Moving to Petworth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My pet theory is that Petworth/16th St Heights/N Columbia Heights/Park View is turning into Glover Park/Burleith, and that in a generation Barnard or Powell or whatever will be another Stoddert.

Have you seen how many strollers there are in this neighborhood? It’s crazy and the real estate market is supposed to suck.

That's exactly what people said when I moved to Petworth with a pregnant wife 15 years ago.

People have been saying Petworth is "almost there" for like 20 years now.

+1. There are too many charter schools in the immediate area, and no JR/Wilson high school to make it worth sticking around for middle school. We've been in Petworth for a decade and have seen the stroller families come and go. Maybe interest rates will force more families to stay and play the lottery, but they'll lottery for charters first like they always have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My pet theory is that Petworth/16th St Heights/N Columbia Heights/Park View is turning into Glover Park/Burleith, and that in a generation Barnard or Powell or whatever will be another Stoddert.

Have you seen how many strollers there are in this neighborhood? It’s crazy and the real estate market is supposed to suck.

That's exactly what people said when I moved to Petworth with a pregnant wife 15 years ago.

+1000

Agree with the previous posters discussing the sheen wearing off come middle and HS. We’ve been in the neighborhood since before our kids were born. They’re teens now. We’ve since done what I have seen every neighbor with kids our age do, which is lottery into a different school than MacFarland/ Roosevelt (or they’ve gone private). Not to mention the amount of people who we’ve know that moved.
I have a friend with a 2 year old who moved to Petworth from a NOMA apartment. They love it here and when I bring up my kids experience they just say, “oh but there’s so many people on our block with kids the same age who want to stay so by the time they’re in middle school it will be different”.
Yeah…ok. Lol. Get a taste of the DCPS game in upper elementary and get back to me later.
My kids were out daily with the neighborhood kids when they were 3,4,5,6 years old. Then one by one they all left.
So sure, keep telling the story that’s been told already for 20 years about how Petworth is going to be “the next….”
It’s not and we kick ourselves for missing the boat and not selling earlier when rates were better. Ironically getting lucky in the lottery locked us in longer than others but I can confirm even the DCPS schools you think you want MacFarland and Roosevelt to aspire to be more like leave a lot to be desired.

+1000. It’s the same in Brookland. If you are a parent of a little one, please think twice before uttering the above.
The school situation will not improve. We also lucked out in the lottery (Latin) but I also feel trapped in this crime ridden cesspool of a city.

[Anonymous]

My friend in Petworth moved in before kids and then 15 years later sent hers to Powell for ES, Sojurner Truth for MS, and Banneker for HS. Kids haven't yet graduated but so far very pleased.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, we have lived a couple blocks from where you are contemplating for 20 years, and have two elementary-aged kids. There is a lot to love about the neighborhood, but it is not without its issues. The walkability is amazing, multiple bus and metro routes within a few blocks, great restaurants on 14th and on Upshur. Library, multiple grocery stores, playgrounds, sports fields, Rock Creek Park, and DCUSA all within easy walking distance.

The schools are not perfect. Our kids went to Powell for a while, and we were really happy there, but ultimately moved to a charter for the feeder pattern. This is really common, but there are also plenty of families that are sticking with Powell.

The crime is up-and-down, and while things are definitely worse that they were right before the pandemic, things are nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago. We feel generally safe, even after dark, but there are a couple of spots/houses that I try to avoid and always keep my wits about me.

I think you will find it is a solid choice for a young family, and a really vibrant and fun neighborhood that you will get out of what you put into it.

[Anonymous]

If you’re moving mid school year, Dorothy Height will take kids during the year, even in PK. It’s right nearby. The principal is great and our experience with the PK teachers was really wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, we have lived a couple blocks from where you are contemplating for 20 years, and have two elementary-aged kids. There is a lot to love about the neighborhood, but it is not without its issues. The walkability is amazing, multiple bus and metro routes within a few blocks, great restaurants on 14th and on Upshur. Library, multiple grocery stores, playgrounds, sports fields, Rock Creek Park, and DCUSA all within easy walking distance.

The schools are not perfect. Our kids went to Powell for a while, and we were really happy there, but ultimately moved to a charter for the feeder pattern. This is really common, but there are also plenty of families that are sticking with Powell.

The crime is up-and-down, and while things are definitely worse that they were right before the pandemic, things are nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago. We feel generally safe, even after dark, but there are a couple of spots/houses that I try to avoid and always keep my wits about me.

I think you will find it is a solid choice for a young family, and a really vibrant and fun neighborhood that you will get out of what you put into it.

