What's the deal with Severna Park?

[Anonymous]

I think a PP from Baltimore is confusing the town of Severn (decidedly working class) with Severna Park (considered to be more professional and upscale).

[Anonymous]

I agree that the PP is confusing Severna Park with Severn. That in no way describes Severna Park.

[Anonymous]

Nope, PP from Baltimore here, definitely talking about Severna Park. Had cousins who lived there (boat in the driveway, as one pp described!). I think Severna Park as "professional upscale" is an event that increased with the housing boom. It is very much as others have described, sort of working class / blue collar roots, with some upward mobility.

[Anonymous]

Housing boom? Now I know you are completely talking out of your ass. The neighborhoods are old and established. Large, grand houses built from the 60's to early 80's on large lots and well maintained. No boats in the yards. Every heard of Chartwell? Shipley's? Bay Hills? I don't know where your cousins lived but I've never seen anything like that there. There are no "outskirts."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Housing boom? Now I know you are completely talking out of your ass. The neighborhoods are old and established. Large, grand houses built from the 60's to early 80's on large lots and well maintained. No boats in the yards. Every heard of Chartwell? Shipley's? Bay Hills? I don't know where your cousins lived but I've never seen anything like that there. There are no "outskirts."

Yes, that sounds like Severn, Pasadena, and parts of Edgewater, not Severna Park. Severna Park has many beautifu,l classy, riverfront homes, not the small cottages that some of the other areas have.

[Anonymous]

Can you commute to DC from SP?

[Anonymous]

In the last 2 years, SP High has won state championships in field hockey, and both boys and girls lacrosse. That should clear up any confusion about the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you commute to DC from SP?

On a regular basis? I personally think it's too far away.

[Anonymous]

Baltimore poster here. To the person who thinks I'm talking out of my ass, that's fine, I don't have any vested interest in this, not trying to drive up my property value by trying to repaint my neighborhood. (There are lots of huge old homes in Baltimore too, you know, that doesn't make the areas in which they are built any more desirable.) Nevertheless, my description is accurate and valid. A lot of neighborhoods experienced an increase in professionals purchasing new homes as they were priced out of other closer in or otherwise more desirable areas. If this is a mystery to you, I would guess you are not SP born and raised. Carry on.

[Anonymous]

Agree that the commute from DC to SP might be far, but people do it certainly.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Baltimore County and the common sentiment was that Severna Park was white trashy. I had relatives that lived on Gibson Island...so that may have also colored my memories.

[Anonymous]

Np here, yes, these Baltimore posters are correct, sp is/or at least used to be yucky. Maybe big nice houses on the water, but overall-yucky.

[Anonymous]

Sure, "NP." Yucky, check.

[Anonymous]

A good friend of mine commuted from SP to DC every day for several yrs - - she was absolutely miserable. Rte 50/NY Avenue during rush hour is hell on earth. I think it is a big stretch to say SP is on par with Bethesda or McLean... While there are lots of white collar professionals, it's much more economically diverse.

[Anonymous]

Nothing in Anne Arundel county will come close to Bethesda or McLean, but if you want excellent public schools, SP is one of the areas you would move to.