Greenbelt? Mt. Ranier?

[Anonymous]

Some posters have mentioned these two PG County cities as good places to live. I haven't looked/been to them in years. Any thoughts? We'd like a diverse neighborhood, nice income mix as well, but obviously concerned with crime rates. Our kids go to private school so the school system is not as great an issue.

[Anonymous]

Come visit!

I'm the Mt. Rainier poster. There is crime everywhere, and Mt. Rainier is no exception, but I love it. We are very neighborly. There is a lot going on with Artmosphere Cafe, Joe's Movement Emporium, and other businesses.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love Greenbelt. We live in Old Greenbelt near the lake, and just love it. It is a totally walkable, has a great farmer's market, a co-op grocery (where you can buy beer and wine), a movie theater, cafe, and tons of events for families. There is crime, because crime is everywhere, and there are certain areas that I avoid after dark. These are the areas near Spring Hill Lake (a huge apartment complex) and the area near Hanover Parkway. The nice thing is that the CVS over by Hanover Parkway has a drive through 24 hour CVS, for those late night emergency prescription needs. Otherwise the Co-op has a pharmacy.

The city is quite diverse. We live on a small street and there are three bi-racial families, families with young children, empty nesters, and a single parent. The make up is both Republican and Democrats, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Asians, African Americans, Middle Easterners, and Whites.

[Anonymous]

We live in Cheverly, also in Prince George's county, and close by the two above areas. We love Cheverly, but if I had known more about Greenbelt, I would have looked there as well. Greenbelt has a cool town center, and seems really progressive.

As for crime -- car theft is absolutely a concern in these parts. I recommend everyone get and use a Club or other device; other than that, I can't say I feel any less safe around here than I ever did in Adams Morgan, where we lived until our child was 18 months. Greenbelt and Mt. Rainer (and Cheverly) have their own police forces, in addition to the county police.

Greenbelt has a great public swimming pool/aquatics center:

http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/recreational_facilities/aquatic_fitness.htm

and also a great nursery school co-op.

http://www.greenbeltnurseryschool.org

Disadvantages of living around here are that the shopping isn't what people are used to in the other suburbs. For instance, if I want to shop at Trader Joes, I have to take the Beltway to Silver Spring. For Whole Foods, you need to go to Annapolis or the one on P street. But Greenbelt has a food co-op with a lot of natural foods, http://www.greenbelt.coop and Mt Rainer, of course, has GLUT food Co-op -- that's the real deal! http://www.glut.org

Advantages of living around here are that the people are very down-to-earth and have a lot of common sense.

[Anonymous]

I would check out Hyattsville also - pretty organized mom's group, some development although that has slowed due to the economy and a rather stable neighborhood environment.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE Greenbelt, definitely check it out !