Wow. This is what $1m gets you in AU Park

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spent the afternoon in meetings in AU Park and I fail to see the appeal.

I understand this reaction. The appeal is in the community.

The neighborhood is moderately charming. The lots are small and the houses are not particularly attractive. The plus side is that you're in close proximity to your neighbors, and in some neighborhoods (like AU Park) that breeds familiarity not contempt.
The commercial areas are good enough. Wisconsin lacks the charm of Connecticut, but it has what you need. Development is still way farther behind where I thought it would be by now. Mattress discounters and dry cleaners, seriously? One block from the metro?
The schools are wonderful and well-utilized. This cannot be stated strongly enough.
There are plenty of other amenities, as well: Wilson Aquatic Center. Turtle Park. Proximity to other fun places, like Glen Echo Park. Proximity to other children's parks: Palisades, Beauvoir, Newark St.
The commute is (by DC standards) excellent. Under 20 minutes into town and about 25 minutes from town. During rush hour. Off-peak, about 12 minutes to Dupont Circle.
Oh, yeah, metro. Walkable.

For AU Park, it's the combination of all these things. Some of the neighborhoods nearby are much prettier (Spring Valley, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have better commercial (Bethesda, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have an equally strong school community (CCDC, for one). Some nearby neighborhoods are equally accessible (Woodley or Cleveland Parks, for example). But nowhere else provides this package. That's what you're paying for with AU Park. While the homes, lots and commercial may be underwhelming (as is Turtle Park, frankly, until it gets renovated next year), the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

Myopic. Close-in N. Arlington communities provide that and comfort through high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the school has essentially ZERO attrition at any grade. Despite having a parent body who could and would pull their kids out for private if they weren't completely satisfied.

What is your source on zero attrition, other than anecdotes?

My WB boss moved her very bright 10-year old from Janney to NCS last summer. And no, there is no subsidy. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean they don't exist.

Yet another family abandoned Janney in favor of Basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What shortcomings? Honestly curious.

I have 3 kids at the school and know hundreds of families and don't know anyone who is dissatisfied. Most of us have the resources to go elsewhere but we're completely happy at Janney and very happy to save the money.
I really don't have or ever hear of any complaints despite spending almost every day at the playground, talking to dozens of parents before and after school. You must travel in a high maintenance crowd or are only friends with complainers.
/quote]
Your attitude is the best proof of incredible boosterism of Janney other posters talked about. Yeah, anyone who disagrees with you and your posse must be high maintenance or complainers. You completely discount the possibility that anyone rational can disagree with you. Unattractive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the school has essentially ZERO attrition at any grade. Despite having a parent body who could and would pull their kids out for private if they weren't completely satisfied.

What is your source on zero attrition, other than anecdotes?

My WB boss moved her very bright 10-year old from Janney to NCS last summer. And no, there is no subsidy. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean they don't exist.

Good lord. This is the second time I've seen this child mentioned on DCUM. Please be careful. The attrition rate at Janney is so low that I know exactly whom you are referencing. You will note that this family still has DC in the school so it is not as though their dissatisfaction with Janney is such that they removed themselves entirely from the school.

People did, do and will pull their kids from Janney for a wide variety of reasons. They pull their kids from MoCo schools, FFX schools, and private schools, too. No one school is a perfect fit for every child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What shortcomings? Honestly curious.

I have 3 kids at the school and know hundreds of families and don't know anyone who is dissatisfied. Most of us have the resources to go elsewhere but we're completely happy at Janney and very happy to save the money.
I really don't have or ever hear of any complaints despite spending almost every day at the playground, talking to dozens of parents before and after school. You must travel in a high maintenance crowd or are only friends with complainers.
/quote]
Your attitude is the best proof of incredible boosterism of Janney other posters talked about. Yeah, anyone who disagrees with you and your posse must be high maintenance or complainers. You completely discount the possibility that anyone rational can disagree with you. Unattractive.

NP here. Your unnecessarily provocative statement that Janney was mediocre at best was also fairly unattractive. Good job at stirring the pot for no good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the school has essentially ZERO attrition at any grade. Despite having a parent body who could and would pull their kids out for private if they weren't completely satisfied.

What is your source on zero attrition, other than anecdotes?

My WB boss moved her very bright 10-year old from Janney to NCS last summer. And no, there is no subsidy. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean they don't exist.

