Would you buy on H Street?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You definitely get more house and yard in H St and Noma (two different neighborhoods).

You get lots of amenities too.

Neighborhoods get too expensive, and then spread. Capitol Hill gentrification has spread toward H St and beyond. It seems like a stretch to claim to that H St has more/better options though. Good options, for sure, but not better.

I don’t think anyone is saying H is better than Capital Hill/Eastern market. Poster said she has some amenities there which someone says is also available in the H St neighborhood and presented such. It was noted that it’s not accurate to equally compare the 2 since the price difference is so significant.

It’ is “safer” in CH and the elementary schools are better, but I will say overcrowding in the classsroom is a huge problem. The schools are bursting at the seams, and I think the problem is just going to get worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the good restaurants on H St? Maketto is great, but beyond that... we always look for places to go over there but all the places that used to be good (Granville Moore’s etc) have seen better days.

Fancy Radish is fantastic. The dumplings at Copycat are great. I’ve heard Stable is really good and it got a good review in the Post but I haven’t been yet. Toki Underground is still good. And there are new places all the time. I’m excited for the Burmese restaurant that is about to open where Sally’s Middle Name was. Though who am I kidding? We have kids and go out on H Street maybe twice a year, even though it’s a block away.

Besides above, I would add Sospeso (Mediterranean), Ethiopic (Ethiopian), Harvest (American), Sticky Rice (Asian Fusion), Fare Well (vegan), Le Grenier (French), and Indigo (Indian).

I realize Union Market might not be considered part of H St. But for those of us who live in H St and it’s so close, a few blocks to walk there, we consider it part of the neighborhood. Union Market on the weekends is great and so many food options to choose from - reminds me of Chelsea market in NYC. Now there’s going to be a Latin food hall coming so excited about that.

Our favorite restaurant in town is Masseria which is also there. We loved that it was so inconspicuous among a ton of wharehouses. The sign is so small that we actually walked by the door our first time there. But once you walk in, it’s a beautiful space with amazing food. Only locals knew about it. But now that it got Michelin rated, it takes months to get reservations and competing with tourists to get tables. Also heard great things about St Anselm which just opened up and excited to try it. This whole area is just blowing up very quickly now.

[Anonymous]

By chance I was walking along H from union station to about 8th in 2008 and it was truly scary. Went up until that shoe store and turned back; can’t imagine going further to 13th.
Has it really changed so much?
I was a tourist then and thought I had experienced the ghetto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By chance I was walking along H from union station to about 8th in 2008 and it was truly scary. Went up until that shoe store and turned back; can’t imagine going further to 13th.
Has it really changed so much?
I was a tourist then and thought I had experienced the ghetto.

Honestly, you wouldn’t recognize it now. We bought in 2007 and it is nothing like it was, for better and for worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By chance I was walking along H from union station to about 8th in 2008 and it was truly scary. Went up until that shoe store and turned back; can’t imagine going further to 13th.
Has it really changed so much?
I was a tourist then and thought I had experienced the ghetto.

Honestly, you wouldn’t recognize it now. We bought in 2007 and it is nothing like it was, for better and for worse.

We bought our Eastern Market home in 2007. At the time I could not fathom anyone even discussing buying on H. But then again I couldn’t fathom the Navy Yard neighborhood becoming, well, a neighborhood.

We live two blocks from Eastern Market and Hines has been a great improvement. I’m excited for the empty retail to get filled. (Looks like a wine bar and a hamburger place will open soon.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You definitely get more house and yard in H St and Noma (two different neighborhoods).

You get lots of amenities too.

Neighborhoods get too expensive, and then spread. Capitol Hill gentrification has spread toward H St and beyond. It seems like a stretch to claim to that H St has more/better options though. Good options, for sure, but not better.

I don’t think anyone is saying H is better than Capital Hill/Eastern market. Poster said she has some amenities there which someone says is also available in the H St neighborhood and presented such. It was noted that it’s not accurate to equally compare the 2 since the price difference is so significant.

It’ is “safer” in CH and the elementary schools are better, but I will say overcrowding in the classsroom is a huge problem. The schools are bursting at the seams, and I think the problem is just going to get worst.

