American University Park
Encyclopedia
American University Park is a neighborhood of Washington, DC, named for the American University
. AU Park, as it is often abbreviated, is situated against the Maryland
border in the Northwest quadrant, bounded by Massachusetts
, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Western Avenues. Tenleytown
and Friendship Heights
lie to the east, Embassy Park to the southeast, and Spring Valley
—the actual home of the university—to the southwest. Politically, it is part of Ward 3 and Advisory Neighborhood Commission
3E.
AU Park includes some of the greatest elevations in the city and is close to the District's highest point in neighboring Tenleytown
at 429 feet (the city's lowest point, Potomac River
is 1 ft. above sea level).
Developed in the 1920s by the WC and AN Miller Company, which also developed Spring Valley and Wesley Heights
, the neighborhood consists almost entirely of single-family homes. A wide variety of architectural styles are present, and most homes have been modified or expanded since the 1930s. Although one of Washington's first tracts developed with the automobile
in mind, the approximately 2700 homes are closely spaced, feature porch
es or stoop
s, and often lack driveway
s, which boosters say contributes to community spirit.
Friendship Park, often called Turtle Park, serves as a center for community activity. Neighborhood landmarks include American University's Washington College of Law
, the Georgetown Day School
, Bernard T. Janney Elementary School, the chancery of the diplomatic mission
of Japan
, and the former embassy of Sweden
(which was relocated to the Georgetown waterfront in October 2006), and it was long popular among the diplomatic community. Affordable housing drew young families to AU Park starting in the early 1990s. It remains highly desirable but real estate values have more than doubled since then. Larger homes are now valued at over $1 million.
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. AU Park, as it is often abbreviated, is situated against the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border in the Northwest quadrant, bounded by Massachusetts
Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
Massachusetts Avenue is a major diagonal transverse road in Washington, D.C., and the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District is a historic district that includes part of it....
, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Western Avenues. Tenleytown
Tenleytown
Tenleytown is a historic neighborhood in Northwest, Washington, DC.-History:In 1790, Washington locals began calling the neighborhood "Tennally's Town" after area tavern owner John Tennally...
and Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights
Friendship Heights is a residential neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. and southern Montgomery County, Maryland. Though its borders are not clearly defined, Friendship Heights consists roughly of the neighborhoods and commercial areas around Wisconsin Avenue north of Fessenden Street NW and...
lie to the east, Embassy Park to the southeast, and Spring Valley
Spring Valley, Washington, D.C.
Spring Valley is an affluent neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C., known for its large homes and tree-lined streets.The neighborhood houses the main campus of American University at 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, the Wesley Theological Seminary at 4500 Massachusetts Avenue, and Washington College...
—the actual home of the university—to the southwest. Politically, it is part of Ward 3 and Advisory Neighborhood Commission
Advisory Neighborhood Commission
thumb|right|upright|The District of Columbia is divided into 8 wards, each of which is further divided into local ANCs.Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are bodies of local government in Washington, D.C...
3E.
AU Park includes some of the greatest elevations in the city and is close to the District's highest point in neighboring Tenleytown
Tenleytown
Tenleytown is a historic neighborhood in Northwest, Washington, DC.-History:In 1790, Washington locals began calling the neighborhood "Tennally's Town" after area tavern owner John Tennally...
at 429 feet (the city's lowest point, Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
is 1 ft. above sea level).
Developed in the 1920s by the WC and AN Miller Company, which also developed Spring Valley and Wesley Heights
Wesley Heights
Wesley Heights is a small neighborhood of Washington, DC situated south of Tenleytown. It is bordered by New Mexico Avenue , Nebraska Avenue , Battery-Kemble Park and Glover Parkway . Foxhall Road is the main roadway passing through Wesley Heights. Wesley Heights is in Northwest, in Ward 3 and...
, the neighborhood consists almost entirely of single-family homes. A wide variety of architectural styles are present, and most homes have been modified or expanded since the 1930s. Although one of Washington's first tracts developed with the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
in mind, the approximately 2700 homes are closely spaced, feature porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
es or stoop
Stoop
Stoop may refer to:* Adrian Stoop , English-naturalised rugby union player* Georgie Stoop , English professional tennis player* Urban stoop, a small staircase or porch* a mild form of kyphosis...
s, and often lack driveway
Driveway
A driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
s, which boosters say contributes to community spirit.
Friendship Park, often called Turtle Park, serves as a center for community activity. Neighborhood landmarks include American University's Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
, the Georgetown Day School
Georgetown Day School
Georgetown Day School is a pre-K-12 private preparatory school in Washington, D.C..-History:GDS was founded in 1945 as the first integrated school in the District of Columbia.-Academics:...
, Bernard T. Janney Elementary School, the chancery of the diplomatic mission
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the former embassy of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(which was relocated to the Georgetown waterfront in October 2006), and it was long popular among the diplomatic community. Affordable housing drew young families to AU Park starting in the early 1990s. It remains highly desirable but real estate values have more than doubled since then. Larger homes are now valued at over $1 million.