What is the value added proposition for living in the District?

[Anonymous]

The WP did a story on gentrification this week -- the population of DC is changing.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in Old Town and now NW. Everyplace has pros and cons! There isn't any place on earth that is perfect, IMHO. I don't understand how people can passionately say someplace sucks or rocks. Nothing in life is black and white. But enjoy your pointless discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you OP. But it depends on where in the District you live. If you are on the West side of RCPW, and you have kids, it's a wonderful combination of good schools, family friendly neighborhoods, relatively short commute, and good restaurants, wonderful museums and culture just steps away. If you live on the East side of RCPW, then it's really another story. Although the museums, culture and restaurants are equally accessible, and the commute is great, these neighborhoods are not family friendly and the schools are not good, and as someone wiht kids, I often feel I am short-changing my kids and family. There is not a whole lot of value added when what we most value is our children and our children cannot even go to the local playground because it's sketchy..... or attend the local school because it's well.... yes, sketchy. When I was single or just married, but no kids, it didn't matter. Back then, I didn't even know where the playgrounds or schools were, but with kids, your values and focus changes, obviously. And now I value being able to walk to a world class playground, have my kids attend a great local public school, that would make our lives so much better. I will say that I am not willing to go back to wasting my life away commuting 1-2 hrs/day, SO where can you move close-in Virginia or Maryland, or family friendly neighborhood in DC for approx $2,600/month mortgage/rent?

"world class playground?" When did the rankings come out?

Do you have any idea how ridiculous this makes you sound?

Almost as dumb as the incredibly outdated viewpoint that the West side of "RCPW" is some sort of magical fairy-land, and the "East side of RCPW" is some sort of dystopic Hellscape. That's frankly idiotic, if nothing else than because it ignores the existence of Capitol Hill.

Seriously. PP needs to see the recently released census figures. Gentrification has come a long way since many of our fellow DCUMs last ventured east of the park (or anywhere else they can't easily park their SUVs/ minivans) for anything other than their downtown offices. Eastern Market probably is on their radars, though, since it was gentrified in an earlier wave.

PP again. Actually, make that simply "anywhere else they can't easily park" to include the less offensive but still suburban AU Park Prius brigade.

[Anonymous]

OP are you for real? Why live in this area if you're not living in DC? Save your money and move to Iowa. As for your crazy premise that I need to "know people" in Potomac and McLean? Gross -- just a bunch of law firm partners and SAHMs...no diversity except for rich Indian doctors.

In your zeal to refute the ridiculous OP, you unnecessarily shat all over a huge swath of the population that -- brace yourself -- lives all over Ward 2, too. What is your awesome job that none of us could dream of matching? Planned Parenthood political coordinator? Oceana researcher? junior pollster? committee lackey?

Love, one of the many SAHMs in Glover Park

[Anonymous]

WTF pp? Nuts much?

[Anonymous]

- Because I bought my house in lovely NW for a fraction of what it's now worth
- Because I have a 10 minute commute
- Because we have a wonderful and diverse group of friends and family who all live in DC
- Because I don't want to live anywhere near OP

[Anonymous]

funny pp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you OP. But it depends on where in the District you live. If you are on the West side of RCPW, and you have kids, it's a wonderful combination of good schools, family friendly neighborhoods, relatively short commute, and good restaurants, wonderful museums and culture just steps away. If you live on the East side of RCPW, then it's really another story. Although the museums, culture and restaurants are equally accessible, and the commute is great, these neighborhoods are not family friendly and the schools are not good, and as someone wiht kids, I often feel I am short-changing my kids and family. There is not a whole lot of value added when what we most value is our children and our children cannot even go to the local playground because it's sketchy..... or attend the local school because it's well.... yes, sketchy. When I was single or just married, but no kids, it didn't matter. Back then, I didn't even know where the playgrounds or schools were, but with kids, your values and focus changes, obviously. And now I value being able to walk to a world class playground, have my kids attend a great local public school, that would make our lives so much better. I will say that I am not willing to go back to wasting my life away commuting 1-2 hrs/day, SO where can you move close-in Virginia or Maryland, or family friendly neighborhood in DC for approx $2,600/month mortgage/rent?

