Neighborhood Expert Interview: Borderstan

The first time you heard someone say “Borderstan,” chances are you were confused but also didn’t forget the name. Matt Rhoades and Luis Gomez coined the highly sticky term in 2008, and later launched a blog to cover this crossroads of several DC neighborhoods. Since then, Borderstan has evolved into a valuable community resource, addressing everything from crime to real estate developments to the area’s cultural events.

Thanks for joining us, Matt and Luis. First, let's get our geography straight. Your blog refers to Borderstan as the "crossroads of Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, and U Street neighborhoods." What are the actual borders of Borderstan?

We created the borders for our blog coverage -- they mean nothing in terms of official city boundaries for neighborhoods. The northern boundary is Florida Avenue, the western boundary a small stretch of Connecticut Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue is on the south and 9th Street NW is the eastern boundary. Here they are on a Google Map.

Borderstan is certainly catchier than most neighborhood names. When and how did you come up with it? And why did you start the blog?

Several of us were sitting in our living room about 2 years ago and we were talking about how 15th Street NW is the dividing line between two Police Districts, two ANCs and two official DC neighborhoods. For example, the west side of 15th is Dupont Circle and the east side is Logan Circle. I will take credit for the name! The blog started out as a public safety and crime blog and grew from there. I call it the "accidental blog."

What are the best things about living in Borderstan?

Walkability to anything you need or even desire on a daily basis -- grocery stores, restaurants, hardware stores, galleries, wine shops, dry cleaners, two dog parks, veterinarians. It is not unusual for us to leave the car parked all weekend. In turn, this means that we run into many people we know on the streets, so it is a great place to live for social interaction. And since we have a dog, we have met many more people that way. Lots of dogs in Borderstan.

What are the housing options for someone who wants to move to Borderstan?

Housing prices have gone up dramatically in 10 years and substantially in the last five years. For example, a one bedroom condo that would have gone for $150,000 or in 2000 will now go for $400,000 plus. However, in the past two to three years they have leveled off -- we never really had the declines that they did in the DC suburbs. There are many one-bedroom apartments for rent or purchase due to the high number of young single people. Single-family homes are untouchable for anything less than probably $800,000. In addition, there are lots of rental options in the area, both one- and two-bedroom units.

You cover neighborhood crime frequently on your blog. What crime trends have you seen over the last few years?

Crime is down, definitely. However, the newly revitalized commercial strips continue to be magnets for robbers and muggers. Overall, the situation is better. But, more people on the streets at all hours mean more targets. I think a lot of young people who grew up in the suburbs don't always understand the rules of downtown city living when they first come here. They tend to be a bit too carefree in terms of watching out for themselves, especially late at night.

You also have quite a few posts related to dogs. How pet-friendly is Borderstan?

Borderstan is a very pet friendly place. We have met many of our neighbors and made new friends from walking our dog. There are two dog parks -- one at 17th and S NW and another one at 11th and R NW.

What are the biggest changes or additions coming to Borderstan in the months or years ahead?

I think the big story is the continuing real estate development on 14th Street between P and W Streets. The entire west side of 14th Street between S and Swann is going to be demolished in September; new condos and first-floor retail is going in there. Room & Board will soon open at the southwest corner of 14th and T Streets, which will really change that intersection, I think. Of course, there is also the mega project at the southwest corner of 14th and U Streets -- that will be an amazing transformation of the entire intersection.

Please share some of your neighborhood favorites:

- Favorite bar or place to get a drink: Nellie's Sports Bar, Mova, Stoney's, Cafe Saint-Ex

- Favorite upscale restaurant: Rice

- Favorite cheap restaurant: El Paraiso at 14th and T NW, Pasha Bistro on 17th NW, Commissary, Stoney's (both on 1400 block of P Street NW)

- Favorite coffee shops: Java House at 17th and Q and Steam Cafe at 17th and R

- Favorite quick pizza: Manny and Olga's on 14th (it always arrives within 30 minutes)

- Favorite area to walk around: The entire 14th Street corridor from P up past U Street NW.

- Favorite (other) DC blog: 14th & You, City Paper City Desk blog, Free in DC, One Bite At A Time

Thanks Matt and Luis! And congrats on the just-completed redesign of your site. It looks great!

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Read last month’s interview on Southwest DC with William Rich of “Southwest…The Little Quadrant that Could” blog.

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