"A healthy outside starts from the inside" -Robert Urich
A healthy habitat provides citizens with the resources to live in an environment where they can flourish, be safe, and live fulfilled lives. As Ivy City continues to grow, the quality of life for its residents shows great potential.
Public Transportation
NoMa-Gallaudet Metro Station is the nearest metro stop at 2 miles from the city center, about a 20 minute walk. From conversation with Ivy City locals, this is not an ideal setup for bringing in foot traffic and is too far to be used daily. There are several bus stops in surrounding areas, with some running through Ivy City. For shorter commutes, a Capital Bikeshare is located in the Hecht Warehouse development and allows residents to rent a bicycle and return it to any other Capital Bikeshare location.
Greenery Ivy City has few planned green spaces with the exception of some rowed trees in the Hecht Warehouse development. With its history as an industrial area, this is not surprising and it does present some creative opportunities. There is a lot of room for improvement that could include incorporating parks, community gardens, public landscaping and trees. The census map below shows a shortage of elements that help create a healthy habitat.
Ivy City can be seen below almost devoid of green space
Safety Ivy City's crime rate is more than double the national average (see map below), though the increasing development will likely gradually bring this down. In an interview with a local business owner, she recounted an incident of being mugged not far from her store. The experience was obviously disturbing and has caused her to keep the doors to her business locked throughout the day, relying on the full glass front to know when customers come by.