There's no over-crowding in our school. My kid's class size is I think 19 right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By chance I was walking along H from union station to about 8th in 2008 and it was truly scary. Went up until that shoe store and turned back; can’t imagine going further to 13th.
Has it really changed so much?
I was a tourist then and thought I had experienced the ghetto.

I first spend time on H street around 2005-2006. While it definitely has improved a lot, it still feels very patchy to me. You have expensive condo developments on the whole strip, but lots of vacant store fronts in between. The blocks closer to Union Station have a more uniform feel (because they're more completely condo-ified) but also a kind of deserted feeling that would make me not want to always be there at night. There's no question there's a lot more $$ on H street, but it's definitely not a place you can ignore the rest of DC.

Anyway, the true way you're going to get hurt on H street is getting hit by a car. I can think of 4 traffic fatalities in the past few years -- but nobody (who is not dealing with drugs/gangs) is going to get shot to death.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really not sure what the purpose of this argument. I live near H Street and I find many of the businesses on Barracks Row to feel sclerotic and stale in comparison. But this is a ridiculous pissing match for two reasons. First, the Eastern Market side of the Hill is probably 15-20% more expensive than H Street, with generally smaller houses and lots, and so not an option for many people. Secondly, either option is far superior to what many people have access to. I looked up some Walk Scores for point of reference:

- 600 H Street NE: 96
- 1300 H Street NE: 90
- 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 99
- 600 E Capitol St: 90
- 1200 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 95

So, the person in the hypothetical heart of the Eastern Market area is gonna brag about 3 whole points relative to a person on the Western half of H Street? I mean, go for it...

Well ... my kid goes to the #1 rated elementary school in DC, I can walk to the metro in 12 minutes, we have a park across the street, and I don't feel like I'm risking my life every time I cross the street, so I'm gonna brag, yes!

Well, your housing cost is 20% more so yes you get better schools. But I live by H st, 3 houses down from a very large park with multiple amenities and 12 minute walk to Union Station (access via back entrance on H St). Some on H St might have just a 5 minute walk to Union Station. I cross the street thousands of times and no issues of any concern about risking my life. And we have a huge backyard and a garage.

But really it’s not a similar comparison with such as big price difference.

I doubt there's much of a price differential now for your house zoned for LT (I assume?). Please be careful crossing H st.

Nope, we are not in the LT zone. The LT zone is still significantly cheaper than further south in the Hill. BTW for 20% less and more house and yard, LT is a good magnet elementary with a viable middle school track to Stuart Hobson which now offers honors. Maury, Brent not much viable middle school track.

We are north of H st and actually 12 min walk to 2 Metro’s - Union Station and NOMA. Many people are closer and 5-10 min walk to both. Plus if you don’t want to walk to metro, hop on the trolley and it’s free. It’s a fun, nice ride and takes you right to the back of Union Station.

Ok, so basically no viable school at all. That's what we pay the premium for. The trolly is absurd - you can walk faster than the trolly.

I beg to differ as someone who has taken the trolley. If you catch it right when you get to the stop, it is quicker then the 12 minutes walking. Cuts time in 1/2.

Our child is in a highly regarded charter which has a viable middle and high school track which you don’t have so no problems there for us. Plus we can afford to go private should we change our mind, which is unlikely though. We will take the money saved and not pay your premium to pay for college in addition to getting more space, yard, and parking. There are many families like us who could afford the hill but chose H St. for many of the above reasons.

So basically to make the choice of H street work you have to either win the school lottery first, or have enough disposible income to pay for private. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really not sure what the purpose of this argument. I live near H Street and I find many of the businesses on Barracks Row to feel sclerotic and stale in comparison. But this is a ridiculous pissing match for two reasons. First, the Eastern Market side of the Hill is probably 15-20% more expensive than H Street, with generally smaller houses and lots, and so not an option for many people. Secondly, either option is far superior to what many people have access to. I looked up some Walk Scores for point of reference:

- 600 H Street NE: 96
- 1300 H Street NE: 90
- 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 99
- 600 E Capitol St: 90
- 1200 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 95

So, the person in the hypothetical heart of the Eastern Market area is gonna brag about 3 whole points relative to a person on the Western half of H Street? I mean, go for it...

