Suburban poster here with a question. Is "target" code for some cool urban amenity, or do you all actually mean a target retail store? Many of these posts have touted walking to target as a big draw for living in CH with a baby. I have to laugh!! Move to Rockville or Arlington if that's what you want!

Do you have a playground nearby?

We had a yard in our previous house (and our current one) but we still walked to the park nearly every night. When you have a very small child or only one child, a neighborhood park and playground is much better than a backyard.

In our last house and this one, we can walk to stores and restaurants (and parks) within 0.75 miles - I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. You don't need a yard just yet, OP.

OP, follow your gut, but I just wanted to say, for the other moms reading, that I LOVED my decision to move out of a really "walkable" neighborhood in favor of more space and a yard and haven't regretted it at all. I love my veggie garden, friends love visiting us, and we have a strong kids listserv and we walk to all of those playgroups.

A suggestion for parents considering a new neighborhood is to email the mod of the kids listserv of that nabe and ask if you can come to a playgroup. Then ask the parents what they like about living there and what they don't like. Or even just email the listserv the same questions.

Also FWIW, we don't live in petworth, but I have a few friends there who love it. I also have some friends in 16th street heights and they like it, as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I guess I am in the minority here, but I love petworth and would totally buy there. It's a lovely neighborhood and seems very family friendly.

+1. I am planning to raise my kid in a similar neighborhood and so are most of my friends.

Assume you don't have kids yet. Right?

Oh and there are now good playgrounds in Columbia Heights (one just opened on 11th) - not to mention being close to the zoo, Sitar center for music classes and a quick bus ride to the classes at the JCC. So overall, I think it is a nice play to be for the early years!!

I live in a tiny (condo-sized) house near U street. I say stay for one more year and then decide. I doubt interest rates will spike in the next year. Being somewhere fun and walkable while on maternity leave is great. Then you can decide. But your odds of getting into EL Haynes or Bridges are small. I have two kids under 2 and love being able to walk everywhere. Eventually we'll have to move - but I figure why not enjoy urban living while we can?

I lived in Pleasant Plains for 4 years and moved last year. Since PP is just east of CH proper and just south of Petworth, I can speak to the CH vs. Petworth issue with confidence, and IMO, the only difference b/w the two is that CH has a higher yuppie to native ratio than Petworth and, because of that, is more overpriced. However, all the other issues ... crime, schools, space, etc. are the same.

If I had to do it over again, I'd buy in Brookland. Less crime, better properties, more space. Still with the schools issue, but unless you can afford to buy into upper NW, you're going to have that anywhere.

You don't need anything bigger than a 2br condo for one child. When my son was born we were in a 1br condo, and it was fine for the first year. With 2brs, you can even have grandparents come to stay--just set up the second bedroom as a convertible kid room/guest room and kiddo can sleep in a pack n play or in your bed when visitors come.

Anonymous wrote:Try renting first because you may want to get the hells out when you se what happens at night

+1

Hang out at the park close to where you are thinking of buying. See who is there, look around for drug paraphernalia, etc.
I owned a house in an urban setting, then had my kid and went to the playground for the first time. Lots of drug deals happening in the afternoon....and none of the kids we met spoke English, which, yes, inhibited me from becoming pals with the mothers and inviting them over when our socioeconomic status was so vastly different....no I did not think they were going to rob me, just that we didn't have much in common...just being honest.

Think about where the preschool/daycare might be (pick one close to home), pediatrician, kiddie classes, etc. Once DC arrives, walking to buy the Sunday NY Times and eating omelettes on Sunday won't be as big as a priority of feeling your child is safe and has some peers to play with.

There's a big baby boom in CH, as you'll see when you start socializing with other moms, so it's a great place to be. i've met so many involved, cool parents here and don't want to go. there are tons of kids events at bloombars and lots of playgroups.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I guess I am in the minority here, but I love petworth and would totally buy there. It's a lovely neighborhood and seems very family friendly.

+1. I am planning to raise my kid in a similar neighborhood and so are most of my friends.

location, location, location!

Virginia is for lovers and families

Try renting first because you may want to get the hells out when you se what happens at night

My husband and I recently bought a home near Sherman Circle and we are currently pregnant with our first child. We absolutely love Petworth. Our neighborhood is so family friendly with a lot of children running around and neighbors who truly look out for each other. Also, while we don't have the large retail like Target, we have many smaller local businesses and it is exciting to watch them get started.

We are concerned about the schools nearby but we weren't ready to move out of DC when we bought our home. In a couple of years, if we can't get into a charter school we may be looking at moving again but we bought this house thinking it would be a starter 5-7 year home.

Good Luck!