Where to live in MoCo for a Suburb Hater?

[Anonymous]

Please do not take this the wrong way suburbanites, but is it possible to find MoCo schools for my kids without the suburban life? DH refuses to live in Takoma Park, which would be my first choice. He works long hours, and has read too many stories about people being mugged walking home from Metro late at night in TP.

Can anyone suggest any other options? We drove all around DC this weekend (we're from out of town) and liked Chevy Chase, AU Park and Tenleytown areas, which we think we can afford. We looked at the areas just over the DC line in MoCo, and liked Somerset, but no way can we afford it. We liked Sumner (sp?) a little, but the car culture is so depressing to me (sorry, don't mean to offend anyone, it's just my taste), and we prefer the pre-war buildings in DC proper. DH must walk to Metro (under 2 miles is walkable for him).

We can afford Kensington, but didn't like the postwar houses, lack of sidewalks (where would you walk to?) and, again, that car culture would kill me. Am I out of luck? Any place in MoCo where I won't feel like an isolated suburban mom stuck in her car half the day? Will I be forced to live in DC and send my talented kids to DCPS (can't afford private)?

BTW, is it true there's no music or art in DCPS elementary schools? I just read that (sounds impossible to me), and it made me ill to think of sending my musical and artistic DC to a school without either one. Please tell me it's not so! Or do parents supplement a limited art/music program in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

What exactly is it that you like about AU Park and CC, DC that you don't see in all the close-in areas of Bethesda and CC, MD? As someone on the MoCo side of the border, I see absolutely no difference in terms of reliance on cars and "urban" lifestyle and easy access to amenities between these neighborhoods. Oh, except for the fact that we have great schools on this side. I don't understand all the suburb-hating from DC residents who prefer to live in what I'd describe as very suburban areas of Washington - eg upper NW. Perhaps you need to examine why you feel so strongly against the "suburbs."

FWIW, there are loads of neighborhoods within 2 miles of the Bethesda and NIH metros that would fit your criteria (beyond Somerset) and particularly near downtown Bethesda you could do lots without a car (a lot more than you could do in CC, DC for example.) Also take another look at old town Kensington, which has lots of beautiful Victorian style homes, shops and restaurants plus a MARC station.

[Anonymous]

Look at Rockville close into the town. Also, Bethesda is pricey.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 6:02 that it is unclear what you're looking for given that you like AU Park and Chevy Chase, which seem very suburban to me and involve a long hike to Metro in many cases, and Somerset, which is full of postwar construction. Still, try Brookdale, just across Western from AU Park/FH, and the area southwest of there, as well as the areas east of downtown Bethesda. BTW, if you live in Sumner , you can take a Ride-On bus to FH: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/dpwt/transit/routesandschedules/pdffiles/route29.pdf

[Anonymous]

See info about the Fillmore Arts Center (for DCPS) here: http://www.fillmoreartscenter.org/aboutfillmore.html#howworks

Some other schools have programs that are funded by the parent association.

P.S. You will not be "forced" to do anything. You'll make choices. It sounds like you have pretty good ones.

[Anonymous]

Some schools also have partnerships with arts organizations: e.g., Eaton and the Washington Ballet.

[Anonymous]

I live in Kensington, in a 130 year old victorian house, in a neighborhood with sidewalks and loads of families.

As other posters have said, what exactly are you looking for? And how is my neighborhood any more suburban that AU Park or Cleveland Park?

And yes, most of us have to make trade-offs regarding where we live, how we live, and what is ultimately best for our family.

There are lots of DC posters who can instruct you on how to take full advantage of what DCPS have to offer, if you choose to live inside the District. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please do not take this the wrong way suburbanites, but is it possible to find MoCo schools for my kids without the suburban life?

No offense taken. After all, not all of us suburbanites are living out our dreams. I didn't plan to be in a postwar house that resembles my parents' house but at over well over twice the price. And in a previous life I loved living without a car in a beautiful, walkable city where the buildings are lovely, architecturally interesting, and a century old.

Nevertheless, we're here in DC for the foreseeable future. And given the many factors we had to balance (commutes, schools, safety concerns, finances, desire for community, love of green space, personal aesthetics, environmentalism, etc.), we prioritized and came up with a living situation that works out fine for us. I'm sure you'll find your own balance, too.

Welcome to DC!

[Anonymous]

PP, that was a very nice response to a question with a lot of attitude. My hat's off to you.

[Anonymous]

I live in Downtown Silver Spring. We have one car and walk almost everywhere. We are near groceries, services, movies, stories, etc. Like others have said previously, I don't get what is so much more pokey about my lifestyle...I get more exercise now than I did when I lived in Woodley Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Downtown Silver Spring. We have one car and walk almost everywhere. We are near groceries, services, movies, stories, etc. Like others have said previously, I don't get what is so much more pokey about my lifestyle...I get more exercise now than I did when I lived in Woodley Park.

