Relocating from Brooklyn to DC area

[Anonymous]

In response to your last question: I would definitely be open to living in Alexandria. I chose Arlington as a starting point because my brother will be moving there.

And thank you for the Shepherd Park recommendation.

[Anonymous]

My husband is less than thrilled to leave NY and I think the idea of having to drive everywhere would send him over the edge. I appreciate your input.

[Anonymous]

Op, the main Jewish communities in the DC area are in Bethesda area of Maryland (which makes no sense for your job location), and in the Fairfax area of Fairfax county. If you look on a map of synagogues, you will see the hot zones. That said, there are lots of Jewish people all over Fairfax and Alexandria.

On the whole, the greater populations of AA people in Virginia tend towards the Alexandria section -- both the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria part of Fairfax County.

I didn't see if your spouse was commuting to somewhere. I saw that you were going to Alexandria. So, I would suggest considering the Kingstowne area in Alexandria/Fairfax County. You might like Island Creek Elementary or Lane, or Franconia. No one will think twice about an inter-racial family. There are Jewish kids as well as Black kids and Hispanic and White and Asian and African, etc.

It's a short enough commute to Alexandria by metro or by car. Very safe, very suburban (in the sense that there are trees and grass), but also there are amenities like pools and childrens activities and it is super easy to get to all the necessities of life (i.e. Target, grocery, post office, library, etc., sports teams for kids, etc.). It is a very down to earth area.

If you are looking for more of an urban vibe, then I think Old Town Alexandria (City of Alexandria) might be more your thing. But, the schools are not well regarded.

[Anonymous]

OP based on your last replies, a few things:

If you live in Arlington or Alexandria, you will drive a lot of places. There are specific areas of Arlington and Alexandria that you can target where you can (and most families do) walk to some things such as: schools, parks, restaurants and shops. But you often drive to: sports, other restaurants outside your neighborhood, to get to friend's houses, etc. Areas that have this type of "walkability" (I put it in quotes because it is often debated here) in Arlington are: 22205 Westover, Clarendon (includes the neighborhoods directly surrounding this but as others said clarendon has a bit of a young vibe), I personally think Arlington Heights and Penrose as well, are the first that come to mind. In Alexandria: Del Ray and Old Town have little areas with restaurants etc that people walk to.

If you want NY like walkability and transit, you'll never have quite the same but maybe you do want to consider commuting from DC. Capitol Hill might be another good option to Alexandria. A lot of very happy families there. Elementary schools are pretty good now I think and middle and high schools are getting better, but there are specific areas people seem to want to be to get that. You'd probably need to start a new thread for that A Shepard park commute sounds really rough to me to Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In response to your last question: I would definitely be open to living in Alexandria. I chose Arlington as a starting point because my brother will be moving there.

And thank you for the Shepherd Park recommendation.

I'm the PP with the Shepherd Park recommendation. Again, may not be an ideal commute, and very few rentals, but a really great community.

https://shepherdpark.org/

[Anonymous]

Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

I agree and I truly don't think there is such a demonstrable difference from closer neighborhoods that it would be at all worth it. There are lots of happy neighborhoods around here, Shepard park is one of them but not a good fit for you commute wise OP.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend the Arlington Heights /Penrose neighborhoods in Arlington . Congregation Etz Hayim is in Arlington Heights and could help you with info. My child goes to preschool there and it’s an amazing school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

+1.

It's an absurd recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

+1.

It's an absurd recommendation.

+2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

+1.

It's an absurd recommendation.

+2.

I'm the Shepherd Park PP. I know a few neighbors who work in NoVa, so thought it might be doable--but I'll retract the recommendation if people really think it's not. A shame, since sounds like it would be a great fit otherwise.

[Anonymous]

OP...
Would you consider living near Yellow Line neighborhoods such as Shaw or Mt Vernon Square? These stops share stops such as Pentagon, Crystal City and King Street/Old Town with the Blue Line after you cross the Potomac. DC Public schools are improving.

[Anonymous]

Let me do a plug for the *gasp* Nauck neighborhood in South Arlington. Very diverse for Arlington. Walkable to Shirlington (restaurants and shops), multiple playgrounds, and a sprayground. Easy commute to Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Consider the Crystal City/Pentagon City area. The local public school, Oakridge, is reasonably diverse (more Hispanic than black though, many of the black kids are military or Ethiopian immigrants' children), but you also potentially could send your kids to Spanish immersion at Claremont, or Montessori. There are two Conservative syanagogues within a 10 minutes drives, a Reform synagogue 15 minutes away in Alexandria, and the "big" Reform synagogue, Rodef Shalom, 20 minutes away. And you can walk to everything--metro, shopping, etc. Finding a house to rent for 5K or under shouldn't be a problem, though Amazon's impending move is tightening the market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd Park to Alexandria would be a miserable commute. Don't do it.

+1.

It's an absurd recommendation.

+2.

I'm the Shepherd Park PP. I know a few neighbors who work in NoVa, so thought it might be doable--but I'll retract the recommendation if people really think it's not. A shame, since sounds like it would be a great fit otherwise.

If the job isn't set for Alexandria, I agree sixteenth st heights/Shepherd Park makes sense, demographics wise. Lots of upper middle class Black families and also Jewish communities -- there are a couple synagogues there. But a tough commute if it is to Alex!