Mt. Pleasant, Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, & Petworth (where to look?)

[Anonymous]

I would use Craigslist, especially if you are looking for a house to rent. Don't write off Petworth--you could walk or drive around some of the neighborhoods mentioned to see what you think. Bloomingdale isn't any more urban than Columbia Heights, and would definitely be less convienient to the school.

[Anonymous]

& some realty offices have a desk that does rental referrals. Those will likely mostly be for large buildings.

Or look up a property management company (one based in DC, don't waste your time with the burbs). Often people buy in DC and then have a job rotation overseas, so instead of selling they get a property manager to handle renting out.

Finally, if you see any particular buildings you like as you're out walking around, jot down their names. Call them and ask what's available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mt Pleasant is like Brooklyn? There is one small street in Mt Pleasant, with the same old restaurants (with the exception of the new thai place), hardly any interesting retail or places to browse, no street scene or artistic community at all.

Bloomingdale or 11th street in CH have more interesting restaurants, shops, and lots of people out on the street having dinner, coffee, etc.

drive from bloomingdale would suck though

From Bloomingdale to Soldiers Home is straight up N. Capitol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would use Craigslist, especially if you are looking for a house to rent. Don't write off Petworth--you could walk or drive around some of the neighborhoods mentioned to see what you think. Bloomingdale isn't any more urban than Columbia Heights, and would definitely be less convienient to the school.

Bloomingdale is much closer to the Mall and is on the red line. It also doesn't have the gang activity in Columbia Heights. However, until the McMillan construction is finished in however many years that takes, the traffic on N. Capitol getting around the Hospital Ctr. will be a pain. If she were looking to buy for the long term it could be worth it, but probably not for just a 2 or 3 yr stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mt Pleasant is like Brooklyn? There is one small street in Mt Pleasant, with the same old restaurants (with the exception of the new thai place), hardly any interesting retail or places to browse, no street scene or artistic community at all.

Bloomingdale or 11th street in CH have more interesting restaurants, shops, and lots of people out on the street having dinner, coffee, etc.

drive from bloomingdale would suck though

From Bloomingdale to Soldiers Home is straight up N. Capitol.

And it blows! It use to take me 10 minutes door to door to get to Yu Ying which is on the east side of North Cap. Soldier's Home is on the west side of North Cap off the same road, Ft. Drive/Taylor. This year it takes me 20 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic going up N. Cap in the mornings. Coming back downtown has always sucked but you expect that. Now going up N. Cap is just as bad if not worse and will be for the next 2-3 yrs.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Dc or Brightwood would also be options. 2 miles down North Capitol to the Old Soldiers Home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm biased but I think the commute from Capitol Hill to the Old Soldier's Home would be miserable on a daily basis.

We live in Columbia Heights, the north part that a PP mentioned--blocks from the Coupe and the trolley playground at 11th and Monroe. We've been in the neighborhood for about 8 years and the walkability is one of the things that makes it really, really hard for us to think about moving anywhere else. We're very spoiled being able to walk to so many playgrounds, restaurants, grocery stores, Target, etc. The one thing that we haven't really found is a good sense of community with other parents in the neighborhood. We live on a busier street that has a lot of renters, and our oldest kid (5) seems to be at least a year or two older than the majority of kids in the neighborhood. But we're also guilty of not making the effort with families who live nearby, although now that that kid is in PK we've started making friend with some of the families at his school who live in the area.

Also, I don't know the status of CM's location change, but if there's any chance it'll stay at the current location for another year (or more), then I definitely wouldn't recommend the Hill or even Bloomingdale. The part of our daily commute that takes the longest is getting from Columbia Heights to the other side of Mt. Pleasant--everyone else in the city seems to be trying to go the same direction at the same time each morning.

CM and MV for that matter are leaving 16th street location. there is already a new school (DCI) plotted for that space that CM and MV occupied this year and they don't plan to co-share the space. so plan to be going to old soildiers home for CM.

That is not true. DCI's temp location is only the current MV building, not both.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when CMI will make it official, either way?

[Anonymous]

Another CH parent here. We love how we can walk anywhere (u street, Mt pleasant, petworth, adams morgan, downtown), best thing about CH. We love living here, and there are a lot of families.

It'd be an easy commute to Creative Minds. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to find a broker who can take you around. Try one of the agents on the listings on mrishomes. Call them up and tell them what you're looking for and set up appointments. Years ago, I would rely on Millicent Chatel for rentals in nicer neighborhoods - I don't know if that agency is still around.

