Safe neighborhoods in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that Brookland sounds great for you, but you didn't mention schools. Are you willing to go private if you don't get into any charters? FWIW, everyone I know in Brookland has gotten into a decent charter but it is a stressful process. Brookland is so cute and family friendly otherwise.

OP, again...how much are privates...10-15k/year?

LOL! You might want to investigate private schools first. I have many friends who did not get spots in charter schools and are moving to MD and VA. The charter schools have become extremely popular. I would suggest you rent in a neighborhood with a good public school and save your money until you hit Kindergarten. If you get into a charter then move but at least you have a decent elementary school as a fall back. The public schools East of Rock Creek Park are generally not very good. I really didn't want to risk my children's education and rented until they got into a private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your DH needs to get comfortable with transitioning neighborhoods in DC, because they're all over. It's part of living in the city. Yes, you can live in GP or another staid neighborhood, but you can't leave it and enjoy all the city has to offer.

If he can't do that, do us all a favor and stay in VA. Usually I WANT people to live in and enjoy the city, but not like that (piecemeal picking and choosing b/c of being a "scaredy cat." That's just ridiculous).

Hi, OP here. Sorry I'm not as hip as you.

It's not a matter of being hip. It's a matter of being informed and not excessively fearful and reactionary for no good reason.

And I'll say it again: since when have Near NE and Trinidad been universally regarded as "safe?" Being fearful of those areas is within the realm of reasonableness, IMO.

No one's saying for OP to move to Trinidad. When was Trinidad even mentioned? The message is that for her DH to be uncomfortable on H St NE, which is now a restaurant and bar hotspot (the President recently dined there, at the restaurant Boundary Road), is a tad ridiculous. Move to a "safe" neighborhood, for sure, but also enjoy all that the city has to offer. You may not want to live in the U Street corridor, for example, but that doesn't mean you should avoid it completely b/c you feel "uncomfortable." Learn and be open to new experiences. Enjoy the city. Don't box yourself into a few streets and places that you know are "safe," for pete's sake. What's the point of even living in the city in that case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:24, why the disdain for people with reasonable expectations about safety? Now if they start getting sniffy about say Shepherd Park, you might have a point, but Columbia Heights/Near Northeast/Trinidad aren't exactly 100% regarded as safe.

I'd be looking east of the park, toward the tippy-top of DC but north of Missouri.

Shepherd Park, 16th Street Heights, Takoma DC. Colonial Village.

I'd check spotcrime if I were you, it seems most of the crime was maybe a block away from the MD/VA border (quick getaway?), or close to the major arteries (e.g. New Hampshire Ave.)

+1.

Can't believe how arrogant many of these posts are. Who wants to move to a crime-ridden neighborhood with a baby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one's saying for OP to move to Trinidad. When was Trinidad even mentioned? The message is that for her DH to be uncomfortable on H St NE, which is now a restaurant and bar hotspot (the President recently dined there, at the restaurant Boundary Road), is a tad ridiculous. Move to a "safe" neighborhood, for sure, but also enjoy all that the city has to offer. You may not want to live in the U Street corridor, for example, but that doesn't mean you should avoid it completely b/c you feel "uncomfortable." Learn and be open to new experiences. Enjoy the city. Don't box yourself into a few streets and places that you know are "safe," for pete's sake. What's the point of even living in the city in that case?

Trinidad and Near Northeast are the neighborhoods along H Street NE. I read that OP's hubby didn't want to live in Near Northeast, as opposed to "didn't even want to go there, ever, at all."

Again, getting sniffy about Shepherd Park/Colonial Village, probably a bit too high strung. Getting sniffy about Columbia Heights/Near Northeast, more reasonable.

[Anonymous]

All the neighborhoods with questionably safety also have questionable schools. Private schools range from $26-35k/year unless you're willing to do parochial (and can get in- it's not a sure thing if you're not Catholic). If schools are a concern I'd check out the area PP recommended in Bethesda off Bradley Blvd. Those TH are close to the District, walkable to downtown Bethesda and the Metro, zoned for great schools and in your price range. If schools aren't a concern at this point, I'd try to find something in the Glover Park area.

Unfortunately, in the $600k price range, you can't get a safe, walkable neighborhood with great schools in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your DH needs to get comfortable with transitioning neighborhoods in DC, because they're all over. It's part of living in the city. Yes, you can live in GP or another staid neighborhood, but you can't leave it and enjoy all the city has to offer.

If he can't do that, do us all a favor and stay in VA. Usually I WANT people to live in and enjoy the city, but not like that (piecemeal picking and choosing b/c of being a "scaredy cat." That's just ridiculous).

Hi, OP here. Sorry I'm not as hip as you.

It's not a matter of being hip. It's a matter of being informed and not excessively fearful and reactionary for no good reason.

And I'll say it again: since when have Near NE and Trinidad been universally regarded as "safe?" Being fearful of those areas is within the realm of reasonableness, IMO.

