Totten Mews

[Anonymous]

Has anyone looked at this townhome development in DC

Any thoughts?

I am a single mom with 2 boys school aged --- any advice will be appreciated. I took my boys there this weekend and they loved it.

https://comstockhomes.com/property/totten-mews/

[Anonymous]

Did you look at the school ratings?

Dunbar: 3

https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/4815-6th-St-NE-20017/home/110284336

[Anonymous]

TOTTEN MEWS
NE Washington, District of Columbia
From $559,990

Estimated Monthly P&I Payment: $2,206.61

P&I assumes 20% down and 3.5% interest, and that doesn't include any taxes/escrow yet

If I were a single mom, I'd spend my money on a better school district.

This post comes off as an ad

[Anonymous]

I would be curious from those that live near this location whether you can smell the waste transfer station on warm days. It's located right across the train/metro tracks. Also, is there a lot of noise from that industrial site (are they processing gravel)?

To the poster commenting on the school rating... welcome to much of the schools EOTP. The average person can't afford to live near one of the few higher-ranking schools. This mom, like many parents EOTP, that don't like their public school option will play the school lottery or go private.

[Anonymous]

I posted a thread about this development a few weeks ago. My biggest concern was that it felt isolated from the rest of the neighborhood. It's on top of a hill and very close to the waste transfer station as others have pointed out.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/695128.page

We saw them in person and loved them -- considering what else you can get in the neighborhood in the 550-600k price range. I initially thought they were overpriced and you were paying for new construction until I looked at what else was selling in the neighborhood for just 50k less...then Totten Mews seems like a steal. I still don't love the warehouse nearby. When we checked them a few weeks ago the developer was offering significant closing cost assistance on the units that had already been built (and redfin shows that's still available). That is one of the reasons we are strongly considering the unit that's been built - we'd be able to put more down on the house instead of paying for closing costs.

We don't have kids yet, but schools are a concern of ours. For your family size it would be an awesome amount of space and you wouldn't have to worry about maintenance as you would with an older place. Keep in mind there are things coming to the neighborhood (more townhomes near the Walmart, the Children's Museum, maybe more retail).


Where else are you looking?

[Anonymous]

I do think the fort Totten area has under utilized potential

[Anonymous]

I am curious how safe the path to the Metro is at various times of day. Anyone have experience? If proximity to Ft. Totten Metro is supposed to be a plus, the access needs to be feasible, too.

[Anonymous]

good option if you're in at one of the nearby charters. otherwise, I think that the better comstock property is Georgia Row--offered for the same price, but IB for Takoma ES, which I prefer, and if you win the lottery and get into Shepherd then you have Deal and Wilson to take you through grade 12. Not far from Takoma or Silver Spring metros.

Some of it depends on whether you think you'll go into Silver Spring a lot or if you are members of the PG Pool and Ft. Totten is closer. If you work on the green line, Ft Totten has obvious alternatives. But the Georgia Ave buses are good too.

[Anonymous]

Most ppl who live in Fort Totten/Brookland have kids at the charters. It's not a bad neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:good option if you're in at one of the nearby charters. otherwise, I think that the better comstock property is Georgia Row--offered for the same price, but IB for Takoma ES, which I prefer, and if you win the lottery and get into Shepherd then you have Deal and Wilson to take you through grade 12. Not far from Takoma or Silver Spring metros.

Some of it depends on whether you think you'll go into Silver Spring a lot or if you are members of the PG Pool and Ft. Totten is closer. If you work on the green line, Ft Totten has obvious alternatives. But the Georgia Ave buses are good too.

Are Craftmark and Comstock the same company? PP who looked into the Mews and into Georgia Row. It's pretty far from metro and the floor plan is horrendous (look at page 4). I would not want to pay that much for such a bizarre entryway. These are more condos than townhomes.

http://www.craftmarkhomes.com/floorplans/hometypes/?carter

[Anonymous]

OP here thanks for chiming in

I spw one of the neighbors and he played the lottery and got his kid in one of the charters.

My kids love the building - I am taking my mom this weekend to get her feedback.

I might pull the trigger and buy one. If I dont we will stay in our current school district rental in Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:I posted a thread about this development a few weeks ago. My biggest concern was that it felt isolated from the rest of the neighborhood. It's on top of a hill and very close to the waste transfer station as others have pointed out.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/695128.page

We saw them in person and loved them -- considering what else you can get in the neighborhood in the 550-600k price range. I initially thought they were overpriced and you were paying for new construction until I looked at what else was selling in the neighborhood for just 50k less...then Totten Mews seems like a steal. I still don't love the warehouse nearby. When we checked them a few weeks ago the developer was offering significant closing cost assistance on the units that had already been built (and redfin shows that's still available). That is one of the reasons we are strongly considering the unit that's been built - we'd be able to put more down on the house instead of paying for closing costs.

We don't have kids yet, but schools are a concern of ours. For your family size it would be an awesome amount of space and you wouldn't have to worry about maintenance as you would with an older place. Keep in mind there are things coming to the neighborhood (more townhomes near the Walmart, the Children's Museum, maybe more retail).


Where else are you looking?

[Anonymous]

OP, any updates? We're still straddling the line too!

[Anonymous]

I live close by (not in the development) and I never have any issues with being close to the waste station. No smell, noise, etc.

I like Fort Totten a lot. We have two children in so-called HRCS and are very happy.

[Anonymous]

Whenever I see "Mews," I think it has to do with cats. Then I imagine cats just crawling all over the place.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I purchased one of the townhomes in the development (first time home owners). We don't have kids yet but the property is right for us - ability to customize and not worry about renovations are great. As someone who works in education in DC I am optimistic about what our options for Elementary School will be 5 years down the road.