From just the 3, I would choose the one not on the main road of 2nd ave. It's not a busy street but it's still the main road.

Someone else posted a home on Dartmouth Ave. I would choose this one or this neighborhood. The price Is about the same. That neighborhood has a family feel. A nearby playground/field. I think the assigned school is a Spanish Immersion school-Sligo E.S.

My neg thoughts about the downtown area--it can get congested and crowded (pedestrian and cars). I don't get a great safe feeling walking there sometimes. If I have to choose, I'll choose this Dartmouth side.

Yes, my concern wouldn't be the schools so much (Woodlin has a very good reputation) but rather the location. Those townhouses are just too upfront on the sidewalk for my taste - there is no front yard area to set the house back from the sidewalk. I walk by them on my way to the Metro and always think to myself that I wouldn't want to live with that much foot traffic passing right in front of my windows. But if you are moving from Brooklyn, maybe that is something you are used to. It is a great location though - walkable to tons of stuff, you could probably do without a car in that location.

I've looked at townhouses in that community and we're just unable to buy there. We have 2 little ones. The layouts of these houses sucks for families in my opinion with little kids but if you have older kids it's probably fine. The ground floor is the garage and a den type room with no windows. Then you go up a flight of stairs. The kitchen and living area is on that level. Then another flight of stairs and you have a nice sized master bedroom and a tiny tiny bedroom with a bath in the hall. We didn't even think a twin bed fit in the 2nd bedroom. Then up another flight to a loft type area which is considered the 3rd bedroom. Some floorplans have a full bath up there too. An older kid could be fine in that loft but that 2nd bedroom is tiny and tight on the level with the master. It's too bad because the price is good and the area is super convenient but they just don't work that well for us with a baby and a toddler. I'll be climbing stairs all damn day.

Anonymous wrote:Crimestein

I've lived in Downtown SS for 11 years...never heard that. BTW, never experienced crime there.

I toured Woodlin recently because my preschooler will go there next year. It's fine, and a good school compared to many others. Teachers and administrators seem to be engaged and enthusiastic. The facilities seem a bit run-down, and the school is quite crowded. I believe they said that the entire 2nd grade is housed in temporary buildings, along with some other classes for other grades. They do not expect the overcrowding to be relieved for at least a few years, when another elementary school in downtown-ish SS is supposed to be built.

wow I love those townhouses! didn't know they had such things in downtown SS. guess I am out of the loop

Anonymous wrote:Crimestein

Isn't this out of date yet? It is my understanding the name stuck because 6 years ago a kid brought a gun to school and it went off in the bathroom. I also know that BCC's Color Day was cancelled a couple of years ago because the freshman hazing was so bad a kid was sent to the hospital.

I think the elementary schools in the cluster - Woodlin, Sligo, Oakland - are known to be good. My kid goes to Oakland and I know parents with kids in Woodlin and they are solid schools.

Sligo has a new principal and many of the parents zoned for Flora Singer are keeping a watch and getting involved in improving things. The consensus is different in the neighborhood from when I moved in. When I moved, everyone was going to pull out at middle school (private or move) but now, people are planning to stay. We have one kid up the block at Newport who is doing well and a ton of involved parents pushing for more involvement, more acceleration and more accountability. I don't think the middle school options are great, but we are pushing for an upward trajectory and everyone that I know with kids at Einstein is happy there.

If you have a kid at Einstein or know someone with kids at Einstein, then give some facts of why it is bad. But saying Crimestein is no different than me responding to a BCC question by replying that it has a violent hazing problem.

Crimestein

Anonymous wrote:Try looking on the other side of Georgia. There are quite a few houses in Downtown up for sale right now. I live in Downtown SS and it seems you are only looking on one side of Georgia Avenue. Downtown SS residential is on both sides.

I agree. I actually think the neighborhoods on the other side of Georgia are a little more pleasant and "neighborhoody" than this one, and you'll have similar proximity to amenities. Nothing wrong with the houses you posted, though.

For instance, this is blocks from downtown, whole foods, etc:

http://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/715-Dartmouth-Ave-20910/home/10967830

There's a couple of others that I don't see on Redfin. I would call Liz Brent at Keller Williams if I were you.