new development from North Shaw to Truxton Circle continues to reshape and restyle the area.
Shaw Cultural Landmarks
The Shaw DC neighborhood boasts a number of cultural landmarks, including: Ben’s Chili Bowl, Lincoln Theatre, Howard Theatre, Dunbar Theater, White law Hotel, CityMarket at O, Shiloh Baptist Church, The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, Thurgood Marshall Center and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Sources: Wikipedia, Library of Congress
Shaw Schools
THOMSON ELEMENTARY
Public IB • Grades PK-5
FRANCIS-STEVENS SWW
Public • Grades 6-8
CARDOZO EDU CAMPUS
Public • Grades 9-12
For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS. Click the cap to go to school website. School data by SchoolDigger