I would not live in Trinidad with a small child. I have a property there, and while we kept it as a rental, we fleed to VA once my son was born. You do not want your school-age kid to see these examples.

I want to give you a tip on a building in Dupont that used to be very affordable, if basic. The neighborhood is the tops and since you are going for charters anyway, schools should not be a factor. State House Apartments, 2122 Mass Ave, NW. Phone # is 202-293-2122 (I think). They don't market themselves at all because they are full anyway due to low prices. You have to go in and bug the manager. This is how I did it. They were always a couple of hundred dollars under market for such a prime location.

You should look in Anacostia, which is reallt convenient to Navy Yard. I live here and love it. Find it really convenient to a lot. My DC will be attending Bethune this fall and there's a free bus pickup nearby that takes the kids to school and back. Bethune is also open enrollment until spaces are gone (no lottery).

If not Anacostia, I agree with searching for rentals are RFK stadium. Both neighborhoods are convenient to the Navy Yard.

Rent Control is your friend and not contingent on income.

In your shoes, I'd wait to see where DC gets in and look for rent controlled buildings then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another option for that range is a nice 1-bedroom basement apartment in Cleveland Park. You may be able to find a steal in the larger, older buildings that line Connecticut Avenue between Woodley and Cleveland Parks.

Columbia Heights is another option.

Best of luck.

There are some older apartment buildings on Wisconsin Ave. in the vicinity of the Cathedral where the rents are relatively lower. That area is zoned for John Eaton School in Cleveland Park.

Good school but it doesn't have PS3 which it sounds like OP needs. None of the schools west of the park do.

Anonymous wrote:Another option for that range is a nice 1-bedroom basement apartment in Cleveland Park. You may be able to find a steal in the larger, older buildings that line Connecticut Avenue between Woodley and Cleveland Parks.

Columbia Heights is another option.

Best of luck.

There are some older apartment buildings on Wisconsin Ave. in the vicinity of the Cathedral where the rents are relatively lower. That area is zoned for John Eaton School in Cleveland Park.

OP here again.
Thanks for the additional suggestions!

I've called a few income-restricted buildings and with CS figured in, I make $1K too much a year to qualify Which . . . damn it. Part of the reason I have debt (which is what's eating away at my available monthly income) is because XH refused to pay CS for over a year and DC had some major medical expenses on top of normal stuff like daycare, etc. And now that whopping $433/mo I get is kicking me over the line for assistance.

I'm not sure how much of a break (if any) I'd get on aftercare, one charter I talked to said it was dependent upon whether you qualify for the free/reduced lunch program. I think the limit for a 2-person family is like $20K/yr, and I def make more than that.

And that's a good tip about taxes, I didn't even think about that.

Luckily, I DO have some time to look and wait for the perfect place. My budget's tight, but I've seen decent apts pop up on craigslist and I've asked others to keep an eye out for me as well. I just want to be in my own place yesterday and it's a little frustrating to have to wait.

OP, there are some rent controlled buildings in Van Ness that would be in a good school district I think. Maybe call The Huntington on Connecticut and see if they have anything available? Its a hike to the Van Ness metro (about 20 min), but it is a very safe neighborhood, and you may be able to get a one bedroom for under your budget.

OP - it's likely that you can get a break on aftercare due to your lower income. Is this correct, other posters?

OP, make sure you're figuring in higher taxes in DC than what you're taking home in VA. We moved from DC to VA and started taking home MUCH more of our paychecks. DC taxes are crazy high. Good luck with your search.

I thought you were going to say which one doesn't belong. The answer is Cleveland Park.

I'd wait to sell your car until you know where you're going to send your DC to school - there are a bunch that are really not transit friendly. And, if you live near work, but have to drive the kidlet over to school in Tenleytown, that'll be an awful morning commute, anyhow.

That said, the poster talking about SW made some good points. Capitol Park Plaza could work well for you and would be well under your budget. http://www.capitolparkplaza.com/about.htm

Rentals in DC are generally a pain - you kind of have to look when you're ready to move because no one will hold a space for you. So, I'd come back with your questions when you know your school preferences and are ready to relocate.

The suggestion to keep an eye out for a building with rent control's a good one. DC generally has very tenant-friendly laws and it makes sense to maximize them.

I'd wait a bit and see what charter your kid gets into (or where you are high on the waiting lists). Columbia Heights has a lot of good charters so that might be a good option.

I'd really look at the SW waterfront. Its quiet, transit is very close, walkable to the stadium. Of the rentals in the area, the building called "waterside towers" has rent control (as do most larger buildings built between 1945 and 1975 or so). The Capital Park apartments over in SW are income tested and ok. Nice enough and are safe. The repair guy kenmore always sends to deal with my appliances and his school teacher wife live there and say its fine. Waterside is nicer than capital park but further and more expensive. And there are lots of individual units for rent in the condos and coops.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I used to live in Dorchester house, on 16th and Euclid, lots of bus lines and a 10 min walk to col its metro. Large studios and 1 bedroom units. Not sure how much it is now (they renovated so may have jacked up rents) but try it--I paid 1140 for a large one bedroom until 2009. Walking distance to lots of things, and super market next door. If you get into Appletree or Bridges PCS you'll be close by.

Oh yeah, this would be a super cool building for you to live in. Meridian Hill Park is directly across the street and is lovely. Harris Teeter for groceries is literally around the corner. You can walk down to 18th street for coffee and a pastry with your little one on Sundays. Columbia Heights metro is a bit of a walk, but do-able. Quite safe as long as you are not walking around at 3am when the bars close!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again.
Wanted to add that I want to get into the city so that DC can get into PS and then PK next year. I'm also trying to cut down on my commute (live in VA right now).

PP again. If you need to move now, and need DC for public or charter schools, I would vote for Takoma DC, something like this: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/2935226224.html

If you can branch out into MD (not sure if poss. b/c K doesn't start until 5 there), I would vote for historic Takoma MD, b/c TPES etc. are very good and you would be in-boundary, something like this: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/apa/2935472222.html

Neighborhood throwdown! That is indeed a nice place and great location, but would be a really long commute for OP to Navy Yard if going by Metro, probably at least an hour, and a ways even if she is driving. Somewhere in SE/NE, or right on the green line, would be much more convenient.