There was also another New Yorker on this forum who gave names of brokers she worked with. Should be within the last five pages on the thread titled "Moving to DC"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Dc or Brightwood would also be options. 2 miles down North Capitol to the Old Soldiers Home.

This. Have a friend whose dc attends Cm who thinks the commute will be much easier. N. Cap. Traffic is no picnic but most major roads in DC are pretty brutal during rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all for your feedback. We will definitely look at Mt. pleasant and CH. Perhaps Bloomingdale too.

Quick question, how do you all apartment hunt? I've heard craigslist, trulia, and mrishomes listed in this thread. The latter two seem remarkably user friendly but both currently only show 1 apartment in Mt pleasant, so maybe there's not much stock there? Any other thoughts/suggestions once again appreciated, you guys have been the best!

Mt Pleasant has low turnover and it's harder to find apartments there compared with these other neighborhoods - especially rowhouses and rowhouse converted condos which tend to be owned by individuals who don't put much effort into marketing (because they don't need to).

Definitely Craigslist, also the mount pleasant forum, and there is a yahoo group... you can do those commercial sites too, like trulia. I'd also contact Nest DC (property manager) and see if they have anything.

It is easier to find a place in the larger buildings, like the Park Monroe or the Woodner, both on 16th.

Individual owners don't often use realtors to rent places out the way they do in New York - Craigslist is probably the single best method for Mount Pleasant apartments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mt Pleasant has low turnover and it's harder to find apartments there compared with these other neighborhoods - especially rowhouses and rowhouse converted condos which tend to be owned by individuals who don't put much effort into marketing (because they don't need to).

Definitely Craigslist, also the mount pleasant forum, and there is a yahoo group... you can do those commercial sites too, like trulia. I'd also contact Nest DC (property manager) and see if they have anything.

It is easier to find a place in the larger buildings, like the Park Monroe or the Woodner, both on 16th.

Individual owners don't often use realtors to rent places out the way they do in New York - Craigslist is probably the single best method for Mount Pleasant apartments.

mount pleasant forum? Where is that? and link to the yahoo group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all for your feedback. We will definitely look at Mt. pleasant and CH. Perhaps Bloomingdale too.

Quick question, how do you all apartment hunt? I've heard craigslist, trulia, and mrishomes listed in this thread. The latter two seem remarkably user friendly but both currently only show 1 apartment in Mt pleasant, so maybe there's not much stock there? Any other thoughts/suggestions once again appreciated, you guys have been the best!

Mt Pleasant has low turnover and it's harder to find apartments there compared with these other neighborhoods - especially rowhouses and rowhouse converted condos which tend to be owned by individuals who don't put much effort into marketing (because they don't need to).

Definitely Craigslist, also the mount pleasant forum, and there is a yahoo group... you can do those commercial sites too, like trulia. I'd also contact Nest DC (property manager) and see if they have anything.

It is easier to find a place in the larger buildings, like the Park Monroe or the Woodner, both on 16th.

Individual owners don't often use realtors to rent places out the way they do in New York - Craigslist is probably the single best method for Mount Pleasant apartments.

I have to 2nd any rec for one of the buildings on 16th. The architecture of the surrounding buildings (the embassies and churches) is magnificent, as is the view, as is the access to Meridian Hill Park. It's nicely walkable to U St. as well as Adams Morgan & Mt. P.

OP, when are you coming to DC? Hopefully after this soggy rain goes away. If so, take the PPs suggestion to heart and take a walk down 16th from Park or Lamont to U St. Mt. Pleasant then Adams Morgan will be to the West, Columbia Heights to the East, U St. to the South, and below that you split between Dupont and Logan Circles. From the top of the Hill you can see the Monument. You'll have those gorgeous views every day. You'll remember DC always as an incredibly beautiful time in your life.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP, For op's budget she should try the Argonne at 16th and Columbia or the Roosevelt at 16th and Florida. OP, the quality level in the buildings down 16th is very mixed, so you need to find one that has been renovated. The Woodner and Parc Monroe have had significant bed bug issues. Call Borger Management, the Bernstein Companies and ask re renovated buildings in the 16th street corridor. Also call Urban Investment Partners- they just redid a building at 16th and Spring, and their specialty is rehabbing older rental properties. Try Cafritz Companies as well. They own the great Art Deco majestic at 16th and Lamont.