Van Ness is located next door to Forest Hills, with Connecticut Avenue between the two neighborhoods. Van Ness is home to the University of the District of Columbia, DC's only public university and a rare urban land-grant university. Like most of DC's downtown neighborhoods, residents enjoy a walkable community with easy access to mass transit. The Van Ness-UDC Metro station offers service on the red line.
Connecticut Avenue is lined with shops and restaurants, providing a commercial district within the neighborhood. While you'll find many students living in the area -- especially around UDC -- Van Ness is considered a family-friendly, safe neighborhood with shady, tree-lined streets and gorgeous historic architecture.