35 year resident here. People need to stop saying this: “nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago”. First, it demonstrably untrue. Second, until you stop saying this, the politicians won’t fix it. Please stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, we have lived a couple blocks from where you are contemplating for 20 years, and have two elementary-aged kids. There is a lot to love about the neighborhood, but it is not without its issues. The walkability is amazing, multiple bus and metro routes within a few blocks, great restaurants on 14th and on Upshur. Library, multiple grocery stores, playgrounds, sports fields, Rock Creek Park, and DCUSA all within easy walking distance.

The schools are not perfect. Our kids went to Powell for a while, and we were really happy there, but ultimately moved to a charter for the feeder pattern. This is really common, but there are also plenty of families that are sticking with Powell.

The crime is up-and-down, and while things are definitely worse that they were right before the pandemic, things are nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago. We feel generally safe, even after dark, but there are a couple of spots/houses that I try to avoid and always keep my wits about me.

I think you will find it is a solid choice for a young family, and a really vibrant and fun neighborhood that you will get out of what you put into it.

35 year resident here. People need to stop saying this: “nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago”. First, it demonstrably untrue. Second, until you stop saying this, the politicians won’t fix it. Please stop.

I moved to Petworth 19 years ago and it is absolutely worse now than then. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that there are more people like me to mug/carjack/home invade so more targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, we have lived a couple blocks from where you are contemplating for 20 years, and have two elementary-aged kids. There is a lot to love about the neighborhood, but it is not without its issues. The walkability is amazing, multiple bus and metro routes within a few blocks, great restaurants on 14th and on Upshur. Library, multiple grocery stores, playgrounds, sports fields, Rock Creek Park, and DCUSA all within easy walking distance.

The schools are not perfect. Our kids went to Powell for a while, and we were really happy there, but ultimately moved to a charter for the feeder pattern. This is really common, but there are also plenty of families that are sticking with Powell.

The crime is up-and-down, and while things are definitely worse that they were right before the pandemic, things are nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago. We feel generally safe, even after dark, but there are a couple of spots/houses that I try to avoid and always keep my wits about me.

I think you will find it is a solid choice for a young family, and a really vibrant and fun neighborhood that you will get out of what you put into it.

35 year resident here. People need to stop saying this: “nowhere near as bad as they were 20 years ago”. First, it demonstrably untrue. Second, until you stop saying this, the politicians won’t fix it. Please stop.

I moved to Petworth 19 years ago and it is absolutely worse now than then. Some of that can be attributed to the fact that there are more people like me to mug/carjack/home invade so more targets.

I have lived in Petworth since 2006. I liked it better back then and felt much safer too.

[Anonymous]

Moved there in 2012. Left in 2019. Could not believe how the crime trajectory went from up and improving to down and worsening in that short of a period. Felt so much more relaxed once we moved. It had a lot going for it but unfortunately it’s still a challenging spot and most gains seem to have been lost and then some after pandemic chaos.

[Anonymous]

Echo what everyone else is saying about schools and revolving door/attrition among the stroller set. This is so common in the gentrifying/gentrified rowhouse neighborhoods (Petworth, Brookland, Cap Hill; though the latter has a bit better retention).

Tons of mid 30s to mid 40s parents with young kids here in Petworth. Seems like there’s a wave of moves come Kindergarten and another wave as middle school approaches. Seems like there are few UMC families who stay into MS and beyond, and those who do go to charters or private.

I really don’t see this changing any time soon. I know each cohort of young parents thinks their “generation” will be different, but it seems conditions would have to majorly change for them to act differently than previous cohorts

This has a huge impact on our sense of community here in DC. Makes it difficult to age in place as we go through the life stages. It really is a shame.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is 4, just move here; there's enough good stuff right now. So many things can happen as your kid gets older that I wouldn't let any of the "just wait til middle school" comments deter you. Just focus on the next 5 years or so.

[Anonymous]

Is the El Haynes area safe? My daughter is supposed to go there from moco for a soccer game. I’m a little worried about her traveling to that part of DC given the crime.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Is the El Haynes area safe? My daughter is supposed to go there from moco for a soccer game. I’m a little worried about her traveling to that part of DC given the crime.

That area is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the El Haynes area safe? My daughter is supposed to go there from moco for a soccer game. I’m a little worried about her traveling to that part of DC given the crime.

There are carjackings in the area, but your odds are mostly good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My pet theory is that Petworth/16th St Heights/N Columbia Heights/Park View is turning into Glover Park/Burleith, and that in a generation Barnard or Powell or whatever will be another Stoddert.

Have you seen how many strollers there are in this neighborhood? It’s crazy and the real estate market is supposed to suck.

The people that you see with strollers now will move in the next 5 years.

Yup, to Glover Park or Burleith. Our neighbors on both sides with kids both moved here due to the school situation. Though they both complain how much better the bike lane and walkability situation is over there. But schools > walkability.