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Moving from Seattle to DC area
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latkendall
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| Hello - we are looking for advice. Currently we live in Seattle and may be relocating to the DC area for a job move - we lived in DC for about 10 years and left there 4 years ago to come to Seattle, also for a job. We know the DC area has changed since we moved away, many additions of buildings, neighborhoods, etc. We lived in several areas around the DC area but now that we're parents we're looking for suggestions on neighborhoods inside or outside the District which are walkable to restaurants, coffee, kid friendly (parks, library) and easy to get to the metro. |
Anonymous
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I live within walking distance of downtown Silver Spring. I can walk to the metro and all the new shops and restaurants downtown. I can also get to work in DC easily.
It has become a lot more crowded then what you probably remember though. |
Anonymous
| We live walking distance to the downtown Bethesda metro (and all the downtown shops and restaurants) and to the NIH metro. There has been a lot of development in the past few years, but we are happy with all of it. Great new places to shop, eat, and go to the movies. Also some new fancy condo buildings. |
Anonymous
| AU Park, Chevy Chase DC, Cleveland Park |
Anonymous
| Capitol hill |
Anonymous
| OP, what type of price range are you looking at? That will factor in heavily in determining which neighborhoods might work for you. |
Anonymous
| Also, are you looking for good public schools? |
Anonymous
|
Welcome to DC! Woodley Park is great. Walkable metro, restaurants, public library (up the street in Cleveland Park), parks, elementary school, National Zoo, everything. I can walk across the Ellington Bridge to Adams Morgan for a dog park, cool restaurants, night life, and go to Connecticut Avenue for restaurants and coffee, up north to more shopping in Cleveland Park. The elementary school is fantastic-- a bilingual Spanish/English program that has a diverse student body and high quality teaching and facilities. We are close to Rock Creek Park and several playgrounds. The metro is so close that you really don't need the car for almost anything. I can metro to several movie theaters (Union Station, Mazza Gallerie, Gallery Place) or walk to the Uptown. Only thing that we lack is a book store, but there are a few in Dupont Circle, one metro stop away. My commute to Farragut North takes about 10 minutes. Only down side of Woodley Park is that the houses are expensive, but there are also condos and rentals. Other good neighborhoods for walking and kids: Tenleytown area. Walkable to metro, shopping, very good elementary school (Janney). Cleveland Park-- also very walkable neighborhood; schools are Eaton and Hearst; Capitol Hill-- a zillion playgrounds and parks; schools good depending on which part, also very very expensive. I'm biased but I don't think there's anywhere on the planet I'd rather live than Woodley, as long as I have to work and can't spend my life traveling the world without a care. |
Anonymous
| Several neighborhoods in Arlington fit that bill. Lyon Village and Lyon Park are close to the Clarendon metro and its shops and restaurants. Waverly Hills and Lee Heights are close to the Lee Heights shops/restaurants and about a mile from Ballston metro or a straight shot via down Lee Highway to Rosslyn metro. Waycroft-Woodlawn is on the other side of Glebe from Waverly Hills and is also walkable to Ballston. Other neighborhoods nearby that are nice are Cherrydale and Maywood. They all have good schools and are close to parks and libraries. We love being so close to DC, but having some of the more suburban amenities. Prices vary depending on what you are looking for - a 3BR 2 bath older house would run in the $600,000s and most new houses are over $1 million. |
Anonymous
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OP, you've just described East Bethesda, the neighborhood at the foot of the Bethesda Metro.
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/12166.page#69929 The homes are getting very pricey, though (most new homes are tear-downs, and even the non-tear downs are upwards of 800K). If you cannot afford East Bethesda, try Silver Spring. It has most of what Bethesda has to offer, and is actually more interesting given its diversity. The only question mark about Silver Spring concerns the schools, but even those are getting better with each passing year. |
Anonymous
| OP-- how much are you thinking to spend for housing? |
Anonymous
| I moved to Old Town, Alexandria, a few blocks from Braddock metro when I was pregnant. Love the area and only a few blocks from King Street. LOTS of young families here. |
Anonymous
| Del Ray area of Alexandria. |
Anonymous
| I second the suggestion for Del Ray in Alexandria. We moved here from Seattle. It has many of the qualities that I liked about Seattle -- independent shops, relaxed atmosphere, farmer's market. Tons of families with young kids. The only down-side is that the neighborhood is relatively small. Housing prices are more affordable than the Lyon Park, etc. areas in Arlington. Not sure how it compares to Maryland. |
Anonymous
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Funny, we're moving from Chevy Chase, MD to Seattle...
Is there a similar mom/dad-forum there? I think the decision should be based on schools. Are you seeking good public schools, private schools, charter schools, specialized schools? For excellent public schools Montgomery County Public Schools are outstanding and Maryland was just ranked #1 in the nation for its public schools by Education Week, the main industry newpaper. I'm an educator so schools are always the biggest factor for me in choosing a home. If you need more info, feel free to contact me off-line. Do you have any advice for me as I head your way? |