[MD] Forest Glen quality of life

[Anonymous]

Looking at moving to Forest Glen from a more urban setting in close-in NoVA. Forest Glen seems to fit our work transportation needs fine for now.

I like the feel of the neighborhood, but having to drive everywhere (except the metro) seems like it would be draining. In my current location I have several restaurants within close walking distance, and a convenience store within walking distance in case we are out of milk. We currently go days without using our cars. What’s the traffic like on Georgia Avenue? How aggressive are the drivers? Other feedback? How do drivers react to cyclists?

Otherwise, it seems like there’s a lot of green space and like a very pleasant place to raise a family.

[Anonymous]

I live in Forest Glen and your assessment is correct. The downside is needing to drive everywhere but metro and parks. The easiest grocery store to get to IMHO is Sniders. I also dislike Georgia Ave but the neighborhood is very close to the beltway which is convenient (and far enough away that we don’t hear metro noise.).

[Anonymous]

Traffic is bad on Georgia and walking along it is not pleasant. The nearby shopping centers are not that nice. The schools are not good if you're going private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Traffic is bad on Georgia and walking along it is not pleasant. The nearby shopping centers are not that nice. The schools are not good if you're going private.

Not good unless you’re going private, or the private schools aren’t good, either?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Forest Glen and your assessment is correct. The downside is needing to drive everywhere but metro and parks. The easiest grocery store to get to IMHO is Sniders. I also dislike Georgia Ave but the neighborhood is very close to the beltway which is convenient (and far enough away that we don’t hear metro noise.).

I live nearby (not in Forest Glen) and agree that OP's assessment is correct.

The local amenities are great, but other than Metro and parks, do require some driving. Georgia Avenue is terrible, but the other direction (towards the park and Sligo Creek Parkway) is actually very easy and pleasant. Getting on the Beltway is a breeze.

OP, there is a lot of green space and the communities in FG are close-knit and friendly.

Schools are very good, contrary to PP's assertion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Forest Glen and your assessment is correct. The downside is needing to drive everywhere but metro and parks. The easiest grocery store to get to IMHO is Sniders. I also dislike Georgia Ave but the neighborhood is very close to the beltway which is convenient (and far enough away that we don’t hear metro noise.).

I live nearby (not in Forest Glen) and agree that OP's assessment is correct.

The local amenities are great, but other than Metro and parks, do require some driving. Georgia Avenue is terrible, but the other direction (towards the park and Sligo Creek Parkway) is actually very easy and pleasant. Getting on the Beltway is a breeze.

OP, there is a lot of green space and the communities in FG are close-knit and friendly.

Schools are very good, contrary to PP's assertion.

This is OP. Are you up on this “Thrive 2050” plan? It seems like there’s a ton of hyperbole about it in the local politics forum and I am having a hard time telling what’s real and what isn’t. Is it basically just allowing for zoning changes in a certain perimeter around metro stations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Forest Glen and your assessment is correct. The downside is needing to drive everywhere but metro and parks. The easiest grocery store to get to IMHO is Sniders. I also dislike Georgia Ave but the neighborhood is very close to the beltway which is convenient (and far enough away that we don’t hear metro noise.).

I live nearby (not in Forest Glen) and agree that OP's assessment is correct.

The local amenities are great, but other than Metro and parks, do require some driving. Georgia Avenue is terrible, but the other direction (towards the park and Sligo Creek Parkway) is actually very easy and pleasant. Getting on the Beltway is a breeze.

OP, there is a lot of green space and the communities in FG are close-knit and friendly.

Schools are very good, contrary to PP's assertion.

+1 Parents are very happy with Flora Singer ES and Oakland Terrace ES is an English-Spanish bilingual school

If you want more walkability look at neighborhoods closer to SS metro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Forest Glen and your assessment is correct. The downside is needing to drive everywhere but metro and parks. The easiest grocery store to get to IMHO is Sniders. I also dislike Georgia Ave but the neighborhood is very close to the beltway which is convenient (and far enough away that we don’t hear metro noise.).

I live nearby (not in Forest Glen) and agree that OP's assessment is correct.

The local amenities are great, but other than Metro and parks, do require some driving. Georgia Avenue is terrible, but the other direction (towards the park and Sligo Creek Parkway) is actually very easy and pleasant. Getting on the Beltway is a breeze.

