Brent vs JKLM

[Anonymous]

I think of Cap Hill as bring isolated- not as bad as it used to be before H street and the waterfront developed but it's still far from much of NW. This could be a big deal if you wanted to go to a private or a Deal feeder later on. You are also on the blue/orange metro line which is great for getting to work but not as handy as red or green for getting to other neighborhoods on the weekend. I live on U street though so I'm pretty spoiled. FWIW, if you are thinking long haul at all if pick upper NW (Hearst or Janney) over Brent for middle school reasons mentioned above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But the no middle or high school options argument carries real weight. And a 10-15 minute ride on the redline to downtown makes it just as close to downtown as Capitol Hill.

Yes, middle school and high school is a concern. People love Capitol Hill enough that they make it work though. There are viable charter and private options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the no middle or high school options argument carries real weight. And a 10-15 minute ride on the redline to downtown makes it just as close to downtown as Capitol Hill.

Yes, middle school and high school is a concern. People love Capitol Hill enough that they make it work though. There are viable charter and private options.

Where do you go to private from capitol hill? honest question, would be interested in the area but very wary due to middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:where will you be commuting to? that would make a huge difference for me. also, if J, Murch or other NW school, you get Deal and Wilson. Which even if you plan for private it is nice to have a back-up.

Both of us would be working downtown dc. Farragut area.

Redline would be perfect OP. I would strongly consider living walking to metro in deal-wilson feeder area, you won't be sorry!

I, on the other hand, would recommend living on the Orange or blue lines. Capitol South or Eastern Market. Capitol Hill is friendlier, closer knit, and a more vibrant neighborhood right now than the JKLM areas. Brent is excellent.

The red line/NW snobbery of years past is outdated. You'll love Capitol Hill.

Brent is ground zero for Eastern Market and Capitol South. Be mindful of boundaries: East Capitol, Seventh Street, Eisenhower Freeway. A block to the east you're looking at Tyler or the Cluster (Watkijs) and a block to the north you're potentially IB for Ludlow-Taylor. Not saying those are necessarily bad options but . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:where will you be commuting to? that would make a huge difference for me. also, if J, Murch or other NW school, you get Deal and Wilson. Which even if you plan for private it is nice to have a back-up.

Both of us would be working downtown dc. Farragut area.

Redline would be perfect OP. I would strongly consider living walking to metro in deal-wilson feeder area, you won't be sorry!

I, on the other hand, would recommend living on the Orange or blue lines. Capitol South or Eastern Market. Capitol Hill is friendlier, closer knit, and a more vibrant neighborhood right now than the JKLM areas. Brent is excellent.

The red line/NW snobbery of years past is outdated. You'll love Capitol Hill.

Brent is ground zero for Eastern Market and Capitol South. Be mindful of boundaries: East Capitol, Seventh Street, Eisenhower Freeway. A block to the east you're looking at Tyler or the Cluster (Watkijs) and a block to the north you're potentially IB for Ludlow-Taylor. Not saying those are necessarily bad options but . . .

Boundary is 8th not 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:where will you be commuting to? that would make a huge difference for me. also, if J, Murch or other NW school, you get Deal and Wilson. Which even if you plan for private it is nice to have a back-up.

Both of us would be working downtown dc. Farragut area.

Redline would be perfect OP. I would strongly consider living walking to metro in deal-wilson feeder area, you won't be sorry!

I, on the other hand, would recommend living on the Orange or blue lines. Capitol South or Eastern Market. Capitol Hill is friendlier, closer knit, and a more vibrant neighborhood right now than the JKLM areas. Brent is excellent.

The red line/NW snobbery of years past is outdated. You'll love Capitol Hill.

Brent is ground zero for Eastern Market and Capitol South. Be mindful of boundaries: East Capitol, Seventh Street, Eisenhower Freeway. A block to the east you're looking at Tyler or the Cluster (Watkijs) and a block to the north you're potentially IB for Ludlow-Taylor. Not saying those are necessarily bad options but . . .

I am the PP mentioning the redline. I mentioned the red line because the OP stated they will work in Farragut area, and Farragut north is on the red line. This is not snobbery, I think Capitol Hill is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But the no middle or high school options argument carries real weight. And a 10-15 minute ride on the redline to downtown makes it just as close to downtown as Capitol Hill.

Yes, middle school and high school is a concern. People love Capitol Hill enough that they make it work though. There are viable charter and private options.

Where do you go to private from capitol hill? honest question, would be interested in the area but very wary due to middle and high school.

Gonzaga
St. Anselm's
GDS
St, Peter
WIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:where will you be commuting to? that would make a huge difference for me. also, if J, Murch or other NW school, you get Deal and Wilson. Which even if you plan for private it is nice to have a back-up.

Both of us would be working downtown dc. Farragut area.

