Census Tract 72 | Navy Yard | Washington, D.C.

Creative Director: Patrick Coldivar-Valencia. Contributors: Carmen Salazar, Briana Aguilar, Erika Estrada

 Prisoner Re-Entry and Gentrification in Washington, D.C., NSF Award # 1917867 

This story map is designed to allow you to assess the level of gentrification in one small area: Census tract 72, located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Gentrification can be measured quantitatively using three indicators: 1) change in median household income; 2) change in percentage of residents with a college degree; and 3) change in median housing value. Based on these measures, we can conclude that Census tract 72 has gentrified. It may even be the  most gentrified  neighborhood in the nation. Since 2000, the median household income in Census tract 72 has increased ten-fold; the percentage of people with a college degree has increased ten-fold; and the average home value has increased three-fold. Although racial change is not technically included in the measure of gentrification (which focuses on economic changes), it is often part of the popular definition. Thus, it is worth noting that the Black population of this tract decreased from 95% in 2000 to 24% in 2018. And the White population increased from 3% to 68%. This story map takes a close look at the physical landscape of the neighborhood to assess the level of public and private investment. You can compare this tract to three others: Census tract  21.02  (Kennedy Street), Census tract  74.01  (Barry Farm), Census tract  99.03  (Central Avenue), and Census tract  87.01  (Eckington).

This Census tract profile provides a detailed analysis of Census tract 72 (Navy Yard in Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.). We use ArcGIS, a geographic information system maintained by the Environmental Systems Research Institute, to create an interactive map to show the levels of public and private investment in Census tract 72. We reference the U.S. Census Bureau (2018), with data provided by the Census Reporter, to examine economic, housing, education, and demographic statistics. We also reference  Jackelyn Hwang’s (2015) Google Street View Gentrification Observations Supplementary Material  to assess visible indicators of reinvestment associated with gentrification.

To navigate through different sections of this Census tract profile, refer to the table of contents at the top of this story map.

Census tract 72 had a median household income that was below the citywide median in 2000, and it has increased ten-fold. Thus, according to most measures of gentrification, you would conclude the tract has gentrified. The content below provides an empirical description of what has and has not changed so that you can assess the level of investment and disinvestment for yourself.

Please reference the description and Google Street View for each indicator in the following section, below. The indicators of investment include the following: signs discouraging disorder, vacant area or public street beautification, commercial uses that align with cultural aspects of gentrification, new public courtesies, new signs or structures controlling traffic, new large scale development(s) that includes affordable housing, residences with new patio furniture or landscaping, residences with minor upgrades, and residences with major upgrades. These are indicators of investment because they indicate public or private investment in the area.

Please reference the description and Google Street View for each indicator in the following section, below. The indicators of disinvestment include the following: litter, unkempt vacant area or public street frontage, abandoned or boarded up structure(s), structures with minor exterior decay, structures with major exterior decay, and structures with metal fences or gates.

This Census tract profile shows the results of a survey of public and private investment and disinvestment in Census tract 72 (Navy Yard) in Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.). We drew from Jackelyn Hwang’s (2015) Google Street View Gentrification Observations Supplementary Material to develop this housing survey. Using ArcGIS, we offer an interactive map to show various forms of investment and disinvestment. Referencing data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2018), provided by Census Reporter, we offer an examination of economics, housing, education, and demographic statistics. 

We thank Mara Cherkasky and Sarah Jane Shoenfeld, historians at  Prologue DC , for their contributions to this story map.

Please refer to the main page to explore the case study that examines the indicators and effects of gentrification for four other Census tracts, Census tract 21.02 (Kennedy Street), Census tract 74.01 (Barry Farm), Census tract 99.03 (Central Avenue), and Census tract 87.01 (Eckington). Just click the button found below to navigate to the page.