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Washington, D.C. is of course known worldwide for being the seat of the United States government, but to consider only that would be doing this amazing city a grave injustice. It is also gifted with some of the most culturally significant tourist attractions in the country, many of which are absolutely free to get into. Even without entering a single one if its many galleries, museums and other historical landmarks, the city’s magnificent landscape is enough to give you an idea of what a truly remarkable city this is.
Residential Places in Washington, D.C. One of the best things about the real estate market in Washington, D.C. is the huge variety of options available in terms of housing style. Nowhere else in the country will you find as many different types of houses, and many of them even combine two or more different styles in one.
Some of the types of houses you can find in the city are Georgian, which are symmetrical 2 or 3 story brick houses usually with 5 windows across the second floor, Federal, which is a slight variation of the Georgian variety, Craftsman, which is a simple structure often made of stucco, wood or stone; Cape Cod, which is usually square or rectangular with a steep roof, and so much more. Of course, more contemporary options are also available with high- and low-rise condo units and townhouses making up the residential options near the city center.
A report on real estate listings in Washington, D.C. released in February of 2008 showed more than 1,000 single family houses and more than 1,100 condominium units available. The average selling price for houses over the past year was around $650,000, while the average price for condominium units during the same period was around $410,000.
Hospitals and Universities of Washington, D.C. Up until 2001, D.C. General Hospital functioned as the sole public health-care facility in the city. When it was closed down to ease the city’s state of bankruptcy, the slack was taken up by the Greater Southeast and Prince George’s Hospital in Maryland. A new state-of-the-art facility–the National Capital Medical Center–was proposed in 2005, but spiraling costs and questions about the facility’s ability to provide adequate health care services caused the project to be abandoned.
In 2006, plans were made to construct a $72 million “health complex” on the D.C. General grounds. The city is also home to one of the most well regarded hospitals in the United States–Washington Hospital Center–in addition to several other hospitals such as the National Rehabilitation Hospital, the Children's National Medical Center, The Specialty Hospital of Washington, and Providence Hospital.
Educational Facilities It is only fitting that the nation’s capital is the home to many high quality educational institutions and that’s exactly what Washington, D.C. has to offer. The city has some of the most famous and well renowned universities and colleges in the whole world, some of which are also the oldest in the country. Georgetown University is one such establishment and it is actually older than the District itself, having been founded by John Carroll in 1789.
The University of the District of Columbia is one of the city’s main public universities, and it is also significant for being the country’s only urban land-grant university, as well as being one of the universities in the country that were established to service the African-American community.
Some of the other noteworthy universities in the city are The George Washington University, American University, The Catholic University of America, and Trinity Washington University.
Commercial Places in Washington, D.C. With all the many different ethnic groups and cultures from all over the world that have made Washington, D.C. their home, you can imagine the sheer wealth of culinary options available to you in the city. From fine dining establishments to smaller specialty food shops serving cuisine from around the world, there is sure to be something to fit your budget. Among the places that you absolutely must visit are Zaytinya, Pesce, Lauriol Plaza, Café Atlantico, and for something that is a bit on the pricier end of the spectrum, Marcel’s.
Service Establishments of Washington, D.C. To get your electrical service connected in Washington, D.C., the company to contact is Pepco. With the deregulation of the power industry, consumers are free to choose from the other companies that supply electricity in the city, although Pepco will deliver electricity supply services at government regulated rates through an extensive network of electric power lines. The company also offers emergency and routine service. You can call them at (202) 833-7500 or visit any of their customer service centers in the city. You can also visit the company’s Web site at www.pepco.com for more information about their various products and services.
Water supply and sewage services in Washington, D.C. are handled by the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority. The company has received numerous awards over the years for its excellence in both operations and finances. The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority delivers water to more than 130,000 places in Washington, D.C., covering an area of more than 725 square miles. Every day, the company provides more than 135 million gallons of drinking water a day for both individuals and businesses. You can check out the company Web site at www.dcwasa.com for more information about their products and services and you can call them at 202-787-2020 for general inquiries.
Gas supply services in Washington, D.C. are provided by Washington Gas, whose Web site is www.washgas.com. In case of any gas related emergencies, you can simply dial 911, or you can call the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line at 703-750-1400 or 1-800-752-7520. You can also direct your inquiries to the customer care department at 6801 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA 22151.
Embassies in Washington, D.C. For British consular assistance in Washington, D.C., you don’t have to go any farther than the British Embassy, which is right in the city. You can find their offices at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008, and you can call them at (1)(202) 588 6500 for the embassy, (1)(202) 588 7800 for consular assistance, and at (1)(202) 588 7830 to reach the British Council directly. You can also fax them at the following numbers: (1)(202) 588 7870 for chancery, (1)(202) 588 7866 for management concerns, (1)(202) 588 7901 for the UKTI, and at (1)(202) 588 7850 for consular assistance. |
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