Columbia Heights in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Transformation.

— Washington Parks & People —

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 15, 2025

1. Transformation. Marker

Inscription.

Transformation.. . , The origins of the Columbia Heights Green , Once home to dilapidated garages and a magnet for illegal of dumping of garbage, truckloads of rubble, and abandoned vehicles, the lot now known as Columbia Heights Green was a vision that many thought couldn't happen. The first call to Washington Parks and People for help on the Columbia Heights lot came in 2006 from frustrated neighbors worried that the site was becoming a permanent eyesore and crime magnet. Chip Fawcett, the late chair of Parks and People and a lifelong champion of DC's Parks, saw the opportunity to transform the site into a lasting community green., Thus began the creation of a community coalition led by neighborhood residents such as local designers, Washington Parks and People, and many other partners including Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. Determined and mobilized, they established a unified plan to transform this blighted vacant lot into a 16-plot organic raised-bed community urban farm featuring butterfly gardens, berry patches, a greenhouse, native flowering and shade trees, green job training, and a learning and gathering space., Complex challenges faced , For a while, the effort seemed hopeless due to more than 25 tax liens on the site, miring in what appeared to be permanent limbo. It took special legislation by the DC Council, coupled with a massive legal effort donated by a local law firm, to wipe out the tax lines and at last deliver the site to community ownership. Even after the community acquisition, the Green faced entrenched illegal dumping and enforcement challenges, complex storm water engineering requirements, and bureaucratic and permitting hurdles., Blueprint for the District , Despite the long process, Washington Parks and People and the Columbia Heights community were persistent and their perseverance ultimately led to the successful opening of the Columbia Heights Green on September 11, 2010., The Green is now a blueprint and model for communities across the city to undertake similar green conversions of forgotten spaces. As part of the nationwide surge in community greening and gardening, Parks and People has provided mini-grants, tools, and technical assistance to 250 community greening sites across the city with the help of thousands of community volunteers and 325 Green Corps graduates.

The origins of the Columbia Heights Green
Once home to dilapidated garages and a magnet for illegal of dumping of garbage, truckloads of rubble, and abandoned vehicles, the lot now known as Columbia Heights Green was a vision that many thought couldn't happen. The first call to Washington Parks & People for help on the Columbia Heights lot came in 2006 from frustrated neighbors worried that the site was becoming a permanent eyesore and crime magnet. Chip Fawcett, the late chair of Parks & People and a lifelong champion of DC's Parks, saw the opportunity to transform the site into a lasting community green.

Thus began the creation of a community coalition led by neighborhood residents such as local designers, Washington Parks & People, and many other partners including Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. Determined and mobilized, they established a unified plan to transform this blighted vacant lot into a 16-plot organic raised-bed community urban farm featuring butterfly gardens, berry patches, a greenhouse, native flowering and shade trees, green job training, and a learning and gathering space.

Complex challenges faced
For

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

a while, the effort seemed hopeless due to more than 25 tax liens on the site, miring in what appeared to be permanent limbo. It took special legislation by the DC Council, coupled with a massive legal effort donated by a local law firm, to wipe out the tax lines and at last deliver the site to community ownership. Even after the community acquisition, the Green faced entrenched illegal dumping and enforcement challenges, complex storm water engineering requirements, and bureaucratic and permitting hurdles.

Blueprint for the District
Despite the long process, Washington Parks & People and the Columbia Heights community were persistent and their perseverance ultimately led to the successful opening of the Columbia Heights Green on September 11, 2010.

The Green is now a blueprint and model for communities across the city to undertake similar green conversions of forgotten spaces. As part of the nationwide surge in community greening and gardening, Parks & People has provided mini-grants, tools, and technical assistance to 250 community greening sites across the city with the help of thousands of community volunteers and 325 Green

Transformation. Marker near the grand entrance to the Columbia Heights Green image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 15, 2025

2. Transformation. Marker near the grand entrance to the Columbia Heights Green

Corps graduates.

Erected by Washington Parks & People.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 2010.

Location. 38° 55.879′ N, 77° 1.66′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Columbia Heights. It can be reached from 11th Street Northwest north of Lamont Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north. The marker hangs on the fencing to the Columbia Heights Green which can be found in the alleyway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3321 11th St NW, Washington DC 20010, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Washington Parks & People (within

Paid Advertisement

shouting distance of this marker); Columbia Heights Green. (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles R. Drew and Lenore Robbins Drew (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Park Road Community Church (about 300 feet away); Nob Hill (about 500 feet away); A Changing Landscape (about 700 feet away); Holmead Legacy (about 700 feet away); The Next Wave (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Also see . . . Columbia Heights Green. Website homepage (Submitted on May 22, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 15, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.