Thoughts on Petworth for a young family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tons of young families are moving into our safe and quiet EOTP neighborhood, and now send their kids to our IB, Shepherd. In fact, there was a double-digit waitlist of IB kids for the two PK3 classes this year. IB and OOB families (including many from Petworth) seem to coexist peacefully; there's not a big divide like there seems to be at some other schools. There's a great community feel overall within the school.

The schools and neighborhoods are not all the Wild West EOTP.

No one denies that there are waitlists for most of the NW schools EOTP for the preK programs. There are, however, no waitlists for K and beyond. Because everyone leaves then. Several years of heavy waitlists at all these schools in PK have not translated in any interest in staying for K in any of these schools. Sorry that you are still in the "my kids are 1 and 3 and i totally plan to stay here forever, even if i don't get into a charter school" phase.

You're years out of date. Did you move to VA or WOTP 5 years ago?

Everyone doesn't leave for K and up. Not even all the higher SES parents, which is who I assume you are talking about. Did you miss the folks chiming in with kids in elementary grades? Get with the times.

Actually, I just left 3 months ago (for another region in the country). Of my DS's preschool class of 18 kids, exactly no one got a school through the lottery that they wanted to go to, and exactly no one stayed for their in bounds school. Everyone moved to the burbs or went private or left the region entirely. Eighteen kids. Who were all the kinds of families who loved being in the city, and would have stayed if they could have. Granted, this preschool was not in bounds for shepherd. Maybe that school is the exception. I'm not that familiar with it.

That seems like an unlikely story. Usually the preschool classes in neighborhoods like Petworth, despite all the gentrification, still have a lot of kids whose parents aren't in a position to move to seek out better schools or go private. So ALL 18 kids trying to lottery out and then bailing seems like an unrealistic scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're in the market for a 3 bedroom place. We have a 1 year old. School location isn't a consideration for us right now. We'd really love a place with some outdoor space, and saw that Petworth seemed to have some nice renovated rowhouses, some of which even have finished basements on top of 3 bedrooms. What are your thoughts on Petworth as a family-friendly neighborhood? It seems like a lot of young families have moved there recently. Our budget is $750k, which I know limits our options, but it did seem like there were a few places in Petworth at the top of our budget.

Our family has lived in Petworth (20011) for five years and we love it. The homes are decent size for the price, and there are regularly good homes within your stated budget. There are several parks, playgrounds, and restaurants within easy walking or driving distance (Hamilton is a favorite for the kids, and I like jogging in Rock Creek Cemetery. Tons and tons of families, diverse but also visibly and rapidly gentrifying. Neighbors have been friendly with very few exceptions.

Some people have mentioned metro access. Like much of 20011, we live within a mile of two metro stations - Petworth and Ft Totten. I frequently walk to the metro (which is on the route I take to drop the kids off at school and daycare) and it takes 15-20 min. Walking may not be your thing - don't overlook the metro bus lines. Multiple bus lines run up New Hampshire, Georgia, Kansas, etc., and can quickly take you to the metro rail station or straight downtown. Figure them into your planning as you try to gauge commute.

Good luck with your search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a fan of Petworth 20010 because you're super close to a huge public housing project at Mcmillans Reservoir or you're right on Georgia Ave which has its own major thoroughfare issues - crime, litter, drugs etc.

I'd go with north of Georgia-Ave/Petworth metro station at 20011. You can also get a lot more for your money in 20011.

200010

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/438-Manor-Pl-NW-Washington-DC-20010/478435_zpid/

200011

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/609-Farragut-St-NW-Washington-DC-20011/484233_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5003-5th-St-NW-Washington-DC-20011/485692_zpid/

This listing says it's less than 1000 sq ft, but that's incorrect. It must leave out the basement. The square footage of the surrounding homes are much higher.

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/458-Delafield-Pl-NW-20011/home/10060485

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone live in petworth who can afford better parts of the city? I always assumed people moved there because they couldn’t afford H street, CH or Shaw.

These are not "better" parts of the city than Petworth. None of them are more family friendly or have better schools. CH and Shaw have more crime. While you may be able to afford a place in those neighborhoods, your money will go farther in Petworth. Petworth is centrally located enough that being an extra mile closer to downtown isn't going to make a huge difference to many people.

[Anonymous]

Petworth parent of a 1 year old. We lived here for 7 years, and are surprised we love it here even more with a baby. All the restaurants are kid friendly. There are 4 playgrounds within a 5 minute walk from where we live. We walk to the library, which always has good programming for adults (yoga, meditation) and kids (storytime). We plan on lottery or in-bound school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Petworth parent of a 1 year old. We lived here for 7 years, and are surprised we love it here even more with a baby. All the restaurants are kid friendly. There are 4 playgrounds within a 5 minute walk from where we live. We walk to the library, which always has good programming for adults (yoga, meditation) and kids (storytime). We plan on lottery or in-bound school.

What's your IB school?

[Anonymous]

Here's a glimpse of what happens after school near that listing in Petworth (8th/Delafield): http://homicidewatch.org/2013/04/10/raymond-roseboro-gets-40-years-in-prince-okorie-murder-maintains-innocence/.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone live in petworth who can afford better parts of the city? I always assumed people moved there because they couldn’t afford H street, CH or Shaw.

These are not "better" parts of the city than Petworth. None of them are more family friendly or have better schools. CH and Shaw have more crime. While you may be able to afford a place in those neighborhoods, your money will go farther in Petworth. Petworth is centrally located enough that being an extra mile closer to downtown isn't going to make a huge difference to many people.

You can't be serious. I can 9 off the top of my head. Logan Circle, City Center, Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Mt Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Potomac, Crestwood, U Street, Downtown. Not to mention all of Upper NW. Wow delusional is the name of the game with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a glimpse of what happens after school near that listing in Petworth (8th/Delafield): http://homicidewatch.org/2013/04/10/raymond-roseboro-gets-40-years-in-prince-okorie-murder-maintains-innocence/.

Oh come on. Let's look at actual data, rather than fear-mongering. Over the past year, the 4th police district (which includes Petworth) had 540 violent crimes, which included 3 homicides. It had 4126 crime incidents overall. Compare that to the 2nd police district (which includes much of upper NW): 3 homicides, 311 violent crime incidents, and 5242 crime incidents overall. Conclusion? There are more violent crimes in Petworth and the surrounding areas, but no more murders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone live in petworth who can afford better parts of the city? I always assumed people moved there because they couldn’t afford H street, CH or Shaw.

These are not "better" parts of the city than Petworth. None of them are more family friendly or have better schools. CH and Shaw have more crime. While you may be able to afford a place in those neighborhoods, your money will go farther in Petworth. Petworth is centrally located enough that being an extra mile closer to downtown isn't going to make a huge difference to many people.

You can't be serious. I can 9 off the top of my head. Logan Circle, City Center, Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Mt Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Potomac, Crestwood, U Street, Downtown. Not to mention all of Upper NW. Wow delusional is the name of the game with you.

Potomac isn't even in the District ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone live in petworth who can afford better parts of the city? I always assumed people moved there because they couldn’t afford H street, CH or Shaw.

These are not "better" parts of the city than Petworth. None of them are more family friendly or have better schools. CH and Shaw have more crime. While you may be able to afford a place in those neighborhoods, your money will go farther in Petworth. Petworth is centrally located enough that being an extra mile closer to downtown isn't going to make a huge difference to many people.

I have a SFH in AU Park, which is currently being rented, from before I was married. We actually decided to live in Petworth because we like it so much and it's more convenient for us. We're trying to decide whether to sell or keep AU park house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone live in petworth who can afford better parts of the city? I always assumed people moved there because they couldn’t afford H street, CH or Shaw.

These are not "better" parts of the city than Petworth. None of them are more family friendly or have better schools. CH and Shaw have more crime. While you may be able to afford a place in those neighborhoods, your money will go farther in Petworth. Petworth is centrally located enough that being an extra mile closer to downtown isn't going to make a huge difference to many people.

You can't be serious. I can 9 off the top of my head. Logan Circle, City Center, Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Mt Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Potomac, Crestwood, U Street, Downtown. Not to mention all of Upper NW. Wow delusional is the name of the game with you.

Reading comprehension fail. The PP was responding to the specific neighborhoods in the post. And for a family, I'd question whether Adams Morgan, U St, or "downtown" are actually better. Sure, there are there nicer parts of the city than Petworth (hard to compete with the absurd luxury of City Center), but Petworth is still a great neighborhood and way better than many other DC neighborhoods that are still developing.