We created Small Change to allow everyday people to invest in real estate projects that change cities and neighborhoods for the better. But how do you measure that change?
Our proprietary Change Index tracks changes and illustrates the impact projects have on their surroundings. 3451 Benning, the latest offering on Small Change, from the Neighborhood Development Company (NDC), is set to bring change to Washington, D.C.’s River Terrace neighborhood. Here, we take a look at how this project measures up for mobility by looking at data such as walking, biking, transit and other mobility services.
With dedicated bike lanes and no hills around, the River Terrace neighborhood presents a bikeable terrain. And it’s one of the few places in D.C. where a residential neighborhood is directly adjacent to the 11-mile shoreline of Anacostia Park and the Anacostia Riverwalk. You can ride the Riverwalk to the Nats Stadium in less than 10 minutes or the Eastern Market in 20 minutes. The H Street Corridor is also accessible within a 15-minute ride, and for those who like to ride to work downtown, it’s 35 minutes. Capital Bike Share is just one mile from the project and the development will include new bike racks.
River Terrace also has numerous transit options with Metro Bus stops as well as the nearby Minnesota Avenue Metro Station. If the planned expansion of the existing light rail goes ahead, it would come right to the project’s door. All of D.C.’s public transit is fully accessible and senior citizens 65 and older ride for half the regular fare on Metrorail, and for 75¢ on regular Metrobus routes.
Zipcar, a national car-sharing service, has several vehicles available for ready hourly rental adjacent to River Terrace, while ride-sharing options Uber and Lyft also operate in the area, providing other alternatives to owning a car.
NDC’s planned 12,670 square feet of retail space is geared towards bringing important amenities right into the neighborhood, with the aim of reducing the distance people need to travel for basic foodstuffs, goods and other services. Local goods, services and dining options help to promote walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, a more environmentally friendly and affordable option for everyone.
Image by Mariordo licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0