Well ... my kid goes to the #1 rated elementary school in DC, I can walk to the metro in 12 minutes, we have a park across the street, and I don't feel like I'm risking my life every time I cross the street, so I'm gonna brag, yes!

Well, your housing cost is 20% more so yes you get better schools. But I live by H st, 3 houses down from a very large park with multiple amenities and 12 minute walk to Union Station (access via back entrance on H St). Some on H St might have just a 5 minute walk to Union Station. I cross the street thousands of times and no issues of any concern about risking my life. And we have a huge backyard and a garage.

But really it’s not a similar comparison with such as big price difference.

I doubt there's much of a price differential now for your house zoned for LT (I assume?). Please be careful crossing H st.

Nope, we are not in the LT zone. The LT zone is still significantly cheaper than further south in the Hill. BTW for 20% less and more house and yard, LT is a good magnet elementary with a viable middle school track to Stuart Hobson which now offers honors. Maury, Brent not much viable middle school track.

We are north of H st and actually 12 min walk to 2 Metro’s - Union Station and NOMA. Many people are closer and 5-10 min walk to both. Plus if you don’t want to walk to metro, hop on the trolley and it’s free. It’s a fun, nice ride and takes you right to the back of Union Station.

Ok, so basically no viable school at all. That's what we pay the premium for. The trolly is absurd - you can walk faster than the trolly.

I beg to differ as someone who has taken the trolley. If you catch it right when you get to the stop, it is quicker then the 12 minutes walking. Cuts time in 1/2.

Our child is in a highly regarded charter which has a viable middle and high school track which you don’t have so no problems there for us. Plus we can afford to go private should we change our mind, which is unlikely though. We will take the money saved and not pay your premium to pay for college in addition to getting more space, yard, and parking. There are many families like us who could afford the hill but chose H St. for many of the above reasons.

So basically to make the choice of H street work you have to either win the school lottery first, or have enough disposible income to pay for private. Got it.

A huge stretch of the H Street neighborhood is zoned for good elementary schools, so this just isn't true.

[Anonymous]

Our kids go to school at JO Wilson on the "wrong" side of H Street. We love it. Our block is filled with families. Kids everywhere. Bubbles, lemonade stands, the whole nine yards. We also walk to Union Market every weekend. Bidwell is a great family restaurant with their veggies grown on their roof. St. Anslem is new and fantastic. There's an amazing pizzeria that just opened up if you haven't been. We are equidistant between Whole Foods and Trader Joes. A new state of the art dog and child park a block from our house. REI. NOMA metro. The trolley.

It is the city. Yes, there are cars that drive too fast. Yes, there are apartment buildings - both new and expensive and older and filled with people who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. Just like our street has renovated million dollar homes and homes that have been passed down by families. We walk to Eastern Market, Union Station, even Navy Yard on beautiful days. We can walk to church, the mall, pretty much anywhere as long as we have our stroller. Our nanny took our kids to every museum on the mall before they were three.

We bought where we did because we loved the hill but couldn't afford to live in the heart by Eastern Market. We have found a wonderful community full of a diverse set of families of all types. It's one of the reasons we wanted to stay in the city. We are so glad we did. Find your community OP, there will be haters no matter where you end up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really not sure what the purpose of this argument. I live near H Street and I find many of the businesses on Barracks Row to feel sclerotic and stale in comparison. But this is a ridiculous pissing match for two reasons. First, the Eastern Market side of the Hill is probably 15-20% more expensive than H Street, with generally smaller houses and lots, and so not an option for many people. Secondly, either option is far superior to what many people have access to. I looked up some Walk Scores for point of reference:

- 600 H Street NE: 96
- 1300 H Street NE: 90
- 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 99
- 600 E Capitol St: 90
- 1200 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 95

So, the person in the hypothetical heart of the Eastern Market area is gonna brag about 3 whole points relative to a person on the Western half of H Street? I mean, go for it...

Well ... my kid goes to the #1 rated elementary school in DC, I can walk to the metro in 12 minutes, we have a park across the street, and I don't feel like I'm risking my life every time I cross the street, so I'm gonna brag, yes!

Well, your housing cost is 20% more so yes you get better schools. But I live by H st, 3 houses down from a very large park with multiple amenities and 12 minute walk to Union Station (access via back entrance on H St). Some on H St might have just a 5 minute walk to Union Station. I cross the street thousands of times and no issues of any concern about risking my life. And we have a huge backyard and a garage.

