Single Dad with Pre K3 Daughter Moving to DC for 3 Years, Where to Live?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm a 32M with primary custody of my 3 year old daughter and will be moving to DC in August to work at Washington Hospital Center. I anticipate living in DC for about 3 years. Salary range $250-$300k. I don't have much of a support system (ex-wife will be out of state), no family, and my schedule will be a bit random and not fixed (sometimes I'll be working one week on, one week off, other times I'll be working some weekends and half the week, and a third of the time I'll be working nights) so as a single parent I feel like I might want to be in a place where there are lots of families that I can create relationships with who can offer support? I'll know my schedule in advance though and it is flexible so can move things around. Don't know if I'll have any time to date but another consideration is not wanting to be in a place where it's me and just established families where I'm not really meeting other single people, but I feel like that might need to be a lower priority for now and I do want what's best for my daughter (she loves parks, super social, play dates etc). I'm trying to balance commute, family friendly community, and where other young professionals live.

Please help me figure out where to live as a single parent. I used to live in DC before so am relatively familiar with the area. I applied late post lottery for preK 3 and currently am waitlisted several places but have spots offered at Appletree Columbia Heights and Meridian Public Charter School, and also put us on the waitlist at Communikids and St Albans near McLean Gardens. Petworth? Brookland? McLean Gardens? Have been suggested these places before. I used to live in Noma, Columbia Heights, and Silver Spring (latter not an option because I'd like to take advantage of the free preK3/4). The absolute most convenient option for me would be to live around 14th St and Irving in Columbia Heights and place my daughter at Appletree, walk her there for before care and take the shuttle to work, they also have aftercare till 6, but I'm not sure if Columbia Heights is a safe/good option for us? Or could live in Brookland (have applied to schools there but waitlisted) - have been told to consider Monroe Street Market apartments. I don't know if living in McLean Gardens for the excellent schools is worth the commute (have heard it can easily be an hour??), especially since the likelihood of us staying beyond 1st or 2nd grade is low (not 0 though, but if that's the case I could always move to be inbound to Janney etc)? Hope I've given enough information, I'm new to single parenting so am a bit nervous about the move.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church City.

[Anonymous]

Have you been following the Brent thread? If you move to 14th and Irving, you’ll also be a short walk to Meyer (the swing space starting in 25-26). So you could send her to Appletree this coming year and then lottery for Brent next year. if it works out, that will take you through K. And if you stay longer than three years, you’re in at Brent (which will then be in a nice new building), but could live anywhere you want.

[Anonymous]

How long are you going to be in DC? I don’t live in Columbia Heights but in one of the other DC neighborhoods that’s “unsafe” and I don’t mind with my little kids because I’m always with them. But we’re moving (for unrelated reasons) and I’m glad we’re doing so before later elementary when I would like to give my kids more freedom but wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so. I would just make sure you either don’t have a car or have an indoor parking space for it — carjackings are what I’d worry about the most.

[Anonymous]

If you are thinking of CH, you may want to think about Mt Pleasant. I live here and there are tons of families with young kids. ( so many, in fact, that the school is overcrowded). It isn’t far from Appletree or the hospital, but it is a bit safer than CH right now.

It is still an urban neighborhood and I’m not telling you that 16th Street is a magic force field that deters all crime, but it does feel a bit safer. There is a group in the neighborhood that is working with the ANC and the police to increase safety and decrease crime.

You may also want to consider Lanier Heights. It is the sliver of Adams Morgan closest to Mt Pleasant. Since you aren’t worried about longer term school options, LH could also work. There are many families in that neighborhood too.

[Anonymous]

Brookland should be close to work for you if you’re driving and it’s a very family-friendly spot. We’ve spent some time at the Turkey Thicket playground there and it’s great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been following the Brent thread? If you move to 14th and Irving, you’ll also be a short walk to Meyer (the swing space starting in 25-26). So you could send her to Appletree this coming year and then lottery for Brent next year. if it works out, that will take you through K. And if you stay longer than three years, you’re in at Brent (which will then be in a nice new building), but could live anywhere you want.

I'm not at all familiar with what you're talking about here sorry! What is a swing space, Meyer, and Brent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brookland should be close to work for you if you’re driving and it’s a very family-friendly spot. We’ve spent some time at the Turkey Thicket playground there and it’s great.

+1 I live close to Columbia Heights and I don’t recommend moving there with your 3 y/o.

[Anonymous]

What is your plan for overnight child care? That might be the most difficult to find, so I'd identify that, then choose a place to live convenient to that.

[Anonymous]

I think your bigger issue is after before 7am / after 6:30 pm / weekends / overnights. Have you considered an au pair for pick up and drop off and extra support?

Welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

I no longer live in Columbia Heights, but I think it's a solid option for you. The truth is that DC isn't particularly safe in general (5 people where shot outside a club in DuPont over the weekend)...but my experience of living there with a a baby/kid up to age 4 was that it's convenient. We made good friends with kid's daycare/prek classmates (as in we gave other parents permission to pick him up and vice versa, I remember one time a friend came to get kid to take him to school when I had the stomach bug and couldn't leave the house-/in short we had a community). We took the shuttle to Children's for doctor's appointments all the time and it's super easy (there's the H2/H4 too that's convenient).

[Anonymous]

Oh one more thing if you do stay, being inbound for Tubman is also a solid option, it's a great place. We were sorry to leave it.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this already a thread? https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1197149.page

[Anonymous]

In addition to the off-hours stuff, you need to figure out what your tolerance is for city stuff: are you OK with shooting occurring a few blocks over? Hearing gunshots? Not wanting to walk at night? If so, Columbia Heights is fine. If not, stick to McLean Gardens area near cathedral. You probably know this already having lived in DC before but it's amplified now.

I do think the Cathedral heights area is best for young families: playgrounds, walkable to amenities, transit (mostly buses but a quick run across the park to WHC) and good schools. I you can get a place near McLean Gardens, get a PK3 nearby, and figure out the off-schedule issues you'd be great.

[Anonymous]

Do you have to move? Do you have support where you are now? It might be easier to do this when your dd is older.

Just an idea so if staying is not an option that you can ignore. Just curious as to why you are moving away from mom and other support. I thought it would be near impossible to move child away from the other parent?