Need advice on Hollin Hills, Hollin Hall, other Fort Hunt neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

What do you think of the area generally? What neighborhoods do you recommend and why? Are people nice, down to earth, snooty, etc.? We are considering moving into the area from Montgomery County -- husband is former military/former attorney/current SAHD, I am a government attorney -- and we have two daughters. Wondering how we would fit in.

Also, any input about schools is appreciated.

Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hollin Hills is beautiful. The area is very wooded and the houses are mid-century modern (which I love and is hard to find around here.) Hollin Hall is an older community with smaller homes but it feeds into Waynewood which is an excellent elementary school. Stratford Landing is another neighborhood to check out. I love that whole area, easy commute to downtown on the gw pkwy, close to Old Town and the mount vernon trail. Very community oriented and down to earth. The hs (West Potomac) doesn't have the greatest reputation but that is the only downside I can think of.

[Anonymous]

I've lived in this area for the past three years. We really enjoy it for the stuff the pp mentioned. The parkway is such a great commute if you're going to the city. You never have to get on a highway. Route 1 does need updating but honestly there is everything you need within 5 miles usually. We don't have any big malls nearby really but that's ok with me as I find everything I need around here. The further you are from Rt. 1 the better. I have found the people around here to be real down to earth and friendly. Love the wooded feel too. Lots of trees almost everywhere. Now's a great time to look for homes as you'll see what your workload in terms of leaf raking will be, ha!

[Anonymous]

I think you would love it. Beautiful area, right off the GW Parkway. Great for biking, running, etc. I grew up just a couple of miles south, in Mt. Vernon, near the water and LOVED it. Would move back if it didn't kill my husband's commute...

Homes are nice, on big lots and affordable (comparatively speaking).

[Anonymous]

I agree with all of the pp's. We moved to Waynewood a little over a year ago and LOVE it. We used to live in MC and then moved to a little apt in Old Town, bought our first house in Del Ray, and then moved here. We felt each move was a step in the direction that we wanted to go in terms of housing for our family. Our commutes are awesome, the neighbors are friendly, the holidays are full of neighborhood fun, the schools are great, and we have plenty of space wrt house and yard.

The closer to the water (and away from Rt 1) is better.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for starting this thread, OP! The houses in this area are great and I'd love to start looking here.

Does anyone have any specific thoughts on the high school, West Potomac? Reviews and rankings seem to be . . . mixed.

[Anonymous]

I am interested in this area too. How is the commute? I am worried the parkway would be backed up. We are in del ray now......so only a few miles away, but those few miles could take 20 minutes in the morning, right?

[Anonymous]

We live in Wellington Estates, which is approximately 4 miles south of Old Town off the parkway. The area is BEAUTIFUL, has very very little crime, close knit neighborhoods, and area pools. You actually see children playing outside! The parkway is rarely backed up and doesn't have lights, but once I get into Old Town, I run into traffic. Our neighborhood has yearly easter egg hunts and a 4th of July party at River Farms, and Christmas party at the Collingwood Library. We belong to the Mt. Vernon pool and have met so many families from all the neighborhoods so my son has many friends. Prices vary by neighborhood, and houses are generally from the 1950s.

There isn't anything to not like about the Ft. Hunt area, maybe if you commuted to MC. It's a very easy commute to DC, maybe 9 miles. It's a very well kept secret

[Anonymous]

I graduated from West Potomac 12 years ago So funny to see that the reviews on it are mixed. I wonder what they were back then! Without the internet, I imagine most parents didn't even care or look it up? I know mine didn't.

Just thinking about a chapter in the book Freakonomics--it isn't as much the school you are in as the parents involvement that predicts success in a student.

[Anonymous]

I've also lived in the area for a few yrs. The only minus I can think of is the huge bottleneck that is Old Town. You would have to time your commute right or risk being stuck in traffic there. It is really nice being able to go walking, biking, running on the Mt. Vernon Trail.

[Anonymous]

Agree that Old Town traffic can be a pain in the morning but I always think that at least we're looking at nice looking stuff as we drive by instead of staring at a cement wall or something if we were on the highway. If you can use the carpool lane you will fly through Old Town in the mornings. The commute through Old Town is still worth it and we are down near the end of the Parkway near Mt. Vernon.

[Anonymous]

Love the area, the only drawbacks are Middle and High schools...

[Anonymous]

PP, can you give me specifics about Sandburg MS and West Potomac HS? The reviews on greatschools.net are mixed, with some parents saying their kid got a great education, took lots of AP courses, etc., others saying that there are discipline and safety issues. Any similarity to the "Yale or jail" perception of TC Williams? (Not trying to start a flame war here, this is just based on what I have read about TC Williams). Is there a lot of racial stratification?

[Anonymous]

We live in this area and love it - all I can tell you re: the HS is that we have many friends whose children go to area public schools and many who babysit for us (our kids are all under 4) and they are all great kids. This was not an issue for us as we were fairly certain we were going to opt for private school. As a PP said, there are 3 good elementary schools in this area.