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

[Anonymous]

I've lived in DC for 20+ years and have a high tolerance for sketch. I lived in Shaw before it was the place to be, and I would not live in Columbia Heights. There are too many shootings and having to use the CH metro as my main stop would really wear on me. 14th and Irving is just such a shit show. I would say anywhere but Columbia Heights, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you put Whittier on your lottery list?

I did and am waitlisted #44

Also dorothy heights, waitlisted #24

Raymond waitlisted #24

And about 20 other schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia Heights is so convenient with little kids. Walk to everything including Target and the pediatrician. It also probably a greater concentration of families than any other neighborhood. I would look at adding Raymond ES to your lottery list (north CH) as well as getting on the list for the free PK at CentroNia and Barbara Chambers.

Really? This has not been my experience at all.

Op, you should visit DC and decide which neighborhood before you move here. Some of these responses aren’t accurate.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I really liked Petworth - I drove through there once during their Porchfest which was awesome. Sherman Circle area was nice.

[Anonymous]

I would move to Capitol Hill, in-bound for Peabody or Ludlow, get a full time nanny and put my kid in part-time pre-school somewhere like River Park Nursery School (on the Hill). Safe, TONS of nannies so your kid would have lots of kids to play with, tons of parks and kid amenities, close enough to WHC.

Columbia Heights is sketchy AF right now.

[Anonymous]

You need a live in nanny. And not a pretty one.

[Anonymous]

Petworth is nice. 16th Street Heights too.

[Anonymous]

Anywhere around WHC is not at all safe or family friendly.

[Anonymous]

I work with physicians and they all live: NW DC, Georgetown, Roslyn and Great Falls. That's about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with physicians and they all live: NW DC, Georgetown, Roslyn and Great Falls. That's about it.

Ok. I live in Bloomingdale near the WHC and know plenty of doctors who live in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Another physician here. You need a full time, live in nanny willing to work your overnight work hours. If you can thread the needle and find free preschool, nanny could get free time during day and buy good will. This way nanny could be back up when kid needs to stay home from PK or preschool. You will need this redundancy to function. Many physicians often end of paying for nanny plus part-time preschool, if that is an option financially.

But you will need more help than I think you are anticipating based on your post. Good luck and welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

Bloomingdale, it’s a lovely neighborhood just south of hospital. Lots of families, several great parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere around WHC is not at all safe or family friendly.

I’ve lived south of WHC for 15 years and am raising a family, so are many others!

[Anonymous]

Live in Quebec House or Kennedy Warren (rentals) or one of the other apartment or condo buildings around there. Send kid to Eaton.

McLean gardens also a good option. Some are Eaton some are Hearst.

The h2 h4 busses can be caught at corner of Porter and Connecticut

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I really liked Petworth - I drove through there once during their Porchfest which was awesome. Sherman Circle area was nice.

Petworth is nice and has a lot of
Kids. I see kids playing on Sherman Circle on weekend mornings. If you decide to move to Petworth look at the crime map. There are streets close to Sherman Circle that you don’t want to move, for example Crittendent St and Decatur St between 8th St and 9 St.