Chevy Chase, DC v. Takoma Park, MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're going to discuss resale value, might want to stick to facts.

CCDC average price per square foot is DOWN 7% YOY.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Upper_Chevy_Chase-Washington/1904/

TKPK MD average price per square foot UP 20% YOY.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Takoma_Park-Maryland/

Reading between the lines, CCDC is a mature market where prices have topped out. TKPK is still a bargain, but has room for growth.

I think the main problem with takoma park is the thing some people like, the tiny old smaller than 1800sqrft homes and not enough new normal sized homes.

I guess it's a matter of personal preference. Personally, I’ve never been keen on the zero-lot-line mini-mansions teardowns going in around CCDC, but they evidently have their fans. Some other noteworthy real estate trends from the past year in the CCDC area:
• According to Fairweather, arts and crafts infill homes are “the new face of Bethesda-Chevy Chase.” In 2012 and 2013, 138 existing homes wore torn down and replaced with arts and crafts style homes in single family neighborhoods close to downtown Bethesda.
• The difference in price for homes within walking distance to downtown Bethesda and homes that require car travel is significant: Homes within walking distance range from $2 million to $5 million. Homes out of range typically fall in the $1.2 to $1.8 million area.
• The teardown trend sweeping Bethesda is good for longtime homeowners making profits off of sale prices. But Fairweather said “we are definitely losing affordable housing.”
http://www.bethesdanow.com/2013/06/07/bethesdas-luxury-housing-boom-only-going-to-continue/

[Anonymous]

The high-school for CCDC is Wilson, and for TKPK MD it’s Blair. Both are decent schools and rated by US News.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia/districts/district-of-columbia-public-schools/wilson-woodrow-high-school-4649

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/districts/montgomery-county-public-schools/montgomery-blair-high-school-9141

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People will say that Takoma Park is as close to downtown as CCDC, but it's not as close to the parts of downtown you are likely to spend time in. It's also a trek to VA, Tysons, and Rockville corridor, which are places you will occasionally need to go. I lived in Silver Spring for a long time and if I could have afforded CCDC, I would have much rather lived there. Yes, downtown Takoma Park is cute. But it's tiny.

I also live in Silver Spring, and while I agree with the overall sentinment (if I could afford the same size home in CCDC I would rather live there,) I think this is off. TP is just as close to downtown via car (30 minutes or so) and metro (maybe even closer), and it's just as much a pain in the ass to get to Tysons Corner from either.

But PP is right that the downtown area of TP - which I think OP is referring to when trying to compare and contrast - is tiny compared to the size of CCDC. And outside the downtown area you're looking at typical pre-war capes and colonials of 1,500-1,800 SF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're going to discuss resale value, might want to stick to facts.

CCDC average price per square foot is DOWN 7% YOY.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Upper_Chevy_Chase-Washington/1904/

TKPK MD average price per square foot UP 20% YOY.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Takoma_Park-Maryland/

Reading between the lines, CCDC is a mature market where prices have topped out. TKPK is still a bargain, but has room for growth.

I think the main problem with takoma park is the thing some people like, the tiny old smaller than 1800sqrft homes and not enough new normal sized homes.

I guess it's a matter of personal preference. Personally, I’ve never been keen on the zero-lot-line mini-mansions teardowns going in around CCDC, but they evidently have their fans. Some other noteworthy real estate trends from the past year in the CCDC area:
• According to Fairweather, arts and crafts infill homes are “the new face of Bethesda-Chevy Chase.” In 2012 and 2013, 138 existing homes wore torn down and replaced with arts and crafts style homes in single family neighborhoods close to downtown Bethesda.
• The difference in price for homes within walking distance to downtown Bethesda and homes that require car travel is significant: Homes within walking distance range from $2 million to $5 million. Homes out of range typically fall in the $1.2 to $1.8 million area.
• The teardown trend sweeping Bethesda is good for longtime homeowners making profits off of sale prices. But Fairweather said “we are definitely losing affordable housing.”
http://www.bethesdanow.com/2013/06/07/bethesdas-luxury-housing-boom-only-going-to-continue/

I think the article talks about Bethesda and CC MD, not CC DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People will say that Takoma Park is as close to downtown as CCDC, but it's not as close to the parts of downtown you are likely to spend time in. It's also a trek to VA, Tysons, and Rockville corridor, which are places you will occasionally need to go. I lived in Silver Spring for a long time and if I could have afforded CCDC, I would have much rather lived there. Yes, downtown Takoma Park is cute. But it's tiny.

I agree. I would much prefer takoma park than cc in term of people/neighborhood (and I can't afford cc anyway), BUT SS/Takoma is far from anything - a longer trek to all the stuff I love doing with my son (zoo, museums, metro center, little eateries we frequent) and a trek to VA, where I work and where most of my friends live. It sucks. The real real draw back of Takoma is that it is on the wrong side of DC.

[Anonymous]

Good point. Yes, TP is close to DC. But not a desirable part of DC. Not a part with a lot of draw. CCDC has a lot right there plus proximity to Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley, Bethesda, and Rock Creek as a great way to get around.

