Weekly Village News for April 10, 2026

The Village Square

From Frank...

I’ve never had more exciting news to share. Cleveland & Woodley Park Village has plans to open a Village Square as a permanent, drop-in gathering space in the heart of Cleveland Park designed to serve our neighborhood's older residents.  Since our inception in 2013, we have relied on borrowed space in libraries, condo/apt buildings, and faith communities to hold programs. Our members have had to navigate to scattered locations. There is no permanent home — no place to simply drop in for coffee, connection, or attend a scheduled event.

The Village Square will change that. It will offer: 

• A casual drop-in lounge — open, welcoming, no reservation required

• Periodic health screenings (glucose, blood pressure, cognition, hearing, vision, etc.)

• Programming including lectures, concerts, and community events

• A shared hub for community groups and cross-generational partnerships We have identified an accessible, 3,000 square foot space at 3520 Connecticut Avenue and there is an accessible ramp to the space via the alley between Porter and Ordway Streets. (For those curious, the building is just to the left of the fire house on Connecticut Avenue and above the Subway and Siam House restaurants.  It was previously the Shambala Meditation Center and a dialysis center prior to that.)

We feel very fortunate that the Washington Home Foundation supported our vision for the neighborhood and the need for a space to better support older adults. A few other anonymous donors also stepped up to make this a reality.  We’re so very thankful for the support of our Village and the new Village Square.

I am truly excited for the many new programs that we’ll be able to offer as well as the opportunity to have a place specifically for older adults. We are working toward a May 28th grand opening reception to close out Older Americans Month.  Stay tuned for more details as they unfold! Read all about the upcoming Village news, programs, and events right here!

Frank Finamore, Executive Director