Have you ever been to Capitol Hill? Awesome family-friendly neighborhood. Seriously it amazes my friends and relatives from other parts of the country how amazingly family-friendly it is. The schools are quite good -- some of them quite solid and some up-and-coming. Yes, middle school and high school are still issues, but frankly I wouldn't feel super confident in any public middle school (don't argue with me on this, it's just how I feel). Can walk to about 100 restaurants, groceries, shops, friends houses, awesome parks (yes, it's true that 20 years ago there was drug paraphernalia in those same parks -- 20 years ago). I love love love my kids' DCPS, their teachers are incredible, I love going to the Safeway and running into 5 people I know (though my husband always wonders why it takes me 45 minutes to pop over to the Safeway). LOVE Capitol Hill!!!

OP, to answer your question, value is different for each person. My husband and I truly would only move to the suburbs for very specific reasons, none of which have been compelling enough to make us move. I would live in McLean only if someone gave me a free mansion and the requirement was that I had to live there to get it. Even then I'm honestly not sure I would. Same thing with Potomac, Great Falls, etc. Would probably be willing to live in close-in suburbs, but wouldn't really choose it.

OP, glad you're happy with your neighborhood. I'm happy with mine.

[Anonymous]

I like the city. I like the feeling of being somewhere with a sense of place, somewhere with gravitas and history. I love the architecture and the old trees. I love the funkiness of some of the neighborhoods, and the staidness of other neighborhoods. Much of the suburbs feel like soulless big box hellscapes to me.

To each their own.

[Anonymous]

23:47 here. I didn't realize I would cause such a stir with my post especially using the words "world class playground", so yes, I agree that was really over the top probobly because this topic hits a nerve with me. Anyone who has raised kids East of RCP (and no I am not on the Hill) knows full well there are not many family friendly playgrounds, if any. That is a fact. We always have to drive to playgrounds outside of our neighborhood. I never accused anyone else of short changing their children. And yes, those words "short changed" were also over the top. I know it's not uptopia West of RCP, but you cannot deny the schools are good. Again, this is a personal preference, having grown up in a not too far out suburb, I walked to elementary school and middle school with my neighborhood classmates, and remember how fun that was. During the summers, in middle school and high school, we would round everyone up and walk to the pool or if it was too hot, to the movies then ice cream. There was no such thing as a planned "playdate" then. Driving the kids to playdates is another topic you don't even want me to begin. I just want my kids to experience that nighborhood feel where there are lots of kids around, all going to the local public school (not a world class school, but a good school). This is the day-to-day experience that I know my kids are missing out on. I am not saying that my nighborhood is not safe, it's just not family friendly. I KNOW many of you East of RCP do seem to have that, but don't forget that DC is still very different block by block. My block still has regular drunks on the corner, and the occasional drug dealer. Yes, I know DC is improving every day and every year, but by that time, it will be time for my kids to head off to college. We are still here for many reasons- we left the suburbs because I too was sick of sitting on a bridge for 1 hour to get to work in DC, and wanted to live nearby all the great museums, arts and cultural entertainment and all the best that DC has to offer. I am not interested in sitting at Appelbee's or Tyson's for that matter with my kids on Friday night. We would much rather be dancing to jazz music and dipping our feet in the fountain at the Sculpture Garden. But who says you have to live in DC to enjoy that? Don't flame me. Maybe I am being nostalgic. I know there is no perfect neighborhood, and but for me, in this stage of mommy life with school age kids, this does not even come close. We will get that family friendly nighborhood even if it means we move to a 2 bedroom + den condo in Clarendon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:47 here. I didn't realize I would cause such a stir with my post especially using the words "world class playground", so yes, I agree that was really over the top probobly because this topic hits a nerve with me. Anyone who has raised kids East of RCP (and no I am not on the Hill) knows full well there are not many family friendly playgrounds, if any. That is a fact. We always have to drive to playgrounds outside of our neighborhood. I never accused anyone else of short changing their children. And yes, those words "short changed" were also over the top. I know it's not uptopia West of RCP, but you cannot deny the schools are good. Again, this is a personal preference, having grown up in a not too far out suburb, I walked to elementary school and middle school with my neighborhood classmates, and remember how fun that was. During the summers, in middle school and high school, we would round everyone up and walk to the pool or if it was too hot, to the movies then ice cream. There was no such thing as a planned "playdate" then. Driving the kids to playdates is another topic you don't even want me to begin. I just want my kids to experience that nighborhood feel where there are lots of kids around, all going to the local public school (not a world class school, but a good school). This is the day-to-day experience that I know my kids are missing out on. I am not saying that my nighborhood is not safe, it's just not family friendly. I KNOW many of you East of RCP do seem to have that, but don't forget that DC is still very different block by block. My block still has regular drunks on the corner, and the occasional drug dealer. Yes, I know DC is improving every day and every year, but by that time, it will be time for my kids to head off to college. We are still here for many reasons- we left the suburbs because I too was sick of sitting on a bridge for 1 hour to get to work in DC, and wanted to live nearby all the great museums, arts and cultural entertainment and all the best that DC has to offer. I am not interested in sitting at Appelbee's or Tyson's for that matter with my kids on Friday night. We would much rather be dancing to jazz music and dipping our feet in the fountain at the Sculpture Garden. But who says you have to live in DC to enjoy that? Don't flame me. Maybe I am being nostalgic. I know there is no perfect neighborhood, and but for me, in this stage of mommy life with school age kids, this does not even come close. We will get that family friendly nighborhood even if it means we move to a 2 bedroom + den condo in Clarendon.

