We considered moving to ward 3 and had spent some time looking for homes there. Prior to that we lived in Ward 2, bought a small rowhouse as DINKs and tried raising family there until our second kid was born. We thought ward 3 was the next logical step - getting a detached home with a little yard, garage, and still have walkability and metro access. After looking for a while we just didn't like what we were getting in our price range (up to a million) although we had plenty of properties in this price range near great elementary schools. We extended out search to Mclean and decided to move there and don't regret it a bit. We are walkable to the downtown Mclean and elementary school and there is a bus system there in case you need it, although we never used it.

Our main reasons:

- We already ended up spending most weekends driving to see family/friends scattered around DