Bethesda vs Kensington?

[Anonymous]

With Kensington, on your way downtown you get to drive through leafy Chevy Chase. In Bethesda, you get stuck in the hell of Friendship Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With Kensington, on your way downtown you get to drive through leafy Chevy Chase. In Bethesda, you get stuck in the hell of Friendship Heights.

I don't really care whether what I drive through is picturesque or not. I want to get there quickly. And from the western parts of Bethesda, you don't need to go through FH and Mass tends to flow better than Wisconsin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, we just moved to the Parkwood neighborhood of Kensington. We don't commute, either, and had a similar budget. We absolutely love it so far. The neighbors have been friendly and welcoming, and it's so convenient.

We love Parkwood, too! There are actually both Kensington and Bethesda addresses in Parkwood, and the whole neighborhood is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Kensington, on your way downtown you get to drive through leafy Chevy Chase. In Bethesda, you get stuck in the hell of Friendship Heights.

I don't really care whether what I drive through is picturesque or not. I want to get there quickly. And from the western parts of Bethesda, you don't need to go through FH and Mass tends to flow better than Wisconsin.

Beach Drive and Rock Creek Parkway flow pretty good in rush hour and I'd much rather be in a slow crawl in Rock Creek Park than on a major road. The beauty of Kensington is that you can get downtown via 3 forms of transit (MARC, Mertro and car) in less than an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also live next to Kensington and think it's hugely underappreciated. Love the cute downtown, love the community feel esp the parades, love having useful retail nearby (Safeway/Strosniders), love the parkway with little streams etc.

However, the Woodward thing is an issue that can't be ignored. If you're buying in the WJ -zoned parts of Kensington and (to a lesser extent) the BCC-zoned part, you can't really guarantee that you won't be switched to Woodward -- which will almost certainly have a higher proportion of low-income kids. That's not inherently a problem, but the reality is that it impacts property values. It's mostly upside for the Einstein-zoned parts of Kensington, but I wouldn't pay the 'school premium' for Kensington right now even though I love it.

Where is this cute downtown of Kensington?

We think it’s cute, bitch. We’re glad you don’t live here.

I’m not the PP.

Well so now you've met your neighbors.

Seriously, I wish DCUM wasn't anonymous so I know who to avoid...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we just moved to the Parkwood neighborhood of Kensington. We don't commute, either, and had a similar budget. We absolutely love it so far. The neighbors have been friendly and welcoming, and it's so convenient.

We love Parkwood, too! There are actually both Kensington and Bethesda addresses in Parkwood, and the whole neighborhood is great.

Thanks Parkwood seems like a great option since it will be safer from redistricting (I don't mind Woodward, I would be nervous about Einstein).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also live next to Kensington and think it's hugely underappreciated. Love the cute downtown, love the community feel esp the parades, love having useful retail nearby (Safeway/Strosniders), love the parkway with little streams etc.

However, the Woodward thing is an issue that can't be ignored. If you're buying in the WJ -zoned parts of Kensington and (to a lesser extent) the BCC-zoned part, you can't really guarantee that you won't be switched to Woodward -- which will almost certainly have a higher proportion of low-income kids. That's not inherently a problem, but the reality is that it impacts property values. It's mostly upside for the Einstein-zoned parts of Kensington, but I wouldn't pay the 'school premium' for Kensington right now even though I love it.

Where is this cute downtown of Kensington?

We think it’s cute, bitch. We’re glad you don’t live here.

I’m not the PP.

Well so now you've met your neighbors.

Seriously, I wish DCUM wasn't anonymous so I know who to avoid...

Oh, she's one of the tamer ones. I'd consider moving to Minnesota.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also live next to Kensington and think it's hugely underappreciated. Love the cute downtown, love the community feel esp the parades, love having useful retail nearby (Safeway/Strosniders), love the parkway with little streams etc.

However, the Woodward thing is an issue that can't be ignored. If you're buying in the WJ -zoned parts of Kensington and (to a lesser extent) the BCC-zoned part, you can't really guarantee that you won't be switched to Woodward -- which will almost certainly have a higher proportion of low-income kids. That's not inherently a problem, but the reality is that it impacts property values. It's mostly upside for the Einstein-zoned parts of Kensington, but I wouldn't pay the 'school premium' for Kensington right now even though I love it.

The Einstein parts are a smart buy, and BCC has gone downhill so would avoid.

[Anonymous]

The kP neighborhood abuts the Wyngate neighborhood in Bethesda and I think the feel is very similar in terms of community, people, etc. Each has very similar commutes with slightly different pros and cons as far as getting one place or another (Bethesda closer to Westfield mall; kp closer to Wheaton mall; Bethesda has slightly more bus routes to metro, but KP is closer to grosvenor station and Connecticut ave., etc,)

[Anonymous]

How has BCC gone downhill?

[Anonymous]

I live in Kensington and to me it seems pretty comparable to the comparably priced parts of Bethesda that feed into WJ. Now if you are comparing North Kensington to Bradley Hills then obviously very different but I'm guessing you are not.

Between the two of just pick the house / commute / elem school you like more.

Schools are also all subject to change as discussed ad nauseum here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also live next to Kensington and think it's hugely underappreciated. Love the cute downtown, love the community feel esp the parades, love having useful retail nearby (Safeway/Strosniders), love the parkway with little streams etc.

However, the Woodward thing is an issue that can't be ignored. If you're buying in the WJ -zoned parts of Kensington and (to a lesser extent) the BCC-zoned part, you can't really guarantee that you won't be switched to Woodward -- which will almost certainly have a higher proportion of low-income kids. That's not inherently a problem, but the reality is that it impacts property values. It's mostly upside for the Einstein-zoned parts of Kensington, but I wouldn't pay the 'school premium' for Kensington right now even though I love it.

The Einstein parts are a smart buy, and BCC has gone downhill so would avoid.

Is it Backward Day today?

[Anonymous]

We have been in the Kensington Heights part of Kensington 26 years. Sent our kids to Einstein, and they are now living here so they can send their kids to Einstein. I do not get this anti-Einstein thing.

Some houses here are in the 300s and some are in the 900s. It is incredibly friendly no matter where you live. And like other posters, i love being able to walk to Wheaton Mall, or Kaiser, or my dentist, 2 Starbucks, Kensington Day Spa for my mani/pedi, Strosniders, Wheaton metro, MARC train, etc. You just can't do better.

I will retire to Florida, but my heart will be in Kensington, with my kids and grand-kids, here in our beloved neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

There are some really great parts of Kensington, the people are friendly and its relatively close in, but I agree with other commenters that buying there is quite a gamble giving the pending school redistricting. It just wouldn't be worth it to me to pay a premium for the WJ or BCC sections of Kensington when there is a pretty good chance that you will be redistricted at some point in the near future. Plus these sections are pretty equal to Bethesda in terms of price so you aren't really saving much by buying here over buying in Bethesda or any other W district.

[Anonymous]

We're going to have to move to Maryland (from Northern Va) in the coming year, so I'm reading this with interest. Most posters have referenced proximity to places like Costco/Target as the benefits (which they are!), but what about local restaurants? What I love about where we are now is how easy it is to get anything from pupusas to Yemeni food to biryani, Taco Bamba, Korean chicken, etc. What's the local (not "fancy") restaurant and grocery situation in Kensington? Thanks.