A primarily residential neighborhood located in Washington’s Southwest Quadrant – the smallest of the city’s four quadrants – the Southwest Waterfront is only one of the two officially-recognized neighborhoods in the area.

Originally composed of shantytowns, shacks, and tents, the neighborhood underwent extensive redevelopment which included the creation of a vibrant commercial district offering shops, a cinema, and several grocery stores.

Because of this massive urban renewal, the Southwest Waterfront mostly features modern townhouses and apartment buildings, as opposed to the historic housing that many other Washington neighborhoods are famed for.

Around 2003, a more intense process of gentrification began in the area, and a larger number of residential and commercial investors and developers started to show an interest in this part of the city.

In the following years, several major projects were approved in the area, including a retail and residential development at Waterfront Station, the Arena Stage, and the overall revamp of the waterfront itself, which now boasts a range of high-end offices, hotels, and shops.

In 2017, plans for a staircase and cycle path were also approved, as well as the addition of more lighting to these areas.

Today, the Southwest Waterfront is continually moving towards becoming a thriving, desirable place to live in Washington.