AU Park: Comparing Areas in the Neighborhood
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mahasalsa
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| Hello all, I am looking at two houses in AU Park and would appreciate your honest feedback. I have two small children (one is 18-months and the other is 5 years old). We love having a good community vibe (bumping into the same people when we walk around, having and being good/friendly neighbors, feeling connected to our neighborhood, having access to stores/coffee shops/playgrounds). The first house is up the hill by Janney Elementary, which we love. The second house is down closer to Mass Ave and Turtle Park/Millie's. I am wondering if those who know this area could help me understand the differences between those areas related to the following: community vibe, family-friendly, crime/theft, block parties, walkability. Many friends in DC have cautioned us against the house that's up the hill and closer to the metro but it is a bit bigger than the other which is nice. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts. |
Anonymous
| Can you just provide links to the house? You've described enough to make them identifiable but this will make it quicker for people to look for themselves and give hyper-local feedback. |
Anonymous
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The area near Janney is more urban and overpriced.
The area near Mass Ave/Turtle Park is quieter and overpriced. |
Anonymous
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How close to Janney is it? Is it on 42nd street?
That street can be busy. Or is it across Wisconsin from Janney which is a completely different neighborhood. What exactly have your friends warned you about? |
Anonymous
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What's the problem with the one up the hill? I would prefer to be closer to the Metro and Whole Foods and library and Janney and think the area by Turtle Park is sleepier/ more suburban feeling/ more likely to have Spring Valley vibes that I tend to avoid, but both would be fine. Would be nice to be right by Turtle Park. Sometimes the exact block differs in terms of community - see if you can figure out if there are lots of families with young kids on that block. If you go to the open house there will likely be neighbor theres that you could chat with and get more info on, but by that point your bid may already be submitted.
Your realtor may have realtor friends in the neighborhood she could ask - we're in Tenleytown and there is one realtor who lives there and definitely knows this info, not sure about the AU Park side of Wisconsin. |
Anonymous
| We used to live in AUP, closer to Turtle Park and I really liked being able to stroll over with the kids (toddlers at the time) to the park and to the shops on Mass ave. However, if you are going to stay in AUP and send the kids to Janney, you may want to be closer so you can walk to school. I don't think you can make a wrong decision here. Pick the house you like better. |
Anonymous
| We prefer the area closer to Turtle Park because we walk to the park, stores, and restaurants. The area is quiet, lovely, safe, and very friendly. Lots of kids and families that we see on a regular basis around the neighborhood. |
Anonymous
| I personally like the quieter side of the neighborhood. Still easy to get to metro/Whole Foods/etc but there’s a lot less traffic |
Anonymous
| Definitely by Turtle Park and Millie’s. Quieter and the places to walk are more desirable than the ones in tenleytown in my opinion. Turtle park is adorable. Very family friendly scene at the retail/restaurant stretch in Spring Valley. |
Anonymous
| AU Park sucks- mediocre housing stock, mediocre people, boring neighborhood with 0 charm. Frumin lives there - one of the worst people in Washington DC. Go with Palisades, access to trails, river, shoot down to gtown, better housing stock, funky, convenient to everywhere, no crime. I would rather be homeless than live in AU Park. |
mahasalsa
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| Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. I’m the original poster. The house we liked on Warren Street got snatched up, but we will keep looking in that little area. I like the idea of being a few blocks from turtle park and from Millies. The other house is on 43rd St. and Albermarle, not on the market yet but coming soon. My friends cautioned me because of crime up there and feeling too urban with big franchises. I personally think the whole AU Park area is wonderful and I’m grateful to even be considering moving there. I’m currently in Columbia Heights where crime has gotten a bit out of hand and I often have to step over drunk people sleeping in the streets when I’m out doing errands with my kids. We are looking to (hopefully) find our forever home and we would send our kids to Janney (unless anyone has anything to flag about Jenney). I’m all ears! |
Anonymous
| Personally I would stay 3 blocks plus from the metro station, there seems to be less crime once you pass 3 blocks. I live closer to Turtle Park. Good neighborhood vibe, but more people sending their kids to private school than l expected before l moved here. |
Anonymous
| I wouldn't worry about crime at Albemarle and 43rd but there is more traffic on Albemarle. I feel like that leads to the blocks on it being outside less/somewhat less social. |
Anonymous
You clearly do not live in AU Park and you have no idea what you're talking about. We've lived in AU Park for years, close to Turtle Park, and we love it. Out community of neighbors is wonderful, friendly, and we all help each other out when we need it. We love the lifestyle, the houses, easy access to parks, restaurants, great schools, metro, etc. Anyone would be lucky to live in AU Park! |
Anonymous
Hey weirdo. People in The Palisades aren’t all that different from people in AU Park. Mostly self made UMC professionals who want to live in DC. |