Where would you live: Old Town or Neighborhood south of Old Town?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are relocating to DC at the end of the month with a 20-month old boy. Background is that we're moving from Park Slope, Brooklyn, where we live in a 900 sq ft, two bedroom, 1 bath apartment with no parking. We plan to rent for the first year or two, while we get our bearings, and we have two options--both are in good condition. We have to decide between them by tomorrow, and we don't know what to do. Schools won't be a factor. Knowledgeable DC moms, which would you choose??

-- Townhouse in Old Town that has a ton of interior space and a decent sized outdoor patio. 4 floors, so lots of stairs, but also 4 bedrooms plus an extra den and 3.5 baths. I have never seen so much space for the money. There are enough extra rooms that our son could have a dedicated playroom. One parking spot. Husband will be working in DC and will either commute via bus or metro, as he doesn't want to deal with traffic. Coming from an urban, walkable neighborhood, Old Town is very appealing to us.

-- Detached house one mile south of Old Town with half as much interior space but a huge, fully-fenced backyard and two stone patios. No place for a playroom and really just one smallish living room, so all toys, etc would be in there. There is a separate dining room. Three bedrooms, but all are on the smaller size (but large enough to fit a Queen-sized bed and dresser). Only two stories.

I'm going from being a full-time WOHM to a SAHM. I've lived in a city for the past 16 years, but I grew up in the country. Both places appeal to us for different reasons, but I can't tell which will be better as a SAHM---more interior space or better outside space? The ability to walk to everything, like I do now in Park Slope, or having to take a short drive to get to places. We are trying to get pregnant with #2 now, so there's a very good chance I'll be pregnant and possibly have a newborn while we're renting, so those townhouse stairs make me nervous. Then again, so does living alone in a suburban neighborhood where I don't know anyone---worried I'll feel isolated. Also, I assume there's more crime in Old Town, since it's a denser urban area (though we're used to not displaying iPhones/iPods when walking, taking care at night etc)?

We have no outside space right now, no parking, no laundry in our apartment, no central A/C, etc etc etc (and our mortgage + HOA is way more per month than either of our Alexandria options!!!)---either of these will be a great change for us and we feel really lucky to have a choice.

Any and all advice would be welcome!!! BTW--I posted on here a couple of weeks ago about having a nightmare time finding a place to rent in NoVA. Thanks for the advice about jumping on places ASAP. I woke up at 6am the mornings I was in town and when I saw these two listings, I set up appointments ASAP and was the first application in on both of them.

[Anonymous]

Old Town for definite. You will have more options right on your doorstep. I might have my geography wrong but is the place 1 mile south the other side of the Beltway? So Huntingdon area. No competition - Old Town!

[Anonymous]

Thanks!! This is our third vote for Old Town (asked some other SAHM friends). Yes, the home is on the other side of the beltway, but closer to GW Parkway, not Route 1.

[Anonymous]

I'd go with Old Town with a new baby, though it depends a bit on how close you are to the river and to playgrounds (there are several nice ones). You'll need to be supervising the kids for the next few years before buying a place, so you won't get the benefit of being able to let your kids run next door more easily that comes with a more suburban neighborhood. As your kids grow, though, a number of the neighborhoods south of Old Town are quite nice, and OT is just a few minutes away (other than at rush hour). We've live south of Old Town for six years, and in OT before that. The communities are pretty fluid. I still go to restaurants, grocery shop and go the gym and dry cleaner in OT. That's nice, because we were able to move to a community with more space for the money and a fee that is better for us with older kids, but we didn't really need to change communities too much. Good luck and welcome!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Old Town, particularly if you are going to rent. We live in a place much like you described. It was a great place to live with a baby. We walked everywhere. However, as dc has gotten older, we have found that we'd prefer a house with a yard and a little more space, so we're looking for a new house in Belle Haven or Del Ray or Beverly Hills. As a pp noted, the neighborhoods are close together, and I imagine we'll continue to spend a lot

[Anonymous]

Oops- hit send too soon. Just meant to say that we'll contine to spend time in Old Town.

[Anonymous]

Old Town.

The suburbs just south of the beltway there are lovely, but I wouldn't think they would work for someone from Park Slope, particularly if your husband takes the car during the day. You have enough to get used to.

Spend next year looking at some of the neighborhoods that are a bit more urban than those down in Belle Haven (which is nice, but further than you think from down town).

I'm from Cobble Hill.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

We lived close to Old Town when we had babies and moved south down the GW Parkway for schools as they reached school age. I vote for Old Town for now but know that when your kids are school age you will have to move again unless you can afford private ($30K+ a year).

[Anonymous]

Old Town, hands down!

[Anonymous]

Is this new construction in Old Town by any chance?

Are you willing to move when your child starts school?

The City of Alexandria has poor performing schools. In Old Town, there is one great school and one terrible school and depending on where you live, you are zoned for one of them but then again the best school has enrollment caps and if you are zoned for it, if they are over enrolled, your kid goes to the crappy school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this new construction in Old Town by any chance?

Are you willing to move when your child starts school?

The City of Alexandria has poor performing schools. In Old Town, there is one great school and one terrible school and depending on where you live, you are zoned for one of them but then again the best school has enrollment caps and if you are zoned for it, if they are over enrolled, your kid goes to the crappy school.

Why don't people read? She is talking about renting for a year or two and specifically said schools are not an issue. She has a 20 month old.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to go against the popular opinion already given. We lived in Old Town before we had kids and I loved. Made many friends that were our age at the time and with 1 baby is was still great. When we were thinking of adding our 2nd child though we moved into a house just south of Old Town (Waynewood) and love it. I work ft outside of the house, but most of my neighborhood is SAHMs. We can walk to the park and the neighbors are fabulous. There are a ton of young families with lots and lots of little kids running around. Since you are working on having a second and will have a car, I would recommend south of Old Town if you want to meet more families with young kids.

[Anonymous]

Old Town for sure. I love that area south of OT, it is ideal for families with school-age children- great schools, cozy neighborhood feel, close access to the mount vernon trail. But, with babies and young kids- Old Town is a much better bet. You can walk everywhere and there are tons of playgrounds and free/low cost activities for the toddler set. Check out the story hours at the library on Queen Street, tavern toddlers at Gadsby's Tavern, play groups at the Lee Rec Center. Join yahoo's Old Town Moms listserv and you will find tons of tips about the area.

[Anonymous]

Old Town for sure. There is an Old Town Moms listserve that you should join. Tons of good advice and companionship options. (believe it is yahoo group.)

Welcome to the area! (I love Park Slope btw. Old Town will be a good fit for you I believe.)

[Anonymous]

I'd also vote Old Town, and just wanted to comment on your concern about there being more crime in Old Town. I've lived here for 6 years, and I'm at what people would consider the sketchier end of Old Town (near a lot of the public housing) and we've never had any problems nor have I ever felt unsafe (and I walk the dog alone, at night, with headphones). The most "threatening" thing that ever happened to me was an 8 year old boy shaking his butt at me and then running off giggling.

There are some people who act like parts of Old Town have crime problems like the worst parts of DC, but I personally think they're crazy.

Also, assuming the OT Townhouse is walking distance to metro, it will be a shorter, easier commute by far than being south of the beltway. There are great express buses that run down to Bellehaven/Waynewood--but they're much more limited schedules than metro, and depending on where in DC he'll be working, he might still have to metro or take a connecting bus.