Good lord. This is the second time I've seen this child mentioned on DCUM. Please be careful. The attrition rate at Janney is so low that I know exactly whom you are referencing. You will note that this family still has DC in the school so it is not as though their dissatisfaction with Janney is such that they removed themselves entirely from the school.

People did, do and will pull their kids from Janney for a wide variety of reasons. They pull their kids from MoCo schools, FFX schools, and private schools, too. No one school is a perfect fit for every child.

I don't know what you mean. The child I mentioned is an only, there are no siblings. The world is larger than you think.

No one questions attrition exists everywhere. The point is that "everywhere" covers Janney, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What shortcomings? Honestly curious.

I have 3 kids at the school and know hundreds of families and don't know anyone who is dissatisfied. Most of us have the resources to go elsewhere but we're completely happy at Janney and very happy to save the money.
I really don't have or ever hear of any complaints despite spending almost every day at the playground, talking to dozens of parents before and after school. You must travel in a high maintenance crowd or are only friends with complainers.
/quote]
Your attitude is the best proof of incredible boosterism of Janney other posters talked about. Yeah, anyone who disagrees with you and your posse must be high maintenance or complainers. You completely discount the possibility that anyone rational can disagree with you. Unattractive.

NP here. Your unnecessarily provocative statement that Janney was mediocre at best was also fairly unattractive. Good job at stirring the pot for no good reason.

I didn't say it was mediocre at best, that was someone else.

I read the post about high degree of boosterism at Janney, and the lack of acceptance for criticism of that school. Then I read someone's response to that post insinuating that anyone who doesn't like Janney is either high-maintenance or a complainer, and thought that this post proves the first one very nicely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the school has essentially ZERO attrition at any grade. Despite having a parent body who could and would pull their kids out for private if they weren't completely satisfied.

What is your source on zero attrition, other than anecdotes?

My WB boss moved her very bright 10-year old from Janney to NCS last summer. And no, there is no subsidy. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean they don't exist.

Good lord. This is the second time I've seen this child mentioned on DCUM. Please be careful. The attrition rate at Janney is so low that I know exactly whom you are referencing. You will note that this family still has DC in the school so it is not as though their dissatisfaction with Janney is such that they removed themselves entirely from the school.

People did, do and will pull their kids from Janney for a wide variety of reasons. They pull their kids from MoCo schools, FFX schools, and private schools, too. No one school is a perfect fit for every child.

I don't know what you mean. The child I mentioned is an only, there are no siblings. The world is larger than you think.

No one questions attrition exists everywhere. The point is that "everywhere" covers Janney, too.

Good try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spent the afternoon in meetings in AU Park and I fail to see the appeal.

I understand this reaction. The appeal is in the community.

The neighborhood is moderately charming. The lots are small and the houses are not particularly attractive. The plus side is that you're in close proximity to your neighbors, and in some neighborhoods (like AU Park) that breeds familiarity not contempt.
The commercial areas are good enough. Wisconsin lacks the charm of Connecticut, but it has what you need. Development is still way farther behind where I thought it would be by now. Mattress discounters and dry cleaners, seriously? One block from the metro?
The schools are wonderful and well-utilized. This cannot be stated strongly enough.
There are plenty of other amenities, as well: Wilson Aquatic Center. Turtle Park. Proximity to other fun places, like Glen Echo Park. Proximity to other children's parks: Palisades, Beauvoir, Newark St.
The commute is (by DC standards) excellent. Under 20 minutes into town and about 25 minutes from town. During rush hour. Off-peak, about 12 minutes to Dupont Circle.
Oh, yeah, metro. Walkable.

For AU Park, it's the combination of all these things. Some of the neighborhoods nearby are much prettier (Spring Valley, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have better commercial (Bethesda, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have an equally strong school community (CCDC, for one). Some nearby neighborhoods are equally accessible (Woodley or Cleveland Parks, for example). But nowhere else provides this package. That's what you're paying for with AU Park. While the homes, lots and commercial may be underwhelming (as is Turtle Park, frankly, until it gets renovated next year), the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

This is not accurate. You're forgetting about the western slice of east of Wisconsin, north of ~ Harrison and west of ~ 38 st NW. South of Western.

