NW DC vs. NoVa

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^OP here! You're the exact type of person that has me high tailing it outta here as soon as I can get my shit together. The vitriolic attitudes for no reason whatsoever on top of the lack of quality options for my kids makes an area I've called home for far too long totally beneath me now. Unlike you, my kids' welfare comes first and it's best for them to grow up around nature vis a vis green space and in a healthy challenging educational environment. Sorry, a lot of people sacrifice their kids' future to serve their own desires. I just can't be one of those people. So, one thing we can agree on- we won't miss each other. But, I do feel sorry for your kids. To the other posters, thanks for all of the great feedback. Gave me plenty to think about.

What are you talking about. I live in Colonial Village (EOTP) right on Rock Creek Park which is closed on my section during the weekends. You can't get any more green space. We are in great charter schools and have a yard. My kids do not miss green space. Used to live in Chevy Chase, MD and have much more green space now. I also have no flowers because of the deer.

We can walk to downtown Silver Spring or the Metro. It's really a perfect location.

My kids do not miss green space.

[Anonymous]

^^ This! These weirdos/aliens say the darndest things! News flash- children want green space and a smathering of "turf" doesn't count. Also, why would you think that living in Rock Creek Park qualifies you to represent the whole of the city that doesn't have green space? I live in a standard Victorian rowhouse in the city proper- not some outskirtsy area on Rock Creek Park. I think I'm more representative of the situation for city parents than you. In the rear of my house is a big fat nasty alleyway. In the front is English ivy. Now, yes, I did chose the situation (about 10 years before I had children), so I'm not looking to blame anyone for our unhappiness in the city. It was my choice. However, I cannot let my kids suffer by pretending that the city life is good for them so I can feel better. What's best for them is a natural setting with woods where they can plan and grow, not to mention schools where they're livelihood isn't let up to a game of chance (the DC lottery shuffle). So, I'm really hoping I'm not priced out and as soon as my youngest starts pre-school I should be ready to pull the trigger on moving. NoVa= here I come!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ This! These weirdos/aliens say the darndest things! News flash- children want green space and a smathering of "turf" doesn't count. Also, why would you think that living in Rock Creek Park qualifies you to represent the whole of the city that doesn't have green space? I live in a standard Victorian rowhouse in the city proper- not some outskirtsy area on Rock Creek Park. I think I'm more representative of the situation for city parents than you. In the rear of my house is a big fat nasty alleyway. In the front is English ivy. Now, yes, I did chose the situation (about 10 years before I had children), so I'm not looking to blame anyone for our unhappiness in the city. It was my choice. However, I cannot let my kids suffer by pretending that the city life is good for them so I can feel better. What's best for them is a natural setting with woods where they can plan and grow, not to mention schools where they're livelihood isn't let up to a game of chance (the DC lottery shuffle). So, I'm really hoping I'm not priced out and as soon as my youngest starts pre-school I should be ready to pull the trigger on moving. NoVa= here I come!!!

The grass is always greener on the side with grass?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ This! These weirdos/aliens say the darndest things! News flash- children want green space and a smathering of "turf" doesn't count. Also, why would you think that living in Rock Creek Park qualifies you to represent the whole of the city that doesn't have green space? I live in a standard Victorian rowhouse in the city proper- not some outskirtsy area on Rock Creek Park. I think I'm more representative of the situation for city parents than you. In the rear of my house is a big fat nasty alleyway. In the front is English ivy. Now, yes, I did chose the situation (about 10 years before I had children), so I'm not looking to blame anyone for our unhappiness in the city. It was my choice. However, I cannot let my kids suffer by pretending that the city life is good for them so I can feel better. What's best for them is a natural setting with woods where they can plan and grow, not to mention schools where they're livelihood isn't let up to a game of chance (the DC lottery shuffle). So, I'm really hoping I'm not priced out and as soon as my youngest starts pre-school I should be ready to pull the trigger on moving. NoVa= here I come!!!

The grass is always greener on the side with grass?

+1

[Anonymous]

09:34 poster here. Yep, the grass is greener on the side with grass. Definitely! My priorities changed when I had kids. Now the idea of a SFH with grass and lots of it brings a big 'ole goofy smile to my face. Couldn't have cared a less a few years ago, in fact I held the idea of lawn care in high contempt. Now I have fantasies of mowing my lawn and having the kids help with planting flowers and playing under a water sprinkler. No one is yelling or cursing out front. You can't hear police sirens and fire alarms. The tree boxes aren't littered with chicken bones and chip bags. And neighbors look you in the eye and simply say hello. People are genuine about diversity and respectful. Oh, what a fantasy I hope awaits me!

[Anonymous]

My kid is starting kindergarten this fall and we also decided to move to NoVA. I am looking for a nice neighborhood where there are lots of young kids, good schools, backyards, ride bikes, walk to school (when they are older), go to the pool/playground w/friends, etc. So I can relate to OP's wanting to move from city life to suburb life. We're thinking of Burke/West Springfield/Fairfax Station/Lorton area. Good schools & commute to DC seems reasonable (45 mins) to DC. We been looking for homes since spring and there isn't much out there and the ones that are, get picked up quick. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of woods are by my house in Chevy Chase DC. You can sometimes still find houses like you describe in the 700s. Lafayette, Janney, Murch schools?

I find it hard to believe that anyone who lived in a townhouse in a "hot" area in DC would ever consider moving to Virginia.

You will be surprised just how many people do. Unless you plan to stop your kid education at elementary school level, chances are, you will be looking across the river or further north in MD sooner than you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of woods are by my house in Chevy Chase DC. You can sometimes still find houses like you describe in the 700s. Lafayette, Janney, Murch schools?

