Knox Hill

Knox Hill is a tiny suburban community with a significant history and a promising future. In a quiet corner of Southeast Washington DC, Knox Hill saw investment in affordable and public housing after WWII as veterans returned home. Washington housing boomed thanks to the GI Bill and demand from federal employees. Today, there are about 20,000 people who live in the neighborhood Homes, townhouses and condos are mostly midcentury, two-story brick structures. Newer homes exhibit more contemporary features including plank siding, hidden garages and neat backyards. Jerry Johnson, a Real Estate agent for more than 15 years with RE/MAX Allegiance, explains the attraction of Knox Hill, “This neighborhood offers one of the last truly affordable areas in Southeast D.C. for home buyers. Homes that are in good condition sell quickly. Condominiums are competitively priced. The neighborhood is also convenient to so much – the National’s ballpark, the river, the interstate and you’re right on the border of Maryland and Virginia as well.” Buyers can find townhouses for about $425,000. Brand-new brick homes sell for around $600,000. Condominiums with about 1,100 square feet sell for around $360,000. Streets are quiet, tree-lined and many have sidewalks. Kids ride bikes to nearby schools and parks and residents pop into local stores and restaurants where the owners are their friends. Knox Hill shows signs of investment, renovation and revitalization throughout the neighborhood, which keeps demand for housing market stable.

Garfield Elementary is just one block from Knox Hill’s southeast corner, on Alabama Avenue. It offers pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has a notable student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. Niche gives it a C-grade. John Hayden Johnson Middle offers sixth through eighth grades and has a C-minus grade from Niche. In addition to required classes, students can take classes in robotics, green architecture, video production and dance. They’re wrestling and football teams have won repeat championships in the area. Historic Anacostia High School was founded in 1937 and is notable for its award-winning athletic programs. It offers AP courses and has a graduation rate of 62%. Niche gives Anacostia a C-minus grade. I Dream and DC Prep public charter schools, as well as several area private schools are options families have in Knox Hill.

Fort Stanton Park is home to a recreation center, an urban farm, a reservoir for DC Water, and one of only two designated hiking trails in the area. The Fort Stanton Recreation Center offers a playground, swimming pool, a gym and an indoor basketball court. Nearby Hillcrest Recreation Center was expanded and renovated in the early 2000s. Its indoor amenities include an arts & crafts room, a computer lab, a fitness center and an indoor basketball court. Outdoors, it offers a community garden, fitness equipment and walking trails, a shade pavilion and large playground and a very popular sprayground.

Henry’s Soul Café has been a beloved institution since 1968. Their menu offers classic soul food including fried fresh fish and barbecue ribs, as well as pig feet and chitterlings. Try their World Famous Sweet Potato Pie. Founded in 2016 by a former DC police officer who is also a native of Jamaica, Rick’s Café Jamaican Restaurant offers authentic island cuisine from Jerk Chicken to Curry Goat. The closest full-service grocery store near Knox Hill is Giant, on Alabama Avenue. Known for their fresh foods and award-winning bakery, they’ll also deliver within the neighborhood. When you’ve run out of essentials, Alabama Convenience Store is right around the corner.

Getting around Knox Hill offers choices. Anacostia Metro Station is located nearby in the Buena Vista neighborhood. MetroBus stops and popular Capital Bike share bikes get residents to the Metro Station, or nearby parks. Homes and condominiums offer off-street parking. The Suitland Parkway links drivers to I-395 and the Capital Beltway, and on into DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. If you’re heading out of town, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 20 miles from home, while Dulles International Airport is about 30 miles away.

Small historic neighborhoods in southwest Washington hold historic value and promise exciting futures.

With investment, renovation and reinvestment the soul of Knox Hill continues to evolve and thrive.

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Naleli Murry

Video By

Curtis Newkirk