Reply to Wow. This is what $1m gets you in AU Park

Forum Index » Real Estate

Reply to "Wow. This is what $1m gets you in AU Park"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I just spent the afternoon in meetings in AU Park and I fail to see the appeal. [/quote]

I understand this reaction. The appeal is in the community.

The neighborhood is moderately charming. The lots are small and the houses are not particularly attractive. The plus side is that you're in close proximity to your neighbors, and in some neighborhoods (like AU Park) that breeds familiarity not contempt. 
The commercial areas are good enough. Wisconsin lacks the charm of Connecticut, but it has what you need. Development is still way farther behind where I thought it would be by now. Mattress discounters and dry cleaners, seriously? One block from the metro? 
The schools are wonderful and well-utilized. This cannot be stated strongly enough. 
There are plenty of other amenities, as well: Wilson Aquatic Center. Turtle Park. Proximity to other fun places, like Glen Echo Park. Proximity to other children's parks: Palisades, Beauvoir, Newark St. 
The commute is (by DC standards) excellent. Under 20 minutes into town and about 25 minutes from town. During rush hour. Off-peak, about 12 minutes to Dupont Circle. 
Oh, yeah, metro. Walkable.

For AU Park, it's the combination of all these things. Some of the neighborhoods nearby are much prettier (Spring Valley, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have better commercial (Bethesda, for one). Some of the neighborhoods nearby have an equally strong school community (CCDC, for one). Some nearby neighborhoods are equally accessible (Woodley or Cleveland Parks, for example). But nowhere else provides this package. That's what you're paying for with AU Park. While the homes, lots and commercial may be underwhelming (as is Turtle Park, frankly, until it gets renovated next year), the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts. [/quote]

Please note: there are plenty in the neighborhood who do not send their kids to Janney. I toured it and was unsure why people feel it is so great. Yes, you can have a bunch of friends who all attend a mediocre (at best) school. Remember Janney is still DCPS.[/quote]

Huh?  And you got all this from a 10 minute tour?
Janney is an outstanding school by any measure.  Class sizes are small, teachers are excellent, facilities are great, there are a ton of "specials" classes and extracurriculars, test schools are the best in the city.  It's really a private education at a public price (free).  The vast majority of the neighborhood uses the school.   The only families I know who go private 1) wanted to ensure early placement because they want private middle/high school 2) want the private school "scene"  3) have some misconception that the class sizes are huge at Janney.  I hear this one all the time "the classes are too big!, we had to go private".  
Janney is filled with hundreds of bright children with very high achieving, high income, super involved parents that deem it an outstanding school.  Most of us pinch ourselves daily that we get it all for free.  Many of us, myself included attended private school ourselves all through childhood. [/quote]

I toured the school. I also listen to my friends complain to me about the many short comings of Janney. If you think it is on par with a private school you are very wrong.[/quote]

What shortcomings?  Honestly curious.

I have 3 kids at the school and know hundreds of families and don't know anyone who is dissatisfied.  Most of us have the resources to go elsewhere but we're completely happy at Janney and very happy to save the money. 
I really don't have or ever hear of any complaints despite spending almost every day at the playground, talking to dozens of parents before and after school.  You must travel in a high maintenance crowd or are only friends with complainers.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics