Brightwood is a neighborhood located in the northwestern quadrant of Washington, D.C. Brightwood and the rest of Ward 4 are represented in the Council of the District of Columbia by Muriel Bowser.
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As with most neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., the boundaries of Brightwood are difficult to define. The Brightwood Community Association, an association of residents and business owners from the western part of Brightwood, define the neighborhood's boundaries as Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Aspen Street to the north, 16th Street and Rock Creek Park to the west, Georgia Avenue to the east, and Kennedy Street to the south.[1] Another widely accepted variation bounds Brightwood on the east by 5th Street.[2] Nearby neighborhoods include Shepherd Park and Takoma to the north, Manor Park to the east, and Sixteenth Street Heights and Petworth to the south. According to the 2010 census, the neighborhood had 11,242 residents.[3]
Much of the retail in the neighborhood is located along Georgia Avenue. Although no Metrorail stations lie within the neighborhood, the Takoma Metrorail station is within walking distance from the northern end of neighborhood. The Fort Totten Metro Station is also within walking distance from other areas of Brightwood. There are several Metrobus routes that serve the community.
The Brightwood neighborhood is home to significant historic sites, most notably Fort Stevens, a Civil War fortification that was attacked by 20,000 Confederate soldiers led by General Jubal Early during the Battle of Fort Stevens, July 11–12, 1864. The attack was repulsed, and the fort is partially preserved. The historic Fort Stevens cemetery is nearby. The Fort View Apartments, which overlook the site of the former fort, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Military Road School, which opened in 1864, was one of the first schools in Washington to open after Congress authorized the education of African Americans.[4]
Brightwood was home to Brightwood Park, a horse racetrack,[5] until 1909.[6] Brightwood was also the location of the first successful flight by a helicopter.[7]
Redevelopment of the commercial area along Georgia Avenue is in progress.[8][9] Condominiums were completed at the corner of Georgia and Missouri Avenues in 2006, and a new restaurant called Meridian on the first floor of the building opened in January 2008. Meridian closed in June 2008,[10] and then reopened as Brightwood Bistro in August 2008.[11]
Foulger-Pratt Development Inc., the company that redeveloped much of downtown Silver Spring,[12] had plans to build a new building with 400 residential units, restaurants, retail, and underground parking at the former site of the Curtis Chevrolet dealership at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Peabody Street.[12][13][14][15] The D.C. Historical Preservation Society requested that Foulger-Pratt's design incorporate the car barn located on the site rather than demolish it,[16] and it planned to seek historical designation for the car barn, built in 1909.[12] In response, Foulger-Pratt proposed to raze only the rear of the structure and renovate the front.[12] According to the application submitted to the District of Columbia Office of Planning, the ground floor would have had retail and parking; the upper floors would have had around 400 residential apartments, up to eight percent of which will be reserved as affordable; and the basement would have had a parking garage.[17] A portion of the car barn would have been retained.[17] According to the plan, breaking ground was anticipated in summer of 2010,[17] but the plans ultimately fell through.
In November 2010, Wal-Mart announced interest in opening a store at the location by 2012.[18] Wal-Mart said building a store on the site would not require a hearing before the Zoning Commission, nor any input from any advisory neighborhood commission.[19] Some neighborhood residents are opposed to the Wal-Mart.[20] It is not yet finalized how the car barn might be preserved within the Wal-Mart development,[21] although Foulger-Pratt plans to remove the car barn's roof in order to salvage the roof trusses.[22]
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