Mass. Ave. Heights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As PP mentioned, this is NOT N.Cleveland Park, but more like South or West Cleveland Park. I left this neighborhood last August, after living there for 7 years, and am really regretting my decision to move and sell our house (we decided to move to Chevy Chase). I LOVED this neighborhood. As pp noted, there's Guy Mason Park, which is a great park, in walking distance, as well as the shops of Glover Park. Then just up Wisc there's Cafe Deluxe and the Giant, and the little stores there, including Sullivan's toy store, which is a great toy store. And, supposedly, there should be a nice new Giant, and new development with new stores and such, within a year or so. There's also the Macomb Playground which is great. And you're also walking distance to the Zoo, as well as the Conn Ave commercial zone. And then there's the Cathedral, with all its lovely green space, and festivals and activities, and it's lovely charming bells on Sunday... It's a great neighborhood, with lots of kids. As I said before, I really miss it...

OP here- It sounds like you'd pick this area over Georgetown. Is that true? Could you tell me why? Do you find the Cleveland Park/Mass Ave Heights area more convenient? Like having a real yard? I love Georgetown, but I admittedly don't know much about the other areas. Given that homes in both are very expensive, what do you prefer about this area over Georgetown? Thanks in advance.

You probably won't have a yard in gtown - what's your budget, by the way, that will play a HUGE part in your decision.

I really love Cleveland Park - homes are 1-2 million. You may also want to consider Forest Hills (the Murch school area) b/w Connecticut and Wisconsin north of Albemarle. Really beautiful area. Wakefield is the little neighborhood behind Van Ness.

[Anonymous]

Ah, if you are looking at Woodland Dr, then I think that is not what people have been referring to as here as Mass Ave Heights. That's actually Woodland-Normanstone. Some of the most beautiful and expensive houses in the cities. Abuts Woodley Park, not Cleveland Park. Can walk to Woodley Park Metro, although I suspect most don't. Farther from Guy Mason than Mass Ave Heights proper. Farther from shops. I think if you like Georgetown, you won't like Woodland that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, if you are looking at Woodland Dr, then I think that is not what people have been referring to as here as Mass Ave Heights. That's actually Woodland-Normanstone. Some of the most beautiful and expensive houses in the cities. Abuts Woodley Park, not Cleveland Park. Can walk to Woodley Park Metro, although I suspect most don't. Farther from Guy Mason than Mass Ave Heights proper. Farther from shops. I think if you like Georgetown, you won't like Woodland that much.

You don't think I'll like it? Bummer. Because it's not walking distance to things?

In response to another poster, our budget is high, and I'm still having trouble finding a home I like in G'town. The yards are sooooo small. Plus, we're moving to DC soon (for my dh's job), and I'd rather move once rather than renting while renovating before our final move.

We're going down to look again in a few weeks, but the clock is ticking....

[Anonymous]

We have friends there, and it feels very suburban compared to Georgetown. You'll end up driving a lot. But you can get a great house.

You might like Cleveland Park. Take a look at 3207 Highland Place or 3113 Macomb. A huge house on a double lot (I think it has a pool) sold recently at the corner of 36th and Newark, and it looks like it's being gutted. Ask your realtor if it was bought by a developer.

[Anonymous]

If you have a big budget (sounds like you do) and want both a yard of some sort and walkable to amenities, then I think the more central part of Cleveland Park is more likely to work than Woodland/Normanstone area. For example, we are on Newark St., which has big houses with yards (not huge but more than Georgetown for sure) but you can walk right down to either Connecticut or Wisconsin and be in commercial areas with restaurants, etc. Also, if you are looking at private schools, the area is convenient to many of them. Check out Newark, Macomb, Woodley, Lowell streets, etc. and see if those work for you. (I think the area of Mass. Ave. Heights you were talking about is absolutely beautiful but it is very secluded, not easy to walk to businesses (Mass. Ave. does not have businesses in that area at all) and I get the sense there are not many families that live there). Cleveland park has lots of families and a community feel.

[Anonymous]

mass ave heights is really nice and really pricey. i heard that it isn't great for families though, not sure why. georgetown is great for families. the moms there are very clicky though so beware if that isn't your thing. it is really preppy, lots of nannies, but fun, beautiful, etc.. lots of other neighborhoods in nw dc that are great too. totally depends on you and your family and what you are looking for. cleveland park is beautiful and more liberal as i have heard. wesley heights, spring valley, are other really beautiful neighborhoods as well with great elementary public schools. good luck!

[Anonymous]

have you thought about capital hill?

[Anonymous]

Mass Ave Heights is a beautiful neighborhood, architecturally akin to Kalorama, but without most of the hassles.

Depending on where you are, it is close to the Woodley Park strip of CT Ave, or as others have indicated, the Cathedral, 2Amys/Cactus etc area. It is generally in the Oyster Public School district, unless you are farther west, in which case it would be in John Eaton.

Check also the www.wisconsinavegiant.com website for a development which hopefully will be breaking ground in the near future.

While there are families there, it doesn't have the same "family feel" that Observatory Circle, Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase (DC) or other areas enjoy.

It is, however, a beautiful neighborhood close in and relatively Metro accessible.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Woodland Drive is one of the most beautiful roads in the District. It is ideally situated just west of Woodley Park so it is walkable to the fine resturants, stores and Metro, but it also has a very high-end suburban feel. You cannot be any closer to downtown without living downtown. If you work downtown, your commute will be 10 minutes or less. Most houses on Woodland and surrounding streets have nice backyards and by the number of swing sets and tree houses, it seems like there are a number of families in the neighborhood. If you want more "city" living, G-town is the place. But if you want suburban feel inside the city within a hop, skip or jump to city amenities, Woodland/Mass Ave Heights is a great, albeit pricey, option (some estates on Woodland can be in the $10 million range).

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Mass Ave heights is more expensive than g'town. There is not much high-end inventory (assuming you are looking at over 5M) in g'town right now. You need a realtor who knows the neighborhood and can show you the properties that have not yet hit the market, otherwise you'll have trouble finding something you like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodland Drive is one of the most beautiful roads in the District. It is ideally situated just west of Woodley Park so it is walkable to the fine resturants, stores and Metro, but it also has a very high-end suburban feel. You cannot be any closer to downtown without living downtown. If you work downtown, your commute will be 10 minutes or less. Most houses on Woodland and surrounding streets have nice backyards and by the number of swing sets and tree houses, it seems like there are a number of families in the neighborhood. If you want more "city" living, G-town is the place. But if you want suburban feel inside the city within a hop, skip or jump to city amenities, Woodland/Mass Ave Heights is a great, albeit pricey, option (some estates on Woodland can be in the $10 million range).

Good luck

This is helpful. Thank you. Do you live in the area?

[Anonymous]

Just curious if you found a house? I was reading this thread w. interest as we are currently looking for a house in those general areas too, and just wondered what you saw / liked, etc.
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP---it depends on what you're used to. Someone who loves Manhattan might find the Cathedral area a little too suburban and think Georgetown is a better fit. If you're not already a die-hard urbanite, I would think G-town would be tougher with small kids---less house for the money and the narrow sidewalks of the main streets are often very crowded with tourists and students.