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Got $1 million? Tenleytown cost of living on the rise

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A Tenleytown home in Northwest Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON— Workers in Tenleytown agreed the cost of living has increased to a rate unaffordable for the average American, according to several interviews conducted Monday.

Menelik Walker, a Whole Foods employee, said he is concerned about the high cost of real estate. According to realtor.com, home prices in Tenleytown can exceed $1 million.

“They’re beautiful homes, but I don’t know if it’s affordable,” Walker said.

The cost of living in Tenleytown, an area south of Chesapeake Street and north of Van Ness Street, is 68.5 percent higher than the average Washington cost and 98.3 percent higher than the average national cost, according to areavibes.com.

Michael Warner, an American University alumnus who sells newspapers to raise money for the homeless, said that prices of homes and necessities are similar to the extravagant costs of New York City and residents here need a high-paying job and good education to afford cost-of-living expenses.

“You have to be educated to live in D.C.,” Warner said.

Maria Harris, a worker at the Tenley-Friendship Library, said that living in Tenleytown is an acquired taste due to the high cost of living but says she still sees economic diversity.

“It’s all over the place,” Harris said. “There are people who are wealthy and others who are poor.”

Warner and Harris both agreed that even though the cost is high, the location in Northwest Washington, D.C. is convenient. Harris explained that Tenleytown is a “vibrant” place to live, and that there are many places to go and activities to keep anyone from boredom.

“Necessities are within walking distance,” Warner said. Teneleytown is an “excellent place to live.”

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For Washington D.C. Fourth of July “everyone’s enjoying themselves”

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An American flag in front of the Mary Graydon Center on American University’s campus July Fourth week. Photo by Tori Cappo

WASHINGTON—This July Fourth many people at American University seem to have three plans in common: fireworks, family and food.

Carli Million, a 17-year-old Californian, and Naomi Lilly, 16, from Maryland, are spending the holiday away from their family. The girls plan to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Georgetown with the National Student Leadership Conference, a high school program.

Although it’s Million’s first July Fourth away from home, she said she always looks forward to “having a good day out in the sun—watching fireworks of course.”

Lilly said she loves to catch up with her friends and celebrate Independence Day with a fireworks show while Naomi expressed that gathering on July Fourth, “promotes the most spirit among Americans.”

Nick Wuest, 17, is also in the American spirit approaching Friday’s holiday and said the United States’ declaration of independence from British monarchy is a source of pride.

Sergio Vazquez, 31, from Guadalajara, Mexico, said what he enjoys the most about July Fourth is its history and hearing people on the radio discuss the country’s roots.

Meanwhile, Leanza Bethel, 21, from Texas, will attend a PBS showing about the history of Independence Day with her friends. Although she’s excited to be in Washington, D.C., she’ll miss Texas’ best holiday asset.

“The barbeque is the best because Texas is the best,” Bethel said. She continued, the food display is “the works” and the traditions are “everything Texans do.”

Annika Berystrom, 21, from Colorado, and Alex Edelson, 22, from Georgia, both appreciate relaxing and enjoying their time with friends and family.

Edelson described his overall July Fourth experience as: “Fun. Laid back. Exciting.”

Like Bethel, her fellow holiday-goers could not contain their excitement as their faces lit up with wide smiles when describing their July Fourth plans and memories.

Lilly explained that family, friends, hotdogs and hamburgers go together perfectly on July Fourth.

“Everyone gets involved, and I feel like that’s what’s so great about the holiday,” said Lilly. “Everyone’s there to have a good time and to celebrate. Everyone’s laughing. Everyone’s enjoying themselves.”