Hollywood neighborhood in College Park, MD

[Anonymous]

I thought this Post article was interesting.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/where-we-live-hollywood-pleasing-residents-by-not-living-up-to-its-name/2016/02/03/55fd4d54-79cd-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html

Interesting to me because I'm a senior on Capitol Hill running low on retirement funds. I've thought of selling my $1 million home and buying something for $$300K within a few blocks of the Metrorail station. I'd like to get into DC for doctors and varios events. I've been to the neighborhood many times to go to REI and nearby Greenbelt Park. I still go hiking and not having to maneuver too much to get to the beltway is appealing.

I know it's not a fancy neighborhood but I'm not fancy. Just wonder what others think.

Not a condo person. I know, it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a great idea. We are still 20+ years from retirement but if our kids stay in DC when they grow up, we will probably do something similar. (We also own a house on the Hill that we could never afford if we were buying now.)

[Anonymous]

Cp is the next area where prices are cheap and heading up quickly . The location is so convenient and two metro lines in the future / Big Ten University / ten huge projects going on rt 1 right now . Only 4 houses have been listed in the old town/Calvert hills area in the whole year since nobody is leaving before prices skyrocket. Berwyn/Hollywood is next

[Anonymous]

I think it's a good idea. With the revitalization projects going on in College Park, I do think it'll become a more popular area, and the access to Metro is a big plus.

The one thing you need to be okay with is having college students as neighbors. There are rental homes scattered throughout the area.

[Anonymous]

I have two friends in their 30s, not planning to have kids, who've recently moved there. They say the neighborhood is mostly older people, but with more younger people moving in. I'd definitely think about moving there if I didn't have school aged kids.

[Anonymous]

When people talk about PG shooting up in price or desirability are they predicting that the historical reasons it has been suppressed/not attractive go away or that society evolves to the point that they no longer care and it becomes desirable regardless? I am honestly courious because last I checked it was still high crime, poverty, minority with a perceived dysfunctional government and school system. And while a population boom has pushed lower income white collar workers to look outside the box (or beltway) no one actually thinks that people with many options are going to become..... Enlightened do they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When people talk about PG shooting up in price or desirability are they predicting that the historical reasons it has been suppressed/not attractive go away or that society evolves to the point that they no longer care and it becomes desirable regardless? I am honestly courious because last I checked it was still high crime, poverty, minority with a perceived dysfunctional government and school system. And while a population boom has pushed lower income white collar workers to look outside the box (or beltway) no one actually thinks that people with many options are going to become..... Enlightened do they?

that's what people said about petworth, columbia heights, shaw, ledroit park, etc.

pg isn't as convenient to downtown as those areas, or nearly as walkable, sure. but it has great public transportation options and is a fairly convenient place to live. i lived there for years, but only moved because of a job change.

also, when you say those things about pg, you're ignoring that it's a very large place with a variety of neighborhoods, both good and bad. i mean, would you not live in some parts of DC just because other parts aren't so great? That's essentially what you're saying when you talk about pg with such broad strokes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

that's what people said about petworth, columbia heights, shaw, ledroit park, etc.

pg isn't as convenient to downtown as those areas, or nearly as walkable, sure. but it has great public transportation options and is a fairly convenient place to live. i lived there for years, but only moved because of a job change.

also, when you say those things about pg, you're ignoring that it's a very large place with a variety of neighborhoods, both good and bad. i mean, would you not live in some parts of DC just because other parts aren't so great? That's essentially what you're saying when you talk about pg with such broad strokes.

Exactly! It wasn't too long ago that the "trendy" neighborhoods were mostly high crime no go zones. Also true people don't judge DC (or any other place for that matter) off of a few bad parts of the city and PG is the same way.

I actually live in Hollywood, the neighborhood in College Park being discussed and it is the best kept secret in the area! I'm in a safe, quiet, and VERY diverse (young, old, black, white, Latino, Asian, gay, Muslim, I've seen it all lol) neighborhood that is within walking distance of the Greenbelt Metro station. The location is perfect. I can get to downtown DC in about 25-30 mins on Metro. We also have a MARC station that goes to Camden Yards in Baltimore. 495 and 95 are real close too, so if I need to get to Silver Spring or Tysons..I can usually get there within a reasonable amount of time if traffic isn't too hectic.

There are a ton of amenities including bike trails, shops/restaurants (independent ones and chains), farmer's markets, and parks. There is a lot going on within College Park with all the development along Route 1 including a new high end hotel, possible Art house, Whole Foods, and more housing. The city and the university are pushing hard to make this a great place and I'm glad I moved in when I did.

The best part you can still get a decent house under $300k... for now anyway.

[Anonymous]

How are the schools? We're looking to buy our first home somewhere in between Baltimore and DC to split our commutes. We hope to have kids in the next few years, so elementary schools are particularly important.

[Anonymous]

Bad schools.

We lived in that neighborhood. Lovely place. You can also buy in the neighborhood between Rte 1 and Powder Mill rd/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bad schools.

We lived in that neighborhood. Lovely place. You can also buy in the neighborhood between Rte 1 and Powder Mill rd/

How long ago did you live there? Hollywood elementary is very good, as is Berwyn Heights ES. Schools in Greenbelt are also quite good. We live in Hyattsville do just south of there and we are very happy with our elementary school. I have Bruce's and nephews that went through Hyattsville middle and Eleanor Roosevelt HS and they were/are very happy with those schools. If you don't know what you're talking about, STFU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bad schools.

We lived in that neighborhood. Lovely place. You can also buy in the neighborhood between Rte 1 and Powder Mill rd/

How long ago did you live there? Hollywood elementary is very good, as is Berwyn Heights ES. Schools in Greenbelt are also quite good. We live in Hyattsville do just south of there and we are very happy with our elementary school. I have Bruce's and nephews that went through Hyattsville middle and Eleanor Roosevelt HS and they were/are very happy with those schools. If you don't know what you're talking about, STFU.

*neices and nephews*

[Anonymous]

Resurrecting the thread - anyone there now? Thoughts? Schools?

[Anonymous]

We recently went to 2 open house in a CP neighborhood and both times neighbors were there and I asked questions. One lady homeschooled and another family went private.

While privates are an option for us if we saved on the purchase or a home, we’d prefer public.

Here’s one of the homes we toured; we passed due to the poor construction job in one of the rooms in the basement; picture not shown in the listing.

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Berwyn-Heights/7604-Villanova-Rd-20740/home/11080965?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link

[Anonymous]

I live in Hollywood. I dont have any kids but there are a lot of young families. I hear Hollywood Elementary is good but hear the middle and high school aren't the best. That may change with more young families moving in. College Park Academy just opened and is also an option along with Eleanor Roosevelt high school which is a magnet school and one of the best in the county.

The neighborhood is great. I have lived here for three years now and love it. Great neighborhood, excellent location with Metro and MARC close by. College Park has a lot of new restaurants and shops opening up. Definitely on the rise.