This is one of the most important things to understand about moving in Navy Yard — and one of the most overlooked by people who haven't done it before.
Nearly every residential building along the Capitol Riverfront is a high-rise. That means your furniture, boxes, and appliances can only travel one way: through the freight elevator. These elevators are shared resources managed by building staff, and they are reserved by appointment. There is no just showing up and hoping the elevator is free.
When you reserve a freight elevator, that car is held exclusively for your move during your time slot — no deliveries, no other residents, no maintenance interruptions. It's the only way to move efficiently in a building with 10, 15, or 20-plus floors. If you miss your window, overshoot your time, or show up with a moving company that didn't bother to check in with the building first, the elevator gets released. At that point, your move either stops or your remaining belongings sit in the lobby.
Your Moving Men coordinates the elevator reservation as part of every Navy Yard move. We know what information buildings need, how early to request it, and how to structure the move so we stay well within our window. This isn't an add-on — it's how we work.
Nationals Park sits right in the middle of Navy Yard, and it changes the neighborhood on game days in ways that matter for moving. Streets around the ballpark — including portions of First Street SE, N Street SE, and the surrounding corridors — can be partially or fully closed before and after games. The same applies to major events at the park and occasional closures tied to other activity along the waterfront.
If you’re scheduling a move on a day when the Nats are playing — or any other event that draws crowds to Capitol Riverfront — your moving company needs to know about it and plan accordingly. An inexperienced crew that doesn’t check the schedule might show up to find the most direct route to your building blocked, with no backup plan.
We check event calendars when we book Navy Yard moves. We know which streets are affected, how to reroute, and how to time arrival to avoid the worst of it. That’s what local expertise actually looks like.
Most full-service residential buildings in Navy Yard require a Certificate of Insurance from your moving company before allowing access to the freight elevator or loading dock. The COI must typically name the building’s management company as an additional insured. Your Moving Men provides COIs as standard practice — when you book, share your building’s requirements and we’ll have it submitted well before move day.
Because nearly every building in the neighborhood is a high-rise, the freight elevator is the only practical way to move furniture and large items. Buildings assign these elevators by reservation, and the car is held exclusively for your move during your time slot. If you arrive without a confirmed reservation — or your movers aren’t prepared — building staff can deny access, delay your move, or release the elevator to another resident. Your Moving Men handles this reservation as part of every Navy Yard move, so there are no surprises on move day.
Yes. Your Moving Men can obtain parking permits on your behalf to ensure our truck has legal, close access to your building’s loading area. This is especially useful in Navy Yard where street parking is competitive and certain areas near high-rises have restrictions. We handle the permit process so you don’t have to.
It’s something we check for every Navy Yard booking. Game days and major events at Nationals Park can result in partial or full street closures around Capitol Riverfront, affecting access to several buildings in the neighborhood. We plan routes and arrival times around the schedule. If you’re unsure whether an event might affect your move, we’re happy to advise when you call to book.
We recommend at least two to three weeks out, especially if you’re moving around the end of the month when lease turnover is high and freight elevator slots fill quickly. Booking early also gives us time to handle the COI, parking permit, and building coordination without any last-minute pressure.
We do. If you’re moving out of the DC area entirely, we handle long-distance relocations with the same level of planning and coordination. We’ll walk through the full scope with you when you call for a quote.
