Why is Takoma Park so affordable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools suck, and look at what surrounds it. TP is as good as it gets for a few miles in any direction (go in any direction, and it's not very nice). Several miles in some directions.

Said someone who has apparently never been there or "miles" close to TP.

Born/raised in TP and later SS. Parents born/raised Adelphi/TP.

Sarah G, is that you?

[Anonymous]

Dirty hippie libs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Op here. silver springs schools looked kinda iffy unelss they are zoned to montgomery blair, so beasically close to tp. I just assumed silver sprinsg was cheap because ofthe schools, but couldn't figure out tp.

"Silver Spring schools" is a misnomer. You need to look closely at the address and which schools it feeds into. There is a school finder option on MCPS website. Plug in the address and it tells you what the schools are.

We live in SS and are very happy with our school (Sligo Creek Elementary). Bought our renovated SFH for just over $500k two years ago. We love it. I don't think it's true that SS schools are all "iffy." Talk to some of the neighbors, read some stats, go to the open houses. There are quite a few elementary schools that are good.

[Anonymous]

OP - you might be interested in this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/281394.page


I truly do not understand the Takoma Park bashing that goes on here. We all understand that Takoma Park is a unique community and maybe, it doesn't suit everyone's tastes. If you don't like it, don't live here. Fine, no problem. The vast majority of people that live in Takoma Park are happy with the schools and love the community.

And yes, property values, especially in those areas walkable to the Metro and downtown TP are going to rise. Busboys and Poets is coming as it the newest restaurant in the Black's empire. And I hear rumblings of other good restaurants on the way. Clearly - business owners see TP as a good investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As "outsiders" who recently moved from San Francisco Bay Area to DC, we've also been thinking that TKPK is an amazing treasure - and wondering why everyone isn't flocking there. But the "crunchy" thing definitely appeals to us. The great schools ratings are high (esp. compared to DC schools!). I've been wondering if it's because DC metro area is generally more socially conservative (even if not politically conservative) than SF, so the TKPK vibe and community isn't as popular here as it would be in the SF Bay Area? Just pure speculation on my part ... thoughts?

I think it's more a combination of location and school quality. If you work downtown and take the red line, the commute is OK, but a driving commute to Bethesda or Virginia is awful from TP. I like the downtown area, but it's small and when you want to go elsewhere there aren't a lot of good routes.

Driving to Bethesda is fine. VA stinks.

[Anonymous]

I think it's more a combination of location and school quality. If you work downtown and take the red line, the commute is OK, but a driving commute to Bethesda or Virginia is awful from TP. I like the downtown area, but it's small and when you want to go elsewhere there aren't a lot of good routes.

OP here. Now this makes sense as it is the reason we are shying away from Takoma/east SS. VA commute.