No one's saying for OP to move to Trinidad. When was Trinidad even mentioned? The message is that for her DH to be uncomfortable on H St NE, which is now a restaurant and bar hotspot (the President recently dined there, at the restaurant Boundary Road), is a tad ridiculous. Move to a "safe" neighborhood, for sure, but also enjoy all that the city has to offer. You may not want to live in the U Street corridor, for example, but that doesn't mean you should avoid it completely b/c you feel "uncomfortable." Learn and be open to new experiences. Enjoy the city. Don't box yourself into a few streets and places that you know are "safe," for pete's sake. What's the point of even living in the city in that case?

Again, who cares. So you value checking out every cupcakery for dogs located in a transitional neighborhood. Great! Maybe I want to live in proximity to museums, concerts and sports. Great! Neither is wrong or right.

[Anonymous]

virginia or maryland unless you make 1-2 million a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:virginia or maryland unless you make 1-2 million a yiear

That is just plain silly!

[Anonymous]

I don't really understand the benefit of a move from VA to one of DC's effectively suburban neighborhoods like Glover Park or even Brookland. In fact, Brookland looks like parts of Arlington to me, actually.

OP and her husband sound pretty squeamish about the actually vibrant parts of the city, so I'm wondering why they're entertaining the idea at all... unless it's just because they want slightly shorter commutes by car.

[Anonymous]

I'd be a lot more concerned about schools than OP seems to be. She's seems more worried about other quality of life issues, but based upon my (limited) observations, the main reason why most families leave the less expensive, but vibrant up and coming neighborhoods is because the school prospects are so limited, especially once the kids hit 3rd grade or so (a lot of privates open up spaces in 4th grade). You could chance it on a lottery with a charter, but many of us don't feel comfortable doing so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be a lot more concerned about schools than OP seems to be. She's seems more worried about other quality of life issues, but based upon my (limited) observations, the main reason why most families leave the less expensive, but vibrant up and coming neighborhoods is because the school prospects are so limited, especially once the kids hit 3rd grade or so (a lot of privates open up spaces in 4th grade). You could chance it on a lottery with a charter, but many of us don't feel comfortable doing so.

OP can indeed afford neighborhoods zoned for DC's better schools... but she might need to settle for a condo like an actual urban parent.

It just seems like between the unstated but obvious insistence that she wants a house just like she can afford in the 'burbs, and the squeamishness about "safety" which indicates an almost comically limited comfort zone, OP might be best of where she is.

OP, urban living requires flexibility more than it requires almost any other quality.

[Anonymous]

OP---I agree with the other posters. Unless you are willing to stretch over your $600K budget for Glover Park, you are not going to find a neighborhood that is safe and has all the urban walkable amenities that you want. It is true that you could probably afford Shepard Park or other EOP areas near the MD border, or perhaps Brookland, but those neighborhoods are quite suburban in feel (i.e., you still have to drive most places), and schools are an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:21:24, why the disdain for people with reasonable expectations about safety? Now if they start getting sniffy about say Shepherd Park, you might have a point, but Columbia Heights/Near Northeast/Trinidad aren't exactly 100% regarded as safe.

I'd be looking east of the park, toward the tippy-top of DC but north of Missouri.

Shepherd Park, 16th Street Heights, Takoma DC. Colonial Village.

I'd check spotcrime if I were you, it seems most of the crime was maybe a block away from the MD/VA border (quick getaway?), or close to the major arteries (e.g. New Hampshire Ave.)

+1.

Can't believe how arrogant many of these posts are. Who wants to move to a crime-ridden neighborhood with a baby?

+1.

The amount that people read into what people post on this board is ridiculous. I'm finding that problem when I am the OP. I say one thing and then someone chides me or way worse based on taking that comment to mean something far more extreme or reading in facts. OP just said she'd like to move someone as safe as possible. Duh. Most people with a baby would. The posters that take this to the extreme to make fun of this OP or any are bizarre and I guess using their posts to put themselves on a pedestal.

[Anonymous]

OP, not sure if you can find something for your budget, but maybe a smaller house in Crestwood.

As for the other ridiculous debate, I live in Columbia Heights with a 5 yo. I obviously think it's "safe enough" - whatever that means - but it's certainly not unreasonable for others to balk a little at it. It's not like violent crime is a thing of the past, and since the extensive public housing isn't going away, it won't be any time soon. I will say that the majority (by no means all, though) of the crime is gang-on-gang, or occurs well after dark. Since having kids, I'm a lot less likely to be walking home at 11:30 at night, so that doesn't impact me as much. It is silly to pretend it doesn't exist, though.

[Anonymous]

Didn't anyone read about the recent claw hammer killings? OP only you know how safe you would feel in a more urban environment. Living in Shepherd Park may be nice but it won't help with schools or a commute downtown.