Facility Overview
Lot #140, located at 81 Patterson St NE in Washington, DC, is a paved, open-air surface parking facility situated in the vibrant and rapidly evolving NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) neighborhood. Positioned just off First Street NE and Patterson Street NE, this lot offers a practical, ground-level parking configuration that eliminates the stress of navigating tight, multi-story garage spirals. Because it is an outdoor surface lot, it features unobstructed vertical clearance with zero overhead height restrictions, making it exceptionally well-suited for oversized vehicles including full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, utility vans, and passenger vehicles with roof racks or cargo carriers.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Strategically situated within one of DC\'s most dynamic transit-oriented districts, Lot #140 offers effortless access to government offices, media hubs, and cultural destinations:
- NPR Headquarters: Located just steps away (approx. 2-minute walk), ideal for media staff, studio guests, and visitors.
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) HQ: Situated within a 5-minute stroll along New York Avenue NE.
- Uline Arena (The Coliseum / REI Co-op Flagship): Roughly a 6-minute walk away, providing direct access to premium outdoor retail, community events, and dining.
- Union Market District: Approximately 12 to 15 minutes on foot, opening up a world of gourmet food halls, artisan pop-ups, and celebrated culinary destinations.
- Gallaudet University: Accessible within a 15-minute walk northeast.
- Capital One Arena & Chinatown: Less than a 10-minute Metro ride or short rideshare away for Washington Wizards and Capitals games, headlining arena concerts, and premier downtown nightlife.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Drivers can conveniently reach 81 Patterson St NE via major arteries including New York Avenue NE (Route 50), North Capitol Street, and K Street NE. The open layout allows for smooth, direct ingress and egress without the bottlenecking often experienced in automated garage gate corridors during peak checkout periods. For regional and multi-modal transit commuters, the facility is located merely 4 blocks (about a 6-minute walk) from the NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro Station on the Red Line. Furthermore, Washington\'s historic Union Station is only a 12-minute walk south, granting seamless connections to Amtrak, MARC, VRE, and intercity commuter bus networks.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-air ground-level surface parking with clearly delineated stalls.
- No low-clearance ceiling constraints, accommodating tall and high-profile vehicles.
- Well-illuminated premises with street-level visibility across Patterson Street NE.
- Contactless mobile parking payment options via integrated parking apps (e.g., ParkMobile / SpotHero where supported).
- Designated accessible parking spaces with level roll-out access to public sidewalks.
Ideal For
- Daily commuters and contractors visiting corporate offices and federal agency buildings in NoMa.
- Visitors heading to studio tapings, meetings, and events at NPR Headquarters.
- Foodies, shoppers, and tourists exploring the historic Union Market culinary corridor.
- Rail passengers seeking reliable park-and-walk or park-and-ride proximity to Washington Union Station.
- Drivers operating oversized SUVs, service vans, or trucks unable to clear subterranean parking decks.
Visitor & Driver Tips
Patterson Street NE is a relatively quiet one-way connector, so keep an eye out for entry signage as you approach from First Street NE. While street-level parking in NoMa is accessible, spaces can fill up briskly during standard weekday business hours due to government and broadcast center activity; arriving before 8:30 AM or reserving ahead via affiliated mobile parking apps is recommended. If you plan on attending evening events near Capital One Arena or the National Mall, parking here and hopping onto the Red Line at NoMa-Gallaudet U station is an effective way to avoid downtown traffic gridlock.