Good Hope

Good Hope is an established suburban neighborhood in southeast Washington D.C. that boasts schools, single-family homes, shopping, dining and one beautiful and lush park. It also has a unique history that reflects its name in several ways. The land on which Good Hope sits was the site of the first recorded Native American settlement in the area, by the Nacotchtank tribe. Captain John Smith successfully traded with them and praised their farming and hunting contributions to early European settlers’ survival. In thanksgiving for the survival of these early settlers, the small town built right in this area, just across the Anacostia River from what would eventually become Washington, was named “Good Hope.” Mostly farmland, with a few homes, taverns and merchants, the town was moderately developed until after WW II when a massive influx of federal workers drove the construction of new housing all around the DC area.

Today, Good Hope stands on the same land as that first town and is home to 6,000 residents and about 2,000 residences. Change defines the Anacostia area today area, and you can see that in Good Hope, where many older homes are well-renovated and new homes are popping up often. You’ll find midcentury homes, sidewalks and mature trees that provide shade in the summer and a carpet of colorful leaves in the fall. Many residents have cars to get to work and beyond the neighborhood, but Metrobus and Metrorail are nearby. Downtown D.C. and Capitol Hill are less than a 15-minute drive with moderate traffic. You can take Metro to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but if you drive allow a good hour to make the six-mile drive with DC traffic. According to Jerry Johnson, real estate agent with RE/MAX Allegiance, “Good Hope offers one of the last truly affordable areas in SE for buyers. Homes that are in good condition sell quickly. It’s convenient to so much – The Washington National’s ballpark, the river, the interstate and you’re right on the border of Maryland and Virginia as well.” Stone and brick Colonial Revival homes can be found from $450,000 to $490,000. Modern and contemporary homes are for sale, as well as newer town homes.

There are several public and charter schools in and around Good Hope. I Dream Public Charter School offers pre-kindergarten through third grade. Stanton Elementary offers pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has a C-minus rating from Niche. They have a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10:1. Sousa Middle School offers sixth through eighth grade and a student-teacher ratio of 9:1. Niche gives Sousa a C-minus grade. Historic Anacostia High School was founded in 1937 and is notable for its strong athletic programs. It offers AP courses and has a graduation rate of 62%. Niche gives Anacostia a C-minus grade.

Alger Park offers seven acres of wooded green space as well as a creek that is a tributary of the Anacostia River. Nearby Randle Highlands Park offers over 10 acres of parks and trails that are easily accessible from homes in Good Hope. For those who enjoy fishing, boating and watersports of all kinds, homes in Good Hope are less than a five-minute drive to points all along the Anacostia River.

A major redevelopment project is completing its last phase today. Skyland Town Center offers banking, retail shopping, dining and grocery stores. When complete, it will also offer a 293-unit apartment building, 126 town homes and a brand-new community park. Like That Barbershop opened in 1992 and has a loyal neighborhood following. Safeway and Lidl are at Skyland Town Center, as is Starbucks, and one of the fastest-growing pizza joints in the region, &Pizza. Mezeh Mediterranean Grill offers veggie bowls, salads and pita sandwiches. When you’re feeding a group, call ahead to Roaming Rooster to pick up an assortment of wings and fried chicken.

Good Hope has been home to area transplants for more than 400 years. With its continued growth and redevelopment, it will continue to welcome newcomers to its beautiful and lush neighborhood. As Agent Johnson explains, “One more thing that you can’t overlook about Good Hope is that it has well-tended green space in just about every direction. People really enjoy the look and feel of this neighborhood.”

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Naleli Murry

Video By

Daric Clarke