I don't think the neighborhood I'm looking for exists in DC - am I right?

[Anonymous]

Fairfax City has a main street area. You could probably find something decent feeding into Fairfax High School or Woodson High School for under $600K, shopping and restaurants are nearby, and you can probably get to Vienna metro pretty quickly. I used to live not too far from there and took metro into DC every day and the commute wasn't awful. (driving was ok at 6:30 but after 7:00 it was much less fun.)

i live in north arlington now, but there's not really a main street area (though Westover around Washington Blvd does sort of qualify) and it's hard to find something under $600K.

[Anonymous]

Another vote here for Westover - it is really a great area with a neighborhood feel.

It is hard to find something under 600k, especially with low inventory now, but I think it can be doable if you give yourself time and can be flexible about size and condition.

There are options out there in your price range, and in your desired sq ft range- I didn't look hard but it was easy to pull up a few. I always think, you can change the kitchen or bathrooms, but can't change the location..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park all the way. It's an awesome community.

+1

BUT, it's pretty much an extension of DC (like, very urban vibe) - so I'm not so sure about the schools - I would double check their standardized test stats on the school website. Also, Takoma Park sprawls across PG, Montgomery County, and DC - I am thinking (without checking) that the better schools are definitely in the MoCo part, but I'm not sure if that is where the main street area is.

You might want to check out Del Ray in VA too - it's sort of reinvented itself as urban chic or I don't know what the right adjective is, but you might want to check it out. And there's like target, movies, etc. not even a mile away. It's really close to Old Town too (like the next town over) so you have access to that whole area too without having to pay millions to live there.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I'm thinking with a budget in the 600s - if you search hard - you could go ALL - THE - WAY and get a place in Vienna close to the Rt 123 main street and Church Street - I love that area!!! And that town has everything - except Target (that's in Fair lakes), but I think Tysons is getting a Walmart very soon.

[Anonymous]

PP, AGAIN (23:51 sorry) - Vienna even has that really cool W&OD trail that crosses Rt 123/Church Street that you can hike or bike, and Wolftrap, and Meadowlark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park all the way. It's an awesome community.

+1

BUT, it's pretty much an extension of DC (like, very urban vibe) - so I'm not so sure about the schools - I would double check their standardized test stats on the school website. Also, Takoma Park sprawls across PG, Montgomery County, and DC - I am thinking (without checking) that the better schools are definitely in the MoCo part, but I'm not sure if that is where the main street area is.

You might want to check out Del Ray in VA too - it's sort of reinvented itself as urban chic or I don't know what the right adjective is, but you might want to check it out. And there's like target, movies, etc. not even a mile away. It's really close to Old Town too (like the next town over) so you have access to that whole area too without having to pay millions to live there.

All of Takoma in MD has been in MoCo for a long time. The part in PG bailed on that county years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, i too looked for all that too once but you won't find a small downtown in any of the burbs around here, it's all sprawl. Downtown SS, Bethesda, the Arlington sprawl and Old Town do not count. You'll have to compromise.

We love our "small downtown" in Kensington, MD! We walk to school, to the grocery, hardware store, farmers' market, and tons of playgrounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - OK, what are the "good schools" in SS and Takoma park? I'm totally overwhelmed by Montgomery County schools because ALL of our friends live in Virginia.

For a quick idea, check greatschools.org. In DTSS Woodlin and Sligo Creek get 8 out of 10. Not sure about middle school, but Blair is the one everyone always talks about. Although Northwood is in the same consortium.

[Anonymous]

We looked in that budget all over the DC area for a similar neighborhood and found that anything close enough in and close to the Metro in Va was well over $600k or tiny and old. Lots in close-in Silver Spring at that price range that is around 2,000 sq ft and updated.

[Anonymous]

Takoma is a bit crunchy annoying so keep that in mind, also maryland has the highest taxes, most debt and is increasing taxes on 150k+ people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I envision as the perfect neighborhood for my family is in my mind pretty simple - a decent sized house (1800-2200 sq ft) with a small yard, great public schools, able to walk to playgrounds, elementary school, and a central downtown "main street" area, friendly neighbors, safe neighborhood, decent shopping (nice grocery store, target, etc.) in a 10-15 drive and all for under $600,000. And we'd like to stay within 20 miles of DC for commuting.

Why does this not exist around here? I guess it's the "main street" feel I'm missing. Why don't places like Burke or Alexandria (FFX county) have a "main street" area. I guess it's just a midwest thing? (I'm from the chicago burbs and they all have that) Does a main street feel exist in more expensive neighborhoods?

It's not just a Midwest thing; it's also a New England thing. Where I grew up in NE, the suburbs are organized by towns, and each town has its own center/main street, with little shops, etc., all on a very human scale. These towns grew organically (were not planned by bureaucracies) a couple of hundred years ago (or more).

Here, OTOH, there are no "main streets" here because most of the 'burbs were developed in the 20th century, and because they are organized as counties (not towns).

This bothers me a LOT, but it is what it is.

Sorry.

[Anonymous]

PP here - the closest we came is close-in Silver Spring. Still not a town, but better than other areas vis-a-vis this "main street" thing.

[Anonymous]

I think Takoma Park has a more "main street" main street, but the Silver Spring downtown area is very main street in that there's a lot of families hanging out and events and festivals. Especially in the summer, they have the farmer's market and live music all the time and there are always tons of little kids running in the fountain. Also nice to have the theaters and the new Fillmore concert place. The chain stores are off-putting, but if you can get past those, it's definitely a nice get-together spot for the neighborhood and they certainly put lots into event-planning.

[Anonymous]

We want basically all the same things as you, OP, and are eyeing the parts of SS zoned for East Silver Spring Elementary, as well as Takoma Park, because of the MS and HS. From what I can tell from the MoCo schools website, there are a number of other good elementary schools in SS, but the middle school options are iffier for many of them. We're in gentrifying NW DC right now and already worrying about schools (even though our kid is only 3) so if/when we move, we really, really want to be able to stay put for the long haul.

[Anonymous]

OP and PP: Check out my neighborhood: Sligo Park Hills. A couple of really cute houses on the market now and at least one more coming (on Mississippi Ave). We are zoned for East Silver Spring Elementary which was recently renovated. Our kids are not elementary aged but our neighbors are really happy there (despite the high FARMS rate). Middle school is Takoma Park Middle and then Blair for HS. All very good schools. We are about equidistant from DT Takoma Park and DT SS. Best of both worlds!