ISO large, older apartment in walkable neighborhood with good elementary school

[Anonymous]

Any tips on where we should be looking for a large (3+ bedroom, 2+ bathroom, 1800+ square foot), older (pre-WWII) apartment in one of the usual suspects school districts (Lafayette, Janney, Oyster, Murch, Mann, Hyde, Key, Eaton)? We're not particular as between large buildings and small ones, nor between condos and coops (I suppose we'd also consider renting, although it's not an option to which we've given a lot of thought). Slight preference to be off of main drags, but stronger preference to be near amenities such as the neighborhood school, a good park, a library, a grocery store, interesting retail/restaurants, Metro and/or downtown express bus stop.

I recognize that this inquiry is kind of an odd one, but we really have no idea how to go about determining which of the many older buildings around NW DC still have apartments big enough for a two-adult, two-plus-child family, and suspect that some on these boards may either live in or know of such buildings.

Many thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Aha! You'll want Oyster's boundary and one of the many pre-war (mostly co-op) buidlings in the Kalorama Triangle section of Adams Morgan or one of a few in Woodley Park. There are also some within Eaton's boundary in Cleveland Park and in the Van Ness area (don't know whose boundary), but density and liveliness drop off quickly as you head north, and the buildings get younger.

Unfortunately, three-bedroom apartments are not plentiful, because DC has traditionally been inexpensive enough to permit an abundance of rowhouses instead of higher density apartments.

[Anonymous]

How about Glover Park for Stoddert? I'm pretty sure that Stoddert is on par with Hyde and Eaton. Meets all of your criteria except metro access; has easy bus access to Dupont, downtown, Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

There are many buildings on Connecticut Avenue in the Murch boundaries which should fit your description.

[Anonymous]

i'd also suggest considering some charter schools, like Capital City, as that will free you up a little with respect to boundaries and such.

[Anonymous]

Cathedral Ave. has good apartment buildings with rentals that will get you into Mann. Not sure how 'old' they are. Attractive and gracious though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about Glover Park for Stoddert? I'm pretty sure that Stoddert is on par with Hyde and Eaton.

I wouldn't put it in the same category as those OP listed. (Also not sure if there are many 3-bedroom apartments there.)

[Anonymous]

Have you spoken to a realtor?

[Anonymous]

Don't buy near a charter school because you may not get in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many buildings on Connecticut Avenue in the Murch boundaries which should fit your description.

Yes, I second this. Rentals, co-ops, and condos. Likely means living on a main drag, but that strip of Connecticut is walkable to lots of shops, as well as the Van Ness metro.

Also agree about Woodley; we used to live there, and there are GREAT options in that area. In particular, check out the PN Hoffman condos on Conn. between Cathedral and Woodley Rd. They are expensive, but they have 3 BR models.

[Anonymous]

The Albemarle and The brandywine and Ellicot House are 3 apts where my kids' friends at Murch live. I do not know of the rent cost, but there are a fair # of apts there in that 2 block stretch that have Murch families in them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i'd also suggest considering some charter schools, like Capital City, as that will free you up a little with respect to boundaries and such.

Charters are great, but schools like Capital City traditionally have hundreds of applicants that do not win slots in the lottery. Do not buy counting on winning the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Albemarle and The brandywine and Ellicot House are 3 apts where my kids' friends at Murch live. I do not know of the rent cost, but there are a fair # of apts there in that 2 block stretch that have Murch families in them

I don't have images of the Brandywine and the Ellicot House before my eyes at the moment, but I know the Albemarle-- not a gracious pre-war by any stretch. I don't know OP's particular tastes, Murch seems like a nice school, and Van Ness is well-served by transit and walkable to all necessities, but I find it a pretty dull neighborhood to walk around.

[Anonymous]

I Googled quickly-- none of them are pre-wars.

[Anonymous]

Older buildings typcially mean smaller sq ft useable space. Your options might open up if you drop age, "interesting" retail and library (DC doesn't have many to begin with). Good luck