Georgetown?

[Anonymous]

We used to live in Georgetown long ago and have always wanted to move back after the kids leave the nest. But it's been 20 years and I don't want to be unrealistic about how the neighborhood has changed. What's the flight noise like now? Is the crime as bad as in other areas of DC? Do the residents still include writers, policy makers, etc or did everyone sell to the local hedge fund manager? In what ways has life there improved?

Please don't advise me about buying a townhouse with stairs at our elderly age of 55. But all other feedback would be appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Well, we are the elderly ages of 53 and 65 and I desperately want one of the townhomes in that English Village area. What is it, Foxhall? Too expensive for us, though.

[Anonymous]

Planes are an issue, for sure. Nothing like the Palisades, Brookmont, etc. Georgetown is still very pretty. There are more services, but M St attracts an eclectic crowd and is a bit worn looking. In summary, pick your block carefully

[Anonymous]

Georgetown remains one of the safest neighborhoods in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Planes are an issue, for sure. Nothing like the Palisades, Brookmont, etc. Georgetown is still very pretty. There are more services, but M St attracts an eclectic crowd and is a bit worn looking. In summary, pick your block carefully

Thank you. I did want to know if the plane noise was as bad in Georgetown as Palisades. But I’m surprised to hear it’s not given that it’s actually closer to the airport?

Thanks also to the poster who says it’s relatively safe.

[Anonymous]

Damn. Did you hold onto your property or did you sell?

[Anonymous]

Yes, all the writers and policymakers sold to hedge fund execs, law firm partners, and expensive lobbyists. It’s not what it once was. But it is gorgeous and charming still. And very safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Planes are an issue, for sure. Nothing like the Palisades, Brookmont, etc. Georgetown is still very pretty. There are more services, but M St attracts an eclectic crowd and is a bit worn looking. In summary, pick your block carefully

Thank you. I did want to know if the plane noise was as bad in Georgetown as Palisades. But I’m surprised to hear it’s not given that it’s actually closer to the airport?

Thanks also to the poster who says it’s relatively safe.

It is safe, I would say not as safe as the Mass Ave Heights, Woodland/Woodley (I don’t mean Wisconsin or Connecticut but the nice parts).

It is bad around the Caddy’s Alley in re planes but the East Village is a million times better than the Palisades.

[Anonymous]

I can't tell if your "elderly at 55" comment is a serious one, or your attempt at Sunday humor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to live in Georgetown long ago and have always wanted to move back after the kids leave the nest. But it's been 20 years and I don't want to be unrealistic about how the neighborhood has changed. What's the flight noise like now? Is the crime as bad as in other areas of DC? Do the residents still include writers, policy makers, etc or did everyone sell to the local hedge fund manager? In what ways has life there improved?

Please don't advise me about buying a townhouse with stairs at our elderly age of 55. But all other feedback would be appreciated!

Buying a house without stairs is a terrible idea. It is now become well known in geriatric medicine that it’s an Rx for early grave, morbidity and possibly dementia. It’s different in Europe where people take lots of stairs to get to the services and their apartments.

Stairs are a positive, 55 is young.

Foxhall though is a terrible idea even if quaint - the plane noise and pollution are terrible. It’s also getting crime off of MacArthur (the buildings around Q). The traffic is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

We live in Georgetown and the plane noise depends a bit. You hear it much more on cloudy days and you also hear it much more the closer to the river you are. The comparison with Palisades is deceiving, because even though they are further from the airport, they often have planes flying directly overhead. You don't get that in Georgetown. On crime, yes, we do hear about more robberies, petty theft etc but it is not like you have to worry about drive by shootings at daytime. As a PP said, Georgetown remains one of the safest parts of DC. As far as residents, it depends too. I have met all sorts of people (lawyers, feds, WB/IMF, designers, retirees, students), but actually no hedge fund manager. I can't tell you how it changed from 20 years ago, as we only moved in 5 years ago, but it changed actually quite a bit during that period too. Pandemic hit it badly, many places closed, but now it became extremely vibrant and lively again with tons of new restaurants and cafes. If that is something you value, it is a good part of town to live.

[Anonymous]

It’s a great area and the planes are only an issue when the weather is bad as the sound bounces off the clouds. I really enjoy walking the streets and roaming around M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. I never feel unsafe but I like to stay aware. I often attend free events at the university and I like the student vibe. Parking can be a challenge so having a garage is a real plus. It’s definitely a high income area but it’s not a bunch of hedge fund creeps.

[Anonymous]

The planes would be the least of my concerns. It's the traffic that would keep me away, combined with the narrow streets and uber drivers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The planes would be the least of my concerns. It's the traffic that would keep me away, combined with the narrow streets and uber drivers.

traffic is an issue anywhere in the city. The beauty of living in an extremely walkable area is that you actually do not have to drive all that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a great area and the planes are only an issue when the weather is bad as the sound bounces off the clouds. I really enjoy walking the streets and roaming around M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. I never feel unsafe but I like to stay aware. I often attend free events at the university and I like the student vibe. Parking can be a challenge so having a garage is a real plus. It’s definitely a high income area but it’s not a bunch of hedge fund creeps.

Airplane and helicopter noise are a 24/7 issue that has completely ruined Georgetown and many other neighborhoods