I think something like downtown Silver Spring is actually what the OP is looking for. As I read her post, she wants a more urban type of setting but with good schools, walkability, and Metro close by. She doesn't want to feel isolated as a SAHM and doesn't want to rely on her car. I can't help, though, as we live in Takoma Park and OP's husband thinks it's too crime-ridden. It used to be, I agree, but it isn't any longer (though there's more crime in November and December, certainly). If you live in the right part of Takoma Park you can easily and safely walk home from Metro late at night with no problem now. My close neighbors all bike to work or walk to Metro and we all have just one car. We used to live in Cleveland Park and Takoma Park is a good compromise with kids. We felt it was much less suburban than AU Park, for example. Good luck, OP. Remember to factor in commute when considering some of the options mentioned here.

[Anonymous]

OP. We stayed in Friendship Heights, and walked everywhere, or took Metro. Everything was close, and easily accessible. Perhaps that's a perception. Bethesda is only a stop further. We live in the suburbs now, and find them (in our city) without an edge. That perception may be what I'm erroneously projecting on DC suburbs. We only had a few hours to drive around, and I obviously did not look at the right part of Kensington -- the area we looked at was all postwar houses that looked too small for us and tear-downs that were too expensive for us. I don't think we looked at the right parts of Bethesda either -- we saw Sumner, Glen Echo Heights, I think, as well as the areas of MoCo right over the border we definitely can't afford (CC, Somerset, Westmoreland Hills-- reading names off my map).

I'm also comparing what we have now (rennovated 1920s brick colonial with large yard, safe area, walk to commuter train) vs what we'll get in DC for the same money: something small, old kitchen, skimpy lot or in MD a postwar split-level on a nicer lot, but with a longer commute, or no walk to metro. AU Park looks like our neighborhood, only with smaller houses and smaller yards, and it seems quite close to metro and downtown is accessible.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine decided to have only one child because of her tiny house in DC. Another friend has 6 kids and lives in Gaithersburg in a larger house. I would choose the big family over the big city any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is it that you like about AU Park and CC, DC that you don't see in all the close-in areas of Bethesda and CC, MD? As someone on the MoCo side of the border, I see absolutely no difference in terms of reliance on cars and "urban" lifestyle and easy access to amenities between these neighborhoods. Oh, except for the fact that we have great schools on this side. I don't understand all the suburb-hating from DC residents who prefer to live in what I'd describe as very suburban areas of Washington - eg upper NW. Perhaps you need to examine why you feel so strongly against the "suburbs."

FWIW, there are loads of neighborhoods within 2 miles of the Bethesda and NIH metros that would fit your criteria (beyond Somerset) and particularly near downtown Bethesda you could do lots without a car (a lot more than you could do in CC, DC for example.) Also take another look at old town Kensington, which has lots of beautiful Victorian style homes, shops and restaurants plus a MARC station.

OP again. Thanks for the suggestions. I am not passing judgment on suburbs or the people who live in them. I don't think I'm suited to them (or at least to ours, MoCo may be entirely different, at least that's my hope). That said, were it not for schools, I would live in DC. I think we could do DC schools, but I don't know that I want to. MoCo would suit my kids K-12, but DC schools may, or may not.

6:02: Could you be more specific about neighborhoods in Bethesda where we should look? I've been looking at houses for sale on the Internet within a couple miles of Bethesda metro (we did not drive in this area), and all seem to be new teardowns (we can't afford) or postwar boxes for lots of money, nothing older and sadly, precious little charm. This is down time in real estate, so I may be getting a skewed impression from the current listings.

7:32: We drove through Brookdale (I think), and the houses looked too small for us, and I don't remember seeing any sidewalks. Any houses we saw that were as large as our current house in close-in MoCo cost twice what we'll sell ours for, so that's really depressing us.

BTW, do you live in Sumner? We liked the looks of it very much--it felt open, not crowded -- much like our current neighborhood except with postwar houses. But I fear living in one of those houses, never seeing my neighbors and spending most of my time in my car.

10:30: It sounds as though we have similar priorities. Would you mind telling me where you ended up? FWIW, we're at the beginning of the process, when we want it all. Compromise is inevitable. Anyone who's ever been married knows that

15:20: Do you have kids in SS schools? I heard they were dicey. We saw a little of SS, but perhaps not the right part. Where would you suggest looking? Is it safer than Takoma Park (DH wants to know!)

15:42: Please, please tell me: What is the "right part" of TP? I'm sure I'd like TP, and as an ex-New Yorker, I don't worry about crime as much as DH does. Why is there more crime in November and December? And what type of crime?

Thanks again for all responses. The process of sorting through the options is very useful.

[Anonymous]

You might try Woodside in Silver Spring which has some lovely 1920's and earlier homes within walking distance to metro, etc. Otherwise you might be interested in parts of Kensington. While some of Kensington has a lot of post-war houses, there are neighborhoods near Old Town Kensington that feature bungalows, Victorians, and older colonials. There isn't a metro stop within walking, but there is MARC Train, buses, grocery stores, post office, etc. As is with much of the DC area, you really need to drill down within some of these areas to find what you are looking for. Also, Capitol View Park near Kensington (technically in SS, but it is really in Kensington) has some fantastic historic houses. Not very pedestrian friendly though. I can't speak to which parts of Takoma Park are better safety-wise than others, but I know several families who live within walking to Metro and haven't had any issues. They live close to Takoma Elementary.