It is often erroneously called "Friendship Heights," but of course, FH is actually a village in Maryland with its own mayor, etc

This area of CCDC has everything you list PLUS another whole foods, every single store along Wisconsin, it's own DPR park, and either Janney or Murch, then Deal. A movie theater. Multiple gyms. Little shops AND big box stores when you need 'em. All accessible on foot in < 10 minutes.

Actually, in my direct experience living in both this area and AU park, I will admit that the western part of CCDC it's not as cohesive a feel as the "we all attend DCPS and have community yard sales" as AU Park. It's also not as cohesive a feel as the part of CCDC east of Connecticut. More kids here attend private schools than the other two listed areas, as demonstrated by US census Community Survey data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the school has essentially ZERO attrition at any grade. Despite having a parent body who could and would pull their kids out for private if they weren't completely satisfied.

What is your source on zero attrition, other than anecdotes?

My WB boss moved her very bright 10-year old from Janney to NCS last summer. And no, there is no subsidy. Just because you don't know these people doesn't mean they don't exist.

Yet another family abandoned Janney in favor of Basis.

Several years ago there were a number of kids who left Janney for Washington Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 rule in real estate = location. yep, that's why we're staying in our dinky $1M house in AU Park when something in N Potomac or somewhere else suburbia would be lots bigger and nicer. Love, love, love being able to WALK to multiple metros, parks, restaurants, CVS, Whole Foods, library, shopping, etc. Location!

Indeed - we can do the same in Alexandria, with a lot more charm, better commute, and probably better restaurants.

Better commute? Not sure how that's possible, unless you can get to downtown DC during rush hour in under 15 minutes.

What is your route? I live in AU Park and there's no way I can get downtown in 15 minutes. Maybe to the west end if traffic is pretty light, but downtown, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 rule in real estate = location. yep, that's why we're staying in our dinky $1M house in AU Park when something in N Potomac or somewhere else suburbia would be lots bigger and nicer. Love, love, love being able to WALK to multiple metros, parks, restaurants, CVS, Whole Foods, library, shopping, etc. Location!

Indeed - we can do the same in Alexandria, with a lot more charm, better commute, and probably better restaurants.

Better commute? Not sure how that's possible, unless you can get to downtown DC during rush hour in under 15 minutes.

What is your route? I live in AU Park and there's no way I can get downtown in 15 minutes. Maybe to the west end if traffic is pretty light, but downtown, no.

I'm not the pp but straight down mass ave to DuPont is my route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 rule in real estate = location. yep, that's why we're staying in our dinky $1M house in AU Park when something in N Potomac or somewhere else suburbia would be lots bigger and nicer. Love, love, love being able to WALK to multiple metros, parks, restaurants, CVS, Whole Foods, library, shopping, etc. Location!

What MULTIPLE metros, restaurantS and Whole Foods are you walking to from AU? How long IS that walk? Aren't you exaggerating a little?

That's why we chose Clarendon over AU park. Those things are just 1-2 blocks and 50restaurants/Metro,closer to downtown too. I did not find AU park to be as urban and I liked the public schools better over here.

I do think AU park is prettier though. I love driving through there.

How can you compare a condo in clarendon to a house in DC?

I don't. I have a house. What are you talking about? Lyon Village is a SFH neighborhood in Clarendon. Adjacent to Clarendon Metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spent the afternoon in meetings in AU Park and I fail to see the appeal.

I understand this reaction. The appeal is in the community.

The neighborhood is moderately charming. The lots are small and the houses are not particularly attractive. The plus side is that you're in close proximity to your neighbors, and in some neighborhoods (like AU Park) that breeds familiarity not contempt.
The commercial areas are good enough. Wisconsin lacks the charm of Connecticut, but it has what you need. Development is still way farther behind where I thought it would be by now. Mattress discounters and dry cleaners, seriously? One block from the metro?
The schools are wonderful and well-utilized. This cannot be stated strongly enough.
There are plenty of other amenities, as well: Wilson Aquatic Center. Turtle Park. Proximity to other fun places, like Glen Echo Park. Proximity to other children's parks: Palisades, Beauvoir, Newark St.
The commute is (by DC standards) excellent. Under 20 minutes into town and about 25 minutes from town. During rush hour. Off-peak, about 12 minutes to Dupont Circle.
Oh, yeah, metro. Walkable.

