Moving from NYC Burbs to MD/DC/NOVA - Biracial Family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in Shepherd Park, dtss, and takoma and they are definitely what you're looking for? But the commute. Don't kill yourselves for the commute, especially with an infant.

In your shoes, I would do sw or Delray. Sw, one of the older condo communities, rent a townhouse and see if you like it. We looked down there, and geographically it didn't work for us, but I really liked it.

Delray? SW? Doesn't OP want good schools? Also Delray to Union Station is not much better than Takoma/Sheperd Park to Arlington.

... and we're back to south Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in Shepherd Park, dtss, and takoma and they are definitely what you're looking for? But the commute. Don't kill yourselves for the commute, especially with an infant.

In your shoes, I would do sw or Delray. Sw, one of the older condo communities, rent a townhouse and see if you like it. We looked down there, and geographically it didn't work for us, but I really liked it.

Delray? SW? Doesn't OP want good schools? Also Delray to Union Station is not much better than Takoma/Sheperd Park to Arlington.

... and we're back to south Arlington.

SW has the diversity, price point and urban village vibe she wants, the easiest commute of anywhere mentioned so far (except maybe Arlington) and improving schools. Her kid is a baby - there's a fine chance the upper grades will be better by the time she needs them and, in the meantime, free preK. SW isn't the only reasonable choice, but PP wasn't silly to suggest it.

[Anonymous]

NoVA is not what I would consider a pot of diversity. NoVA is not diverse and people pay a lot of money for it to stay the way it is.

my DH had a condo in VA when we met and if we say more than 2 black or interracial couple we would joke about the rise in the minority population. We were the only in MOST places. And this was in 2010 during the crash. I cannot imagine that it has gotten more diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in Shepherd Park, dtss, and takoma and they are definitely what you're looking for? But the commute. Don't kill yourselves for the commute, especially with an infant.

In your shoes, I would do sw or Delray. Sw, one of the older condo communities, rent a townhouse and see if you like it. We looked down there, and geographically it didn't work for us, but I really liked it.

Delray? SW? Doesn't OP want good schools? Also Delray to Union Station is not much better than Takoma/Sheperd Park to Arlington.

Del Ray to Union Station is 10 minutes with no rush hour and 20-25 during rush hour. Although we are agreed that while somewhat more diverse than the rest of Alexandria I think it barely, if at all, meets the OP's criteria of mid- to high-SES for 10% AA or bi-racial families. As, as another poster pointed out, strolling 'the Boulevard' on a Saturday afternoon will make this patently clear.

[Anonymous]

Silver Spring and Bethesda/Chevy Chase are good for upper/middle class mixed race families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring and Bethesda/Chevy Chase are good for upper/middle class mixed race families.

Silver Spring, yes, but not Bethesda or Chevy Chase. Get real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello - my husband and I (biracial late 30's AA/White) are looking to move to the DC/NOVA/MD area from NYC. We have a 3 month old daughter and are relocating due to me taking a new position. My job will be based near the courthouse area of Arlington and he will be working by Union Station. The question is where to live. We have a budget up to 900k to buy for the interim but would like to rent in a diverse area with a walkable downtown that will be comfortable for our family. For example we lived in Brooklyn for years then moved to Maplewood, NJ before our DD was born.
I hear good things about Takoma Park/Silver Spring Maryland but worry the commute would be too much. I would like to use the metro to get to work (the old NY'er in me).
Any advice would be great. And by diverse I mean yes all ethnicities but at least 10% AA middle/upper class.

Petworth. You can take Green/Yellow Lines at Petworth station to Orange Lines at L'Enfant and your husband can transfer to the Red Line at Fort Totten. For 900K you would have a bunch of housing options in the neighborhood. It's super diverse and new restaurants and retail are popping up all the time.

That's a hella commute for both. I stand by my earlier recommendation of renting on Capitol Hill through the early years.

Petworth to Union Station is not a hella commute. Maybe 30 min on the train with one transfer. Petworth to Courthouse is not really hella either, at least for the region, at about 45 min on the train with one transfer.

[Anonymous]

Hey, OP, I'm curious what neighborhoods you settled to look in and if they were at all congruent with the suggestions here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NoVA is not what I would consider a pot of diversity. NoVA is not diverse and people pay a lot of money for it to stay the way it is.

my DH had a condo in VA when we met and if we say more than 2 black or interracial couple we would joke about the rise in the minority population. We were the only in MOST places. And this was in 2010 during the crash. I cannot imagine that it has gotten more diverse.

