Recommendations for neighborhoods in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

[Anonymous]

I’d say living on Capitol Hill (right near Union station) would be the best for a weekly commute to NY. Quite a few people here do it, though not weekly (more like monthly). Also hits the charm and historic home factor.

The trade off is the schools, though. I’m not sure exactly what you’re looking for. We have great public and charter elementary schools on the Hill but people are less happy with middle school options.

[Anonymous]

There’s really no reason not to move to westchester, it’s not that different here. That commute is going to kill your dh, and really deprive your kids of their dad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

[Anonymous]

lyon village in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Ehhh… if those are really your priorities you’re looking in the wrong place. most people live in DMV because their jobs require them to, not as the natural result of wanting good schools, space, and “oldness” which I assume is your way of saying you don’t want suburban sprawl but a charming neighborhood/house.

And your husband is onboard with this? Cause if those are really your priorities you can do a lot better than DC and not make him suffer a horrible and unnecessary commute.

Is there some other reason it has to be DC? How much time have you spent here and in which neighborhoods? Tell us more about why you like it here and what it can offer your family that’s worth the commute hassles to your husband?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say living on Capitol Hill (right near Union station) would be the best for a weekly commute to NY. Quite a few people here do it, though not weekly (more like monthly). Also hits the charm and historic home factor.

The trade off is the schools, though. I’m not sure exactly what you’re looking for. We have great public and charter elementary schools on the Hill but people are less happy with middle school options.

+1, Capitol Hill is my favorite of the walkable "historic" areas, particularly the closer in actual historic area with the big beautiful, wider rowhouses.

But, middle schools are not exceptional unless you get a very good number in the lottery, and I think that's like a 1/10 chance for BASIS or one of the Latin's if starting at 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you just move to Connecticut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is quite broad but we are thinking of relocating from NYC and thus don't have any family or friends (or work!) in the area we need to be near. Dh will commute to NYC and work 2 days from office there, once a week (stay in hotel overnight). Budget is $6-$8k per month. Could be city or burb. Number one priority: would love really good schools for DCs (who are 8 and 10), and some historic element/ oldness to the area. And a yard! Ideally house not apartment. Any tips so so so welcome and ty!

Historic house, yard, good schools, close to an airport or train station…. All for 6-8k per month.

It’s not broad at all. You’re basically describing a carriage house that may or may not exist in a 6-10 block area of Rosemont in Alexandria.

This would make a great house hunters episode.

How would that work for getting to the Amtrak? It's a PITA to go between Alexandria and anywhere else. Everytime I go there - which is not often, usually when we have family in town that want to check out King St or whatever - I regret it.

DCA - no one trains from Alexandria to NYC because of the few number of trains… but it’s technically possible.

WTF are you smoking? Two of my neighbors do Alexandria- Union Station multiple times a month for the last.... 15 years.

Yes Alexandria to Union Station is fine. Alexandria to Penn Station is not. What are you smoking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Yes just because they are the top of a poor school, doesn’t make the school good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Yes just because they are the top of a poor school, doesn’t make the school good.

So you think someone looking for a Pied-à-terre in Old Town to split their time there and Manhattan.... would be one of the poor underserved families?

The point missed every single time ACPS comes up is that it serves the UMC families extremely well. A point people reluctantly admit to right before they accuse you of being a racist for not..... underperforming. Very odd. It's like they are angry that your kid got into UVA from ACHS.

OP- I'd encourage you to follow achsdecisons2024 on Instagram if you'd like to see where the kids of this terrible, terrible, terrible school system are continuing their education. Alexandria City HS is sending more kids to ivies than all the privates combined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Congratulations to your son but most people who put "good schools" in their real estate post aren't looking for a high school ranked below 13,000 in the United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria is the only inner suburb of Northern Virginia that I would consider "historic" but you would need to send your kids to private if you want "good schools."

Northern Virginia probably isn't for you - lots of new construction.

Really? I live n Old Town and my DS attended ACPS K-12. He's going to Middlebury in the fall. His closest friends are going to UVA, W&M, and Duke. Is that from going to 'bad' schools?

Congratulations to your son but most people who put "good schools" in their real estate post aren't looking for a high school ranked below 13,000 in the United States.

You're missing the point. Whether its intention or not, I don't know, but enjoy your ignorance.