OP, there is a lot of green space and the communities in FG are close-knit and friendly.

Schools are very good, contrary to PP's assertion.

This is OP. Are you up on this “Thrive 2050” plan? It seems like there’s a ton of hyperbole about it in the local politics forum and I am having a hard time telling what’s real and what isn’t. Is it basically just allowing for zoning changes in a certain perimeter around metro stations?

There is a ton of development happening and/or planned near the Wheaton Metro, one stop up from Forest Glen. I do not believe there is any redevelopment plans for the area around the Forest Glen metro.

We live in this area and love the neighborhood and schools (we're at Rock View ES) but agree there is not much to walk to and drivers, especially on Georgia Ave., are CRAZY. I wouldn't feel comfortable riding my bike on Georgia or Connecticut.

[Anonymous]

There is a nice neighborhood pool there, Glenwood, but there is a bit of a waitlist. If you are seriously considering a move there, might want to get on the wait list now.

[Anonymous]

We live in that area (Oakland Terrace) and love it. Your assessment is about right. We're closer to Homewood/Kensington than the Forest Glen metro station but we regularly walk to downtown Kensington to go to the farmers market, art fair, Frankly Pizza. Depending on where you are exactly, you might also be walkable to "downtown" Wheaton restaurants. I loathe GA Ave. though and do make every effort to avoid it. The county is trying to improve it with speed limit reductions and, I think, bike lanes. We'll see

[Anonymous]

Ignore the school haters and do your own research on the schools. Check out the MCPS school climate surveys. When you click into the survey results you can compare to all of MCPS by clicking on the link on the top right. Flora Singer is pretty well-liked by parents (and teachers) compared with other MCPS schools.

https://sharedaccountability.mcpsmd.org/SurveyResults/content.php

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Which agent sort of “owns” Forest Glen? I know there are a few agents were I currently live that know about houses coming on the market well in advance. Who is that person in Forest Glen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving to Forest Glen from a more urban setting in close-in NoVA. Forest Glen seems to fit our work transportation needs fine for now.

I like the feel of the neighborhood, but having to drive everywhere (except the metro) seems like it would be draining. In my current location I have several restaurants within close walking distance, and a convenience store within walking distance in case we are out of milk. We currently go days without using our cars. What’s the traffic like on Georgia Avenue? How aggressive are the drivers? Other feedback? How do drivers react to cyclists?

Otherwise, it seems like there’s a lot of green space and like a very pleasant place to raise a family.

Georgia Avenue is hell on earth! I live 2 blocks off this dispiriting ugly morass of shady businesses (wig shop or pawn shop anyone?). It is an eyesore to say the least and traffic utterly sucks. Walking along it or crossing it is dangerous and unpleasant. I live in a house worth $1M+ and try my best to pretend it doesn’t exist. Unfortunately it never seems to go away…despite decades of plans for revitalization.

[Anonymous]

We used to live near the hospital. They have said they promise to maintain their footprint but I don’t believe them. We had a lot of hospital traffic through the neighborhood including construction vehicles. It really destroyed the neighborhood vibe. A lot of renters in the blocks between FG and Georgia. Forest Estates is a better option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving to Forest Glen from a more urban setting in close-in NoVA. Forest Glen seems to fit our work transportation needs fine for now.

I like the feel of the neighborhood, but having to drive everywhere (except the metro) seems like it would be draining. In my current location I have several restaurants within close walking distance, and a convenience store within walking distance in case we are out of milk. We currently go days without using our cars. What’s the traffic like on Georgia Avenue? How aggressive are the drivers? Other feedback? How do drivers react to cyclists?

Otherwise, it seems like there’s a lot of green space and like a very pleasant place to raise a family.

Georgia Avenue is hell on earth! I live 2 blocks off this dispiriting ugly morass of shady businesses (wig shop or pawn shop anyone?). It is an eyesore to say the least and traffic utterly sucks. Walking along it or crossing it is dangerous and unpleasant. I live in a house worth $1M+ and try my best to pretend it doesn’t exist. Unfortunately it never seems to go away…despite decades of plans for revitalization.

Well that was a stupid place to buy an expensive house. If you wanted to live in a nice area without wig shops and pawn stores maybe silver spring isn’t where you should have invested.