NoVa is incredibly diverse. There aren't as many blacks as in DC or MD, but there are more Asians and people from the Middle East than in either DC or MD and more Hispanics than in DC. Diversity isn't determined simply by how affluent blacks live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey, OP, I'm curious what neighborhoods you settled to look in and if they were at all congruent with the suggestions here?

hi OP here - wow- thanks for all of the responses! I actually found out that I did get the job today so yes we're now in full swing making this all happen for Feb 1. My husband and I are going to try and come down next weekend before xmas and take a look at south arlington/alexandria and the hill. If we have to go private school in a few years then so be it - we'll definitely rent to start and make sure we find the right area. Agreed that Silver Spring area would be perfect but I think the commute would be a bit much.

If anyone has any other opinions please let me know - are there any areas in NW that would work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey, OP, I'm curious what neighborhoods you settled to look in and if they were at all congruent with the suggestions here?

hi OP here - wow- thanks for all of the responses! I actually found out that I did get the job today so yes we're now in full swing making this all happen for Feb 1. My husband and I are going to try and come down next weekend before xmas and take a look at south arlington/alexandria and the hill. If we have to go private school in a few years then so be it - we'll definitely rent to start and make sure we find the right area. Agreed that Silver Spring area would be perfect but I think the commute would be a bit much.

If anyone has any other opinions please let me know - are there any areas in NW that would work?

Agree that Cap Hill is probably your best bet given your priorities.

I wouldn't rule out Georgetown, renting somewhere in east Georgetown where you could walk to Dupont or Foggy Bottom metros, or easy to bus or drive over to Arlington & Union Station. It may not meet your 10% criteria, but it's got lots of international diversity.

I'm assuming right now you just need a 2BR apartment? Not a whole 3BR+ house?

What about Logan Circle/U Street/Shaw?? I'm surprised no one has mentioned those. Again, hard to buy an updated house for 900k near Logan/U Street but you should be fine renting a 2BR condo and then buying when you know the city better.

[Anonymous]

If you're looking at Capitol Hill, I'd swing by the southwest waterfront, since it's only a mile or so away. (Zip code 20024). Friendly, long established neighborhood and the Wharf redevelopment along the water will open this summer/fall and will bring a lot of restaurants, retail and a walkable river walk. And its inventory is right about at your price point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/at-least-20-restaurants--and-not-a-single-national-chain--planned-for-wharf/2016/03/10/711146ee-e4f9-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html?utm_term=.13abae91937c

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey, OP, I'm curious what neighborhoods you settled to look in and if they were at all congruent with the suggestions here?

hi OP here - wow- thanks for all of the responses! I actually found out that I did get the job today so yes we're now in full swing making this all happen for Feb 1. My husband and I are going to try and come down next weekend before xmas and take a look at south arlington/alexandria and the hill. If we have to go private school in a few years then so be it - we'll definitely rent to start and make sure we find the right area. Agreed that Silver Spring area would be perfect but I think the commute would be a bit much.

If anyone has any other opinions please let me know - are there any areas in NW that would work?

Agree that Cap Hill is probably your best bet given your priorities.

I wouldn't rule out Georgetown, renting somewhere in east Georgetown where you could walk to Dupont or Foggy Bottom metros, or easy to bus or drive over to Arlington & Union Station. It may not meet your 10% criteria, but it's got lots of international diversity.

I'm assuming right now you just need a 2BR apartment? Not a whole 3BR+ house?

What about Logan Circle/U Street/Shaw?? I'm surprised no one has mentioned those. Again, hard to buy an updated house for 900k near Logan/U Street but you should be fine renting a 2BR condo and then buying when you know the city better.

yes we can do a 2br condo with a bonus area or townhouse. 4k max per month rent. We're leaving the baby with family for the weekend and are going to try and see as many areas as possible. We had just hired a nanny and gotten settled into the house here so we've got a lot to do before feb!

[Anonymous]

I would walk/drive around U St/Logan Circle and Shaw, as well as Capitol Hill and Georgetown. All are centrally located enough that your commute will be okay to both jobs and you won't feel confined to your neighborhood. 4k will get you a great rental, as long as your list isn't insane (you won't get an amazing kitchen AND outdoor space AND parking, for example).

[Anonymous]

Oh, one thing to weigh is that DC tends to be more tenant friendly than VA. All renters move to a month to month lease after 12 months, buildings over a certain size built between 1945 and '75 have rent control, etc. The month to month lease thing can be particularly nice if you think you'll buy since it lets you sit tight until you find just the place you want, if its a neighborhood with tight inventory.