I find it hard to believe that anyone who lived in a townhouse in a "hot" area in DC would ever consider moving to Virginia.

You will be surprised just how many people do. Unless you plan to stop your kid education at elementary school level, chances are, you will be looking across the river or further north in MD sooner than you think.

+1. I don't think urban living in DC has such a powerful pull on most people. It can be convenient, and it has its charms, but it's just not something that inspires a great deal of pride or loyalty among most of its residents, many of whom would jump to live in another area if the right opportunity came along. In addition, the public schools aren't very good and the retail isn't great, either.

Given that a lot of current DC residents grew up elsewhere, leaving DC is not a big deal. I do understand that there are those who pride themselves on having escaped the suburbs of their youth to live in the city, so such people clearly exist, but moving out of DC to NoVa or MoCo isn't a big deal for most of us. Leaving NYC for Long Island or Westchester, on the other hand, is often huge deal because people have more of their identify wrapped up in being New Yorkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different families weight different options differently. I owned two places in "hot" parts of DC, but wanted a yard, woods, easy commute, safety, easy access to shopping, etc. etc. So we moved to Arlington. I have a 10 minute commute to DC -- vastly shorter than when I lived in the city. Kids go to a great bilingual school, we come into the city plenty, but come home and can relax. I could have gotten most of what I wanted in DC, but not all (esp. at a price/place I could afford), but some great friends moved back at the same time and went into the city. I do not think they care any less for their kids, just had different desires. It's like politics--you really can be friends with people who might be a different persuasion. people lose their shit on these boards.

Where did you move in Arlington? And did you sell your DC properties? I'm hoping to keep my DC property, but don't know if it's feasible. I want all of the things you mentioned (really jealous right now!). What's a good budget. We're thinking $700 for a fixer upper. Is this realistic?

$700K is reasonable for a fixer-upper, yes. We found the best deals in the western part of north Arlington, closer to the east falls church metro. Look for neighborhoods like Dominion Hills, Bluemony, Madison Manor, and Highland Park-Overlee Knolls. We paid more than $700K but our house is fully renovated. We have a big yard, easy walk to Westover shopping, bike trail, and tons of playgrounds. We're about 3/4 mile from EFC metro--whether that is walkable on a daily basis is a matter of preference, but many people do it. We are in Yorktown zone, which is very highly regarded. We moved here from Capitol Hill and as much as we loved the hill, I have to say I don't miss it.

[Anonymous]

Still laughing at DC libraries being better than NoVa's.

[Anonymous]

^^ Delusions of grandeur, right?!!! But, we gotta have something to make us feel better about cheating our kids out of decent schools and green space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^OP here! You're the exact type of person that has me high tailing it outta here as soon as I can get my shit together. The vitriolic attitudes for no reason whatsoever on top of the lack of quality options for my kids makes an area I've called home for far too long totally beneath me now. Unlike you, my kids' welfare comes first and it's best for them to grow up around nature vis a vis green space and in a healthy challenging educational environment. Sorry, a lot of people sacrifice their kids' future to serve their own desires. I just can't be one of those people. So, one thing we can agree on- we won't miss each other. But, I do feel sorry for your kids. To the other posters, thanks for all of the great feedback. Gave me plenty to think about.

What are you talking about. I live in Colonial Village (EOTP) right on Rock Creek Park which is closed on my section during the weekends. You can't get any more green space. We are in great charter schools and have a yard. My kids do not miss green space. Used to live in Chevy Chase, MD and have much more green space now. I also have no flowers because of the deer.

We can walk to downtown Silver Spring or the Metro. It's really a perfect location.

And you are not really closer to DC's cultural amenities than people living across the river in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of woods are by my house in Chevy Chase DC. You can sometimes still find houses like you describe in the 700s. Lafayette, Janney, Murch schools?

I find it hard to believe that anyone who lived in a townhouse in a "hot" area in DC would ever consider moving to Virginia.

You will be surprised just how many people do. Unless you plan to stop your kid education at elementary school level, chances are, you will be looking across the river or further north in MD sooner than you think.

+1. I don't think urban living in DC has such a powerful pull on most people. It can be convenient, and it has its charms, but it's just not something that inspires a great deal of pride or loyalty among most of its residents, many of whom would jump to live in another area if the right opportunity came along. In addition, the public schools aren't very good and the retail isn't great, either.

Given that a lot of current DC residents grew up elsewhere, leaving DC is not a big deal. I do understand that there are those who pride themselves on having escaped the suburbs of their youth to live in the city, so such people clearly exist, but moving out of DC to NoVa or MoCo isn't a big deal for most of us. Leaving NYC for Long Island or Westchester, on the other hand, is often huge deal because people have more of their identify wrapped up in being New Yorkers.

Westchester and LI burbs are much further from Manhattan attractions than most of the DC's burbs are from DC's cultural amenities. DC area is much much smaller and you can easily make it to DC's central areas in 10-20 min without traffic on weekends from most burbs inside and around the beltway. Moving to the burbs in DC is not as much of a sacrifice as people here really portray this to be. Besides, a lot of people actually work in the burbs and it's easier commutes for them to live in NOVA or MD. Driving into the city on the weekends is a breeze. The way people make it sound is that moving to NOVA is like moving to another universe, it's really just a few miles away, across river accessible by a few uncongested and FREE bridges, plus, there is Metro access and bus access there too. NYC is a different world, just getting in-out of the island is a huge PITA and traffic even on weekends can be insane. I am from there. Plus a lot of DC, esp. NWDC is essentially suburban in nature anyway, maybe cuter housing than NOVA, but that's about all its attraction really.