Help with neighborhood search + friendliest communities

[Anonymous]

OP I haven't seen it mentioned so I'll put in a plug for Arlington Forest. Parish is St. Thomas More Cathedral, which is a vibrant community (though we regularly attend St. Agnes which has a good school and other things like an amazing Scout troop). I can run to work on an ambitious day (it's a 10k to downtown), walk to Ballston metro, and there are tons of parks and bike paths around. Plus, Arlington Forest Club, which is a non-snooty swim and tennis club, and Lubber Run Community Center and amphitheater with a free summer concert series. Oh and also, a great community of neighbors who are always there to help each other out, but don't get into your business (and no HOA). They have a bunch of quaint, old fashioned community events throughout the year, too. Seriously - it's the best neighborhood in Arlington IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I haven't seen it mentioned so I'll put in a plug for Arlington Forest. Parish is St. Thomas More Cathedral, which is a vibrant community (though we regularly attend St. Agnes which has a good school and other things like an amazing Scout troop). I can run to work on an ambitious day (it's a 10k to downtown), walk to Ballston metro, and there are tons of parks and bike paths around. Plus, Arlington Forest Club, which is a non-snooty swim and tennis club, and Lubber Run Community Center and amphitheater with a free summer concert series. Oh and also, a great community of neighbors who are always there to help each other out, but don't get into your business (and no HOA). They have a bunch of quaint, old fashioned community events throughout the year, too. Seriously - it's the best neighborhood in Arlington IMO.

Oh and some other things. The houses were all built to be about the same (brick colonials) but people have done really interesting things with them since the 1940s, and it is a really eclectic place now. Also it was one of the first "planned" communities and the streets were made to be wide but also curvy, and that really improves the aesthetic. Read all about it here: http://www.arlingtonforestva.org/

[Anonymous]

OP, have you narrowed down your list?

[Anonymous]

Town of Somerset would be great choice for you except the catholic community part. Although a lot of Somerset kids go to catholic schools. There is a town pool, swim team, tennis courts, town hall that all has a very neighborhood and somewhat country club feeling. Kids playing outside, with each other at pool all summer. Plus walking distance to friendship heights metro and Bethesda. There is nothing really for sale now but listings do pop up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fort Hunt / Alexandria I think is the best place to live in the DMV.

Awful public schools, though. And not exactly a close commute.

[Anonymous]

Kensington near Holy Redeemer fits your bill. You can get a new build in Parkwood for about $1.6M

[Anonymous]

Maybe also think about Capitol Hill -- checks a number of your blocks... St. Peter's is a nice Catholic community -- people really seem to like the school and the community on the Hill is great for kids. Your budget could go far and get a nice home between the parish and Lincoln Park. Shorter (and easier) commute = more time with family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe also think about Capitol Hill -- checks a number of your blocks... St. Peter's is a nice Catholic community -- people really seem to like the school and the community on the Hill is great for kids. Your budget could go far and get a nice home between the parish and Lincoln Park. Shorter (and easier) commute = more time with family.

Huh? The commute to Georgetown would be awful

[Anonymous]

Come on it's not that bad. All relative -- other people are saying Potomac and Fairfax City. Plus you have so many more options from the Hill... heck you can bike there in 20-25 min. Plus other one works downtown. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

In Mclean around Langley High School, lots of kids go to Saint Luke’s and seem to like it. Good community, access to activities, pools, good public schools, fairly easy commute.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Glover Park- very family friendly and a warm, close knit neighborhood feel and you are very close to Georgetown. Everyone walks to school and you really get that small Community feel in the middle of the city. You could also easily get a nice house around $1.5-$2 million now. There are also a bunch of Catholic Churches nearby although the neighborhood is quite diverse overall. A lot of the Catholic families tend to go to Holy Trinity in Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beverley Hills/North Ridge in Alexandria may meet a lot of your criteria as an option to check out. While the Alexandria school district gets a lot of deserved flack on DCUM, people really enjoy the Charles Barrett and George Mason elementary schools (look at private beyond elementary). You see kids playing in the streets all around and lots of block parties and community events. The Blessed Sacrament parish community (there’s another one in Alexandria aside from the MD one you’ve seen recommend here) is pretty vibrant. We see lots of kids from the neighborhood at mass and CCD, and there are many social events. The commute to downtown or Georgetown is well under 30 minutes if you don’t have to leave at the peak of rush hour - if you’re leaving to come home from downtown at exactly 5 pm, it’ll be longer; if you leave at 4:15 and log back on at home, it can be 15-20 minutes depending on where you’re coming from. Lastly, lots of people in the neighborhood go to Army Navy CC, which is really close by.

Not OP, but also looking for a friendly, Catholic, commuteable neighborhood. Thanks for posting!

[Anonymous]

Another CA Bay Area person who has been in DC/MD for ages.

CC - especially CCMD - is the really the answer here, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have all of these things in Tara-Leeway Heights near Westover (N Arlington).

+1 I live in westover and felt like it really meets the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I haven't seen it mentioned so I'll put in a plug for Arlington Forest. Parish is St. Thomas More Cathedral, which is a vibrant community (though we regularly attend St. Agnes which has a good school and other things like an amazing Scout troop). I can run to work on an ambitious day (it's a 10k to downtown), walk to Ballston metro, and there are tons of parks and bike paths around. Plus, Arlington Forest Club, which is a non-snooty swim and tennis club, and Lubber Run Community Center and amphitheater with a free summer concert series. Oh and also, a great community of neighbors who are always there to help each other out, but don't get into your business (and no HOA). They have a bunch of quaint, old fashioned community events throughout the year, too. Seriously - it's the best neighborhood in Arlington IMO.

+1 I think this is a great recommendation