[Anonymous]

Part of Takoma Park is zoned for the TP elementary school and the other parts are zoned for Rolling Crest. It seems like the two schools are worlds apart. Can anyone comment on the differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of Takoma Park is zoned for the TP elementary school and the other parts are zoned for Rolling Crest. It seems like the two schools are worlds apart. Can anyone comment on the differences?

http://www.greatschools.net

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People will say that Takoma Park is as close to downtown as CCDC, but it's not as close to the parts of downtown you are likely to spend time in. It's also a trek to VA, Tysons, and Rockville corridor, which are places you will occasionally need to go. I lived in Silver Spring for a long time and if I could have afforded CCDC, I would have much rather lived there. Yes, downtown Takoma Park is cute. But it's tiny.

I agree. I would much prefer takoma park than cc in term of people/neighborhood (and I can't afford cc anyway), BUT SS/Takoma is far from anything - a longer trek to all the stuff I love doing with my son (zoo, museums, metro center, little eateries we frequent) and a trek to VA, where I work and where most of my friends live. It sucks. The real real draw back of Takoma is that it is on the wrong side of DC.

If Takoma were on the "right side of DC," it would be a paved-over generic close-in suburb like Arlington or Bethesda by now. Thank God it's been allowed to retain a bit of its charm and idiosyncrancy!

[Anonymous]

If you like both of those areas (TP, MD and CCDC), you might want to also have a look at Garrett Park in MD. It has some of the same vibe (cute little restaurant and post office at the MARC station that you can walk to), with good schools and without the CC and TP city taxes that make both of those a bit more expensive than the surrounding areas. Kensington, though, some of it is zoned for a less desirable HS, also has that walkable, village feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would want to live in Takoma, DC or Takoma Park, MD. The people are nicer. The seven years I lived in CC,DC, I didn't meet anyone who was down to earth or nice. It always seemed people were fake and looking for an invite to the summer house.

Not sure about how good the schools are in Takoma DC.

Schools are horrible. Just bought a house in CCDC (leaving Takoma DC) for the schools - and we always were heading across the park for everything because we just like it better over there. Better parks, better food, better coffee, better shopping, etc., etc. Takoma DC is getting nicer in the downtown now - there's gelato, etc. Also, there's more crime in Takoma DC.

My kids go private. I think all DCPS schools are horrible. I like real people so I much prefer EotP any day.

I didn't know that I wasn't a real person based on the the block on which I reside. I think you've just proved pp's point that there are pretentious people everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good point. Yes, TP is close to DC. But not a desirable part of DC. Not a part with a lot of draw. CCDC has a lot right there plus proximity to Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley, Bethesda, and Rock Creek as a great way to get around.

Yes, if you find Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley and Bethesda have a "lot of draw" for you then you will prefer CCDC over TP. I find those areas to be boring, homogenous, and overpriced, and much prefer the sense of community in Petworth, the artistic communities in Mount Ranier, the diversity of Silver Spring, and the intellectualism of College Park. So, for me TP is the better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good point. Yes, TP is close to DC. But not a desirable part of DC. Not a part with a lot of draw. CCDC has a lot right there plus proximity to Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley, Bethesda, and Rock Creek as a great way to get around.

Yes, if you find Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley and Bethesda have a "lot of draw" for you then you will prefer CCDC over TP. I find those areas to be boring, homogenous, and overpriced, and much prefer the sense of community in Petworth, the artistic communities in Mount Ranier, the diversity of Silver Spring, and the intellectualism of College Park. So, for me TP is the better choice.

INTELLECTUALISM of College Park? You sure?

It doesn't have any.

And I went to UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good point. Yes, TP is close to DC. But not a desirable part of DC. Not a part with a lot of draw. CCDC has a lot right there plus proximity to Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley, Bethesda, and Rock Creek as a great way to get around.

Yes, if you find Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley and Bethesda have a "lot of draw" for you then you will prefer CCDC over TP. I find those areas to be boring, homogenous, and overpriced, and much prefer the sense of community in Petworth, the artistic communities in Mount Ranier, the diversity of Silver Spring, and the intellectualism of College Park. So, for me TP is the better choice.

INTELLECTUALISM of College Park? You sure?

It doesn't have any.

And I went to UMD.

Unless you are an undergrad, there is almost zero "community" at Maryland. In my 10+ years attending and working at Maryland, I never met more than a handful of graduate students or professors who actually lived in College Park. I did, however, know two professors in my department who lived in CCDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good point. Yes, TP is close to DC. But not a desirable part of DC. Not a part with a lot of draw. CCDC has a lot right there plus proximity to Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley, Bethesda, and Rock Creek as a great way to get around.

Yes, if you find Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenley and Bethesda have a "lot of draw" for you then you will prefer CCDC over TP. I find those areas to be boring, homogenous, and overpriced, and much prefer the sense of community in Petworth, the artistic communities in Mount Ranier, the diversity of Silver Spring, and the intellectualism of College Park. So, for me TP is the better choice.

INTELLECTUALISM of College Park? You sure?

It doesn't have any.

And I went to UMD.

Unless you are an undergrad, there is almost zero "community" at Maryland. In my 10+ years attending and working at Maryland, I never met more than a handful of graduate students or professors who actually lived in College Park. I did, however, know two professors in my department who lived in CCDC.

While I don't disagree with your general observation about the "intellectualism" (??) of College Park, I know plenty of faculty who live closer east than CC - both in University Park, whatever that part of Silver Spring off Jones Bridge road is, etc And the area around the university is nicer than it once was. But it is still a bit more of a big, state party school with a lot of enginerds than it is crunchy liberal arts college.