Faces of the Front

The Capitol Riverfront BID is highlighting people who live and/or work in the neighborhood as part of "Faces of the Front." Each newsletter will feature a different person and their story. All the profiles can be found on our website here. If you would like to be considered or would like to nominate someone else as a future Face of the Front, let us know here.

Thomas and Carey Dougan dougan family

Residents, from Capitol Hill Tower to Capitol Hill Quarter

For Thomas and Carey Dougan, the Capitol Riverfront is the perfect place to raise two young children. Their children, Eve and Ben, enjoy the vibrant social environment on the Hill, taking advantage of the wonderful tight-knit community of families on Capitol Hill.

"The community has been welcoming; offering free outdoor movies, farmers markets, family nights at Nationals Park and other social events that have really helped up build a strong community here in Southeast," says Carey.

Three years ago, when redevelopment of "The Front" was just beginning, the Dougans became one of the first residents at Capitol Hill Tower. "We both grew up in a small Kansas town and came to Washington straight from college. It was a big adjustment, but we love living here and don't plan on leaving any time soon," says Carey.

The Dougans love growing vegetables at the community garden on Virginia Avenue and the local farmers who deliver fresh cheese, milk, meat and produce to the area once a week.

The Dougans don't own a car but with ready access to public transportation - Circulator Bus, MetroRail and MetroBus - they don't need one. Thomas walks to work at the Navy Yard and the family enjoys walking to the community garden and the mall to enjoy the museums, and biking to the National Arboretum and Kingman Island.

They're thrilled to be moving to a handsome new four-bedroom Capitol Quarter townhome they once thought was beyond their reach. "We entered a lottery for the EYA workforce housing program, because we wouldn't be able to afford a townhouse on Capitol Hill," says Thomas who works for the U.S. Navy while Carey stays home and cares for the children.

Carey finds a source of pride in watching the community grow through new bike trails and construction that is happening in the area. "We were some of the first residents in the neighborhood and look forward to being pioneers in a new, up-and-coming DC neighborhood."