For AU Park, it's the combination of all these things. Some of the neighborhoods nearby are much prettier (Spring Valley, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have better commercial (Bethesda, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have an equally strong school community (CCDC, for one). Some nearby neighborhoods are equally accessible (Woodley or Cleveland Parks, for example). But nowhere else provides this package. That's what you're paying for with AU Park. While the homes, lots and commercial may be underwhelming (as is Turtle Park, frankly, until it gets renovated next year), the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

This is not accurate. You're forgetting about the western slice of east of Wisconsin, north of ~ Harrison and west of ~ 38 st NW. South of Western.

It is often erroneously called "Friendship Heights," but of course, FH is actually a village in Maryland with its own mayor, etc

This area of CCDC has everything you list PLUS another whole foods, every single store along Wisconsin, it's own DPR park, and either Janney or Murch, then Deal. A movie theater. Multiple gyms. Little shops AND big box stores when you need 'em. All accessible on foot in < 10 minutes.

Actually, in my direct experience living in both this area and AU park, I will admit that the western part of CCDC it's not as cohesive a feel as the "we all attend DCPS and have community yard sales" as AU Park. It's also not as cohesive a feel as the part of CCDC east of Connecticut. More kids here attend private schools than the other two listed areas, as demonstrated by US census Community Survey data.

I live in this neck of the woods and my kids attend Janney. I much prefer living here to AU Park as it has walking access to both Friendship Heights and Connecticut Ave. shops. Plus I get all that Tenleytown has to offer 5x a week at drop off and pick up. I agree, however, that it is not as cohesive a neighborhood as AU Park. Our block has a great annual block party and is extremely neighborly but the kids do go to a variety of private, catholic and public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just spent the afternoon in meetings in AU Park and I fail to see the appeal.

I understand this reaction. The appeal is in the community.

The neighborhood is moderately charming. The lots are small and the houses are not particularly attractive. The plus side is that you're in close proximity to your neighbors, and in some neighborhoods (like AU Park) that breeds familiarity not contempt.
The commercial areas are good enough. Wisconsin lacks the charm of Connecticut, but it has what you need. Development is still way farther behind where I thought it would be by now. Mattress discounters and dry cleaners, seriously? One block from the metro?
The schools are wonderful and well-utilized. This cannot be stated strongly enough.
There are plenty of other amenities, as well: Wilson Aquatic Center. Turtle Park. Proximity to other fun places, like Glen Echo Park. Proximity to other children's parks: Palisades, Beauvoir, Newark St.
The commute is (by DC standards) excellent. Under 20 minutes into town and about 25 minutes from town. During rush hour. Off-peak, about 12 minutes to Dupont Circle.
Oh, yeah, metro. Walkable.

For AU Park, it's the combination of all these things. Some of the neighborhoods nearby are much prettier (Spring Valley, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have better commercial (Bethesda, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have an equally strong school community (CCDC, for one). Some nearby neighborhoods are equally accessible (Woodley or Cleveland Parks, for example). But nowhere else provides this package. That's what you're paying for with AU Park. While the homes, lots and commercial may be underwhelming (as is Turtle Park, frankly, until it gets renovated next year), the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

This is not accurate. You're forgetting about the western slice of east of Wisconsin, north of ~ Harrison and west of ~ 38 st NW. South of Western.

It is often erroneously called "Friendship Heights," but of course, FH is actually a village in Maryland with its own mayor, etc

This area of CCDC has everything you list PLUS another whole foods, every single store along Wisconsin, it's own DPR park, and either Janney or Murch, then Deal. A movie theater. Multiple gyms. Little shops AND big box stores when you need 'em. All accessible on foot in < 10 minutes.

Actually, in my direct experience living in both this area and AU park, I will admit that the western part of CCDC it's not as cohesive a feel as the "we all attend DCPS and have community yard sales" as AU Park. It's also not as cohesive a feel as the part of CCDC east of Connecticut. More kids here attend private schools than the other two listed areas, as demonstrated by US census Community Survey data.

I live in this neck of the woods and my kids attend Janney. I much prefer living here to AU Park as it has walking access to both Friendship Heights and Connecticut Ave. shops. Plus I get all that Tenleytown has to offer 5x a week at drop off and pick up. I agree, however, that it is not as cohesive a neighborhood as AU Park. Our block has a great annual block party and is extremely neighborly but the kids do go to a variety of private, catholic and public schools.

Also live in this area and totally agree with PPs. Nearly everything you need in walking distance-- much better than Tenleytown.