What's it like to live in downtown Bethesda, right off of Wisconsin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, I’m confused. So is Woodmont Triangle the “downtown”?

Lifelong resident of Chevy Chase and Bethesda. I consider Bethesda’s downtown” to be the area right around the Metro.

OP, we used to live on Rosedale and it was great. I could walk to work and almost everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anywhere between the two TJs is reasonable to call downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of crime. They’re attracted by all the kitchen design showrooms. Things haven’t been the same since Stromboli closed because that was a mob establishment that controlled all the corners so they kept the violence hidden. Now it’s a turf war. It’s a lot like The Wire, idk if you have seen that show but it is a good way to get a sense of downtown Bethesda.

I miss Stromboli’s.

Wait, when did Stromboli’s close?! That was my main hangout 25 years ago. Clearly I haven’t been in the neighborhood much recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere between the two TJs is reasonable to call downtown.

Love this!

[Anonymous]

You’re talking Chevy Chase at the southern tip and East Bethesda between East - West Highway and Jones Bridge.

Both are very family friendly. Many neighbors grew up here and moved back, or traded up homes after their starter homes. Mix of kids at BCC and area privates and parochials, some at magnets.

We have a bit of everything - retirees, young married couples, LGBT, even the odd Trumpster. They’re very friendly neighborhoods, tons of dogs, people like the new TJs across Wisconsin. Homes range from about $875k to $1M up to $3M in East Bethesda; and from $1 M to $5M in Chevy Chase. Chevy Chase is generally considered posher, with old money Washingtonians, East Bethesda is more laid back and with more people moving in and out, lots of ex-pats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of crime. They’re attracted by all the kitchen design showrooms. Things haven’t been the same since Stromboli closed because that was a mob establishment that controlled all the corners so they kept the violence hidden. Now it’s a turf war. It’s a lot like The Wire, idk if you have seen that show but it is a good way to get a sense of downtown Bethesda.

:chef's kiss:

[Anonymous]

The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of crime. They’re attracted by all the kitchen design showrooms. Things haven’t been the same since Stromboli closed because that was a mob establishment that controlled all the corners so they kept the violence hidden. Now it’s a turf war. It’s a lot like The Wire, idk if you have seen that show but it is a good way to get a sense of downtown Bethesda.

thank you for making me laugh aloud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

i think as a country we really need to recalibrate what we consider safe/unsafe. A place where there is a meaningful risk that you could get hit / run over by a car should be considered an unsafe area. Like - getting hit by a car is something that can easily kill you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

i think as a country we really need to recalibrate what we consider safe/unsafe. A place where there is a meaningful risk that you could get hit / run over by a car should be considered an unsafe area. Like - getting hit by a car is something that can easily kill you.

How many people are getting hit by cars in East Bethesda? Yikes people. I was worried about residential burglary (because of being close to businesses and metro) or car break ins. Now you have me worried that cars will be plowing through stop signs onto sidewalks every other day. Is this really a serious thing? Like how many people are hit by cars each year in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

I think this is also sarcasm however rooted in truth. The intersections around Wisconsin Ave are dangerous with drivers turning and not paying attention that people are crossing the street. I’m always freaked out walking/crossing Wisconsin. I’ve almost been hit several times.

[Anonymous]

from $1 M to $5M in Chevy Chase

The Town of Chevy Chase within walking distance of downtown Bethesda and Metro is a great and coveted area, but since the pandemic, i don't think you can get anything there within a few blocks of Wisconsin for less than $1.5 M (check the sale records). Apart from maybe the occasional/modest black swan on Bradley Lane facing all the through traffic or on Elm Street facing the Purple Line tracks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

i think as a country we really need to recalibrate what we consider safe/unsafe. A place where there is a meaningful risk that you could get hit / run over by a car should be considered an unsafe area. Like - getting hit by a car is something that can easily kill you.

How many people are getting hit by cars in East Bethesda? Yikes people. I was worried about residential burglary (because of being close to businesses and metro) or car break ins. Now you have me worried that cars will be plowing through stop signs onto sidewalks every other day. Is this really a serious thing? Like how many people are hit by cars each year in Bethesda?

Actually having people hit by cars is very rare. I can think of maybe three or four in 20 years. But the neighborhood associations have been proactive about working with DOT MD and MoCo government to get better crossings on Wisconsin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only risk is getting run over by a car. Super safe area otherwise.

i think as a country we really need to recalibrate what we consider safe/unsafe. A place where there is a meaningful risk that you could get hit / run over by a car should be considered an unsafe area. Like - getting hit by a car is something that can easily kill you.

How many people are getting hit by cars in East Bethesda? Yikes people. I was worried about residential burglary (because of being close to businesses and metro) or car break ins. Now you have me worried that cars will be plowing through stop signs onto sidewalks every other day. Is this really a serious thing? Like how many people are hit by cars each year in Bethesda?

Actually having people hit by cars is very rare. I can think of maybe three or four in 20 years. But the neighborhood associations have been proactive about working with DOT MD and MoCo government to get better crossings on Wisconsin.

+1 This is awful and has been happening frequently lately in North Bethesda, but not downtown.

[Anonymous]

I worked on the corner of Wisconsin and east west highway a few years and for a time lived across the street. So I was in downtown Bethesda 24/7. Only sketchy part is when metro shuts their gates around 1 am a fee bums sleep there