Redline would be perfect OP. I would strongly consider living walking to metro in deal-wilson feeder area, you won't be sorry!

I, on the other hand, would recommend living on the Orange or blue lines. Capitol South or Eastern Market. Capitol Hill is friendlier, closer knit, and a more vibrant neighborhood right now than the JKLM areas. Brent is excellent.

The red line/NW snobbery of years past is outdated. You'll love Capitol Hill.

Brent is ground zero for Eastern Market and Capitol South. Be mindful of boundaries: East Capitol, Seventh Street, Eisenhower Freeway. A block to the east you're looking at Tyler or the Cluster (Watkijs) and a block to the north you're potentially IB for Ludlow-Taylor. Not saying those are necessarily bad options but . . .

I am the PP mentioning the redline. I mentioned the red line because the OP stated they will work in Farragut area, and Farragut north is on the red line. This is not snobbery, I think Capitol Hill is great!

And Farragut West is blue/orange.

[Anonymous]

Well OP, what is your nearest metro for work?

[Anonymous]

Friends Community; Burgundy Farm Country Day, Cap Hill Day School, Gonzaga, Seaton, etc. etc. Plus charters.

[Anonymous]

We spent 10 years on The Hill and now in NW. We did it for schools. Hill is wonderful. Such a great community. That said even Brent (our old IB school) is way behind WoTP schools. It is just easier up here with schools. My kids are older now so that may warp my perspective but between the schools and our easy commute everyone is happier in NW.

[Anonymous]

I see a bus for GDS every day around Eastern Market. Neighbors carpool to National Cathedral School. It's no biggie and the neighborhood is worth the commute.

[Anonymous]

I agree that Capitol Hill is a nice community but everyone I know there is struggling with the middle school question.

I would recommend going with the red line. My personal preference would be living in the Eaton or Hearst areas. Easy walk to metro and commerce. Janney is not my cup of tea. Murch could be a bit further from the metro and Lafayette definitely too far from metro for me.

[Anonymous]

No question WOTP. Brent is mediocre in every sense of school measures compared to JKLMM. Put aside the isolated cap hill debate, it does not have middle or high school options. I can see people who bought there 10+ years ago that want to make it work but buying now, I woudlbt even consider cap hill. For the same price you can get WOTP and a house with a yard and not have to worry about lottery for "decent" charter (and commute that comes with it) or shelling out $$ for private. Sorry, not trying to slam Cap Hill, but no amount of ice skating parks would persuade me otherwise. FWIW I am ward 4 so not trying to justify just saying what I would do if in OP's shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do WOTP for long term reasons. Also, Cap Hill is too isolated for me. If like to have access to Bethesda, SS, and Downtown.

I have never heard of anyone thinking of Capitol Hill as isolated. We have Barracks Row and nearby H Street. You can walk to Nationals Park, SE Waterfront/Navy Yard and National Mall/Smithsonian Museums. Holiday concerts and occasional sledding on the Capitol Grounds. Child-friendly programs at the Library of Congress. Arts programs at CHAW. Ballet at St. Marks. Skating at Canal Park. Yards Splash fountain. Marine Barracks or concerts at Yards Park on summer evenings. Sports on the Hill. Capitol Hill Little League. Bike to the Pirate Ship in Anacostis Park. Fort Dupont or Ballston for year-round indoor ice skating. Shopping at Eastern Market or nearby Union Market. Winter days at tbe Botanic Garden. Short drive to the National Arboretum and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Downtown in less than 15 minutes by Blue/Orange/Silver Line. Ten minutes by car to National Airport or Pentagon City Mall. Three Target stores within a 15 minute drive, if you don't take advantage of delivery services like Instacart. We seldom leave the Hill and couldn't think of a good reason to drive to Silver Spring or Bethesda. To each her own I guess.

Agree. Capitol Hill is closer to downtown, so that's silly, and thankfully we have no need to get to Bethesda or Silver Spring. Why would you? If you don't work there or live close by, those are not destinations. The Capitol Hill is isolated argument is oft-repeated on this site and it really shows a lack of knowledge about DC and the Hill in particular.

I agree that the notion of Capitol Hill being "isolated" is ridiculous, it has a ton to offer. However, this fallacy is repeated just as often as the idea that the NW neighborhoods are boring, far from downtown, not close to anything, cold, etc. I live along the red line and I can walk to libraries, move theaters, restaurants (granted not the best ones), grocery stores, the zoo, Rock Creek Park, several playgrounds, spray parks, sports fields, farmers markets, swimming pools, and much more. My kids will also be able to walk to all three of their schools (elementary, middle, high school). As far as community, I have more neighborhood friends than my sibling who has lived in the same house on the Hill for 10+ years. We often meet out at local places for drinks, have barbecues with neighbors at our house, etc.

So I really wouldn't make it out "to each his own." Both neighborhoods just have a different set of advantages (and disadvantages).