Clearly, you're not familiar with Walter Pierce Park, Kalorama Park, or Stead Park. WTF? And where do you live that you have to DRIVE?

[Anonymous]

Every park on Cap Hill is safe. I have taken my kids to all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has raised kids East of RCP (and no I am not on the Hill) knows full well there are not many family friendly playgrounds, if any.

Cap Hill resident here. You're still clueless.

[Anonymous]

Agree pp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:--Short commute so more time with family
--Walkable to shops, restaurants, amenities, parks, etc.
--Great neighbors from all different backgrounds
--Easy access to museums, sporting events, culture, music, history, etc.
--Character
--Most of our friends live within a 10-minute walk

I lived in NW (Dupont, then moved to the "burbs" of Cleveland Park and Woodley Park) for fifteen years. I was like many on this board, who looked down on people who lived in Maryland or Virginia, much less *gasp* outside the beltway. Then I moved to close-in Virginia, and realized what a fool I'd been -- I have an as short, if not shorter, commute, all of the amenities listed above (I live about the same distance from the metro as I did in DC), and do not have to pay extra taxes to a ridiculously corrupt, inept city government (just a mildly stupid city government). The little secret is that the commute from NW DC is not that great, unless you live in Woodley or Cleveland Park right near Connecticut and work around Farrugut North (which I did, at one time), and that's on a good day. When I worked near Capitol Hill, the commute was a nightmare of gridlock (and the traffic is worse now than when I was doing it). If I took the Metro, I had to change trains, so it wasn't any faster. One immutable law of Washington is that everyone lies about the length of their commute, and that includes folks (outside of the category listed above) who say their commute from NW is "20 minutes." Yeah, it is -- at midnight.

I so agree with this - re: length of the commute. I lived in DC for five years and it ALWAYS took me at least 30-40 minutes to get home, whether I caught the metro or drove. And this was with me living and working in NW DC. Now, I live in the burbs of Maryland and it takes me an hour and 10 min. to get to work usually. I do hate driving but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new neighborhood, my beautiful corner lot, that there is parking readily available whenever I go the store and and the fact that my child will be going to school in a school district that is ranked as the second best district in Montgomery County. When I was single I could have lived in DC forever though - it is perfect if your only obligation is yourself.