Watching your friends relocate to the burbs for "schools"

[Anonymous]

Not did they go to school there, but they in fact accumulated great personal wealth by studying art. Somehow, I don't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We always thought we'd remain in DC, but the question of college is a real issue. Even with the aid given to DC students, it will be so much cheaper to attend a VA or MD public school if you are attending as in state.

Is anyone else thinking about this issue? For example, the cost to attend U of MD is approx 10K for in state and 32K out to state. That is a huge difference! I really wasn't thinking about this until someone else brought it up in another thread.

This is raised constantly. The moving math doesn't work if you own in DC. Search the old threads for the explanation.

Also I don't want to limit my kid to a particular college. There are plenty of colleges that offer in-state tuition for certain majors, I want my kid to be flexible. My equity I've built and will continue to grow vs burbs is worth more to me than $12k per year for 4 years.

Choice is a big deal for me.

There is a big difference between U of MD and every other public school in the state. What if my child does not want to go to UofMD, or does not get in? I value having the choice of discount at 50 state public university systems, even if that means paying a bit more than I would in MD or VA.

That, plus the transaction costs, plus the fact that my DC house will (assuming past behavior is an indication of future trends) gain more value than a comparably priced house in the suburbs.

This, all the way.

When i went to college i applied to several and went to the most attractive option which for me happened to be across the country. I am not going to tell my kids, sorry, i don't care about your hopes and dreams, you're going to a VA state school. Not if i can help it.

I think part of it for me is that I am pretty liberal and have always lived in liberal places and UVA just seems so conservative in all senses of the word. If my kids want that kind of experience then ok, but I don't want to force it on them if another school across the country would be a better fit.

[Anonymous]

I just think when there's more than one or two mass shootings at your state schools... you need to rethink you gun laws as a state. You're not going to do that? I'm not going to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think when there's more than one or two mass shootings at your state schools... you need to rethink you gun laws as a state. You're not going to do that? I'm not going to live there.

I agree--UVA, UMD, William and Mary...blech. All leave me cold. You can't assume your kid will want to go there.

[Anonymous]

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

Downtown Silver Spring. I think you'll find a great deal of walkability and diversity there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think when there's more than one or two mass shootings at your state schools... you need to rethink you gun laws as a state. You're not going to do that? I'm not going to live there.

Seattle, Washington won't miss you. (Open carry state). Austin, Texas won't either.

They're both bursting at the seams and don't need you to show up and whine. They're too busy having having fun. You wouldn't belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

Which part of Brooklyn? Park Slope or Williamsburg? Most suburbs will depress you, don't go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

As a fellow bk person who thought I had to live in the district and not the burbs, I am telling you, yes on silver spring and takoma park. Focus on downtown silver spring and you can have the best of both worlds. Dc is deeply divided, deeply segregated, and you're going to get it from all sides there. Dtss is no Brooklyn, it's like five blocks, but it has a healthy, vibrant pedestrian base, lots of festivals, and good schools that are more diverse than anything in dc.

We are fleeing there ourselves and I am thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think when there's more than one or two mass shootings at your state schools... you need to rethink you gun laws as a state. You're not going to do that? I'm not going to live there.

Seattle, Washington won't miss you. (Open carry state). Austin, Texas won't either.

They're both bursting at the seams and don't need you to show up and whine. They're too busy having having fun. You wouldn't belong.

Lol, my family owns property in Seattle. I turned down a job because it was in Austin. You couldn't pay me to live in either of those smug, suburban, segregated, and actually pretty boring places. Have fun sitting in your suv in Ballard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not did they go to school there, but they in fact accumulated great personal wealth by studying art. Somehow, I don't believe you.

Several.of them, yes. In more civilized places we have creative classes. Here in dc we have a a culture of people who aspire to be glorified clerks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

Which part of Brooklyn? Park Slope or Williamsburg? Most suburbs will depress you, don't go there.

12 years in Bedford Stuyvesant (the Clinton Hill side). Thanks all for the feedback. I'm hearing a lot of Silver Springs/Takoma Park from friends too... But yes, I think where ever I end up will be a very big change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

Which part of Brooklyn? Park Slope or Williamsburg? Most suburbs will depress you, don't go there.

12 years in Bedford Stuyvesant (the Clinton Hill side). Thanks all for the feedback. I'm hearing a lot of Silver Springs/Takoma Park from friends too... But yes, I think where ever I end up will be a very big change.

The "urban" part of Silver Spring is basically an outdoor strip mall. It's horrendous. You might consider Takoma on the DC side for a slightly more urban feel and diversity when compared to Takoma Park (which is way nicer than Silver Spring); similarly, Capitol Hill. Basically, if you're looking at WOTP DC, then yes... not terribly diverse neighborhoods; but the more recently gentrified/mixed neighborhoods? Pretty diverse. Capitol Hill as a whole is about 55% white and 45% non-white, which I think is relatively similar to Clinton Hill and certainly closer than most of the surrounding suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm AA and left for the burbs because I sought more diversity for my children. DC is pretty segregated along race and class.

I am considering a move to the DC area from Brooklyn and am also concerned about the lack of diversity in many of the neighborhoods I have looked at in the District. Several people have told me I may find more diversity in certain suburbs - Silver Springs and Takoma Park? Are there others I should consider? I was very reluctant to consider suburban living because I love urban life. But the things I value about urban life - walkability to local businesses/parks/playgrounds, diversity (racial/religious/socio-economic/family makeup), and community activism/involvement - I am realizing are not a guarantee in the District. If these things are priorities for me - along with schools and, let's be honest, getting more house for the money - which suburbs should I consider?

Which part of Brooklyn? Park Slope or Williamsburg? Most suburbs will depress you, don't go there.

12 years in Bedford Stuyvesant (the Clinton Hill side). Thanks all for the feedback. I'm hearing a lot of Silver Springs/Takoma Park from friends too... But yes, I think where ever I end up will be a very big change.

The "urban" part of Silver Spring is basically an outdoor strip mall. It's horrendous. You might consider Takoma on the DC side for a slightly more urban feel and diversity when compared to Takoma Park (which is way nicer than Silver Spring); similarly, Capitol Hill. Basically, if you're looking at WOTP DC, then yes... not terribly diverse neighborhoods; but the more recently gentrified/mixed neighborhoods? Pretty diverse. Capitol Hill as a whole is about 55% white and 45% non-white, which I think is relatively similar to Clinton Hill and certainly closer than most of the surrounding suburbs.

Yes, but Capitol Hill now has mostly white professionals and low SES blacks, there are few other ethnic groups and very little positive mixing between the newly gentrifying "haves" and the poor black "have-nots".

[Anonymous]

Yes, but Capitol Hill now has mostly white professionals and low SES blacks, there are few other ethnic groups and very little positive mixing between the newly gentrifying "haves" and the poor black "have-nots".

Try upper 16th St. area, particularly Shepherd Park in DC. Very diverse among families with school-age kids.

You may also want to head over to the Real Estate forum and post there for more suggestions.