But really it’s not a similar comparison with such as big price difference.

I doubt there's much of a price differential now for your house zoned for LT (I assume?). Please be careful crossing H st.

Nope, we are not in the LT zone. The LT zone is still significantly cheaper than further south in the Hill. BTW for 20% less and more house and yard, LT is a good magnet elementary with a viable middle school track to Stuart Hobson which now offers honors. Maury, Brent not much viable middle school track.

We are north of H st and actually 12 min walk to 2 Metro’s - Union Station and NOMA. Many people are closer and 5-10 min walk to both. Plus if you don’t want to walk to metro, hop on the trolley and it’s free. It’s a fun, nice ride and takes you right to the back of Union Station.

Ok, so basically no viable school at all. That's what we pay the premium for. The trolly is absurd - you can walk faster than the trolly.

I beg to differ as someone who has taken the trolley. If you catch it right when you get to the stop, it is quicker then the 12 minutes walking. Cuts time in 1/2.

Our child is in a highly regarded charter which has a viable middle and high school track which you don’t have so no problems there for us. Plus we can afford to go private should we change our mind, which is unlikely though. We will take the money saved and not pay your premium to pay for college in addition to getting more space, yard, and parking. There are many families like us who could afford the hill but chose H St. for many of the above reasons.

So basically to make the choice of H street work you have to either win the school lottery first, or have enough disposible income to pay for private. Got it.

A huge stretch of the H Street neighborhood is zoned for good elementary schools, so this just isn't true.

I guess we're getting into the minutia of boundaries, then! You mean the LT zone? Yes, that's a sweet spot, but OP's condo wasn't in that zone. Also, (sorry if I asked this before) but are prices in LT actually any better than the Maury zone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids go to school at JO Wilson on the "wrong" side of H Street. We love it. Our block is filled with families. Kids everywhere. Bubbles, lemonade stands, the whole nine yards. We also walk to Union Market every weekend. Bidwell is a great family restaurant with their veggies grown on their roof. St. Anslem is new and fantastic. There's an amazing pizzeria that just opened up if you haven't been. We are equidistant between Whole Foods and Trader Joes. A new state of the art dog and child park a block from our house. REI. NOMA metro. The trolley.

It is the city. Yes, there are cars that drive too fast. Yes, there are apartment buildings - both new and expensive and older and filled with people who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. Just like our street has renovated million dollar homes and homes that have been passed down by families. We walk to Eastern Market, Union Station, even Navy Yard on beautiful days. We can walk to church, the mall, pretty much anywhere as long as we have our stroller. Our nanny took our kids to every museum on the mall before they were three.

We bought where we did because we loved the hill but couldn't afford to live in the heart by Eastern Market. We have found a wonderful community full of a diverse set of families of all types. It's one of the reasons we wanted to stay in the city. We are so glad we did. Find your community OP, there will be haters no matter where you end up.

Your kids are still stroller age, so you don't have the school situation solidified at all.

Also don't be so complacent about speed! We can slow those cars down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids go to school at JO Wilson on the "wrong" side of H Street. We love it. Our block is filled with families. Kids everywhere. Bubbles, lemonade stands, the whole nine yards. We also walk to Union Market every weekend. Bidwell is a great family restaurant with their veggies grown on their roof. St. Anslem is new and fantastic. There's an amazing pizzeria that just opened up if you haven't been. We are equidistant between Whole Foods and Trader Joes. A new state of the art dog and child park a block from our house. REI. NOMA metro. The trolley.

It is the city. Yes, there are cars that drive too fast. Yes, there are apartment buildings - both new and expensive and older and filled with people who have lived in the neighborhood for generations. Just like our street has renovated million dollar homes and homes that have been passed down by families. We walk to Eastern Market, Union Station, even Navy Yard on beautiful days. We can walk to church, the mall, pretty much anywhere as long as we have our stroller. Our nanny took our kids to every museum on the mall before they were three.

We bought where we did because we loved the hill but couldn't afford to live in the heart by Eastern Market. We have found a wonderful community full of a diverse set of families of all types. It's one of the reasons we wanted to stay in the city. We are so glad we did. Find your community OP, there will be haters no matter where you end up.

Your kids are still stroller age, so you don't have the school situation solidified at all.

Also don't be so complacent about speed! We can slow those cars down.

PP says her kids go to JO Wilson. You might nit realize it but the JOW track for middle school is Stuart Hobson so she has the school situation solidified till high school. Although JOW is not as good an elementary as Brent on the hill, Brent has no viable middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really not sure what the purpose of this argument. I live near H Street and I find many of the businesses on Barracks Row to feel sclerotic and stale in comparison. But this is a ridiculous pissing match for two reasons. First, the Eastern Market side of the Hill is probably 15-20% more expensive than H Street, with generally smaller houses and lots, and so not an option for many people. Secondly, either option is far superior to what many people have access to. I looked up some Walk Scores for point of reference:

- 600 H Street NE: 96
- 1300 H Street NE: 90
- 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 99
- 600 E Capitol St: 90
- 1200 Pennsylvania Ave SE: 95

So, the person in the hypothetical heart of the Eastern Market area is gonna brag about 3 whole points relative to a person on the Western half of H Street? I mean, go for it...

Well ... my kid goes to the #1 rated elementary school in DC, I can walk to the metro in 12 minutes, we have a park across the street, and I don't feel like I'm risking my life every time I cross the street, so I'm gonna brag, yes!

Well, your housing cost is 20% more so yes you get better schools. But I live by H st, 3 houses down from a very large park with multiple amenities and 12 minute walk to Union Station (access via back entrance on H St). Some on H St might have just a 5 minute walk to Union Station. I cross the street thousands of times and no issues of any concern about risking my life. And we have a huge backyard and a garage.

But really it’s not a similar comparison with such as big price difference.

I doubt there's much of a price differential now for your house zoned for LT (I assume?). Please be careful crossing H st.

Nope, we are not in the LT zone. The LT zone is still significantly cheaper than further south in the Hill. BTW for 20% less and more house and yard, LT is a good magnet elementary with a viable middle school track to Stuart Hobson which now offers honors. Maury, Brent not much viable middle school track.

We are north of H st and actually 12 min walk to 2 Metro’s - Union Station and NOMA. Many people are closer and 5-10 min walk to both. Plus if you don’t want to walk to metro, hop on the trolley and it’s free. It’s a fun, nice ride and takes you right to the back of Union Station.

Ok, so basically no viable school at all. That's what we pay the premium for. The trolly is absurd - you can walk faster than the trolly.

I beg to differ as someone who has taken the trolley. If you catch it right when you get to the stop, it is quicker then the 12 minutes walking. Cuts time in 1/2.

Our child is in a highly regarded charter which has a viable middle and high school track which you don’t have so no problems there for us. Plus we can afford to go private should we change our mind, which is unlikely though. We will take the money saved and not pay your premium to pay for college in addition to getting more space, yard, and parking. There are many families like us who could afford the hill but chose H St. for many of the above reasons.

So basically to make the choice of H street work you have to either win the school lottery first, or have enough disposible income to pay for private. Got it.

Nope, the kids can go to LT, JOW both with viable middle school track to SH. We just chose to go to a great charter with a track all the way thu high school. The savings from the 20% price difference between H and Capital Hill/Eastern Market BTW can pay for the majority of private elementary if you don’t want to go to JOW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You definitely get more house and yard in H St and Noma (two different neighborhoods).

You get lots of amenities too.

Neighborhoods get too expensive, and then spread. Capitol Hill gentrification has spread toward H St and beyond. It seems like a stretch to claim to that H St has more/better options though. Good options, for sure, but not better.

I don’t think anyone is saying H is better than Capital Hill/Eastern market. Poster said she has some amenities there which someone says is also available in the H St neighborhood and presented such. It was noted that it’s not accurate to equally compare the 2 since the price difference is so significant.

It’ is “safer” in CH and the elementary schools are better, but I will say overcrowding in the classsroom is a huge problem. The schools are bursting at the seams, and I think the problem is just going to get worst.

There's no over-crowding in our school. My kid's class size is I think 19 right now?

Not sure what school your child is going to but Brent and Maury, overcrowding is a big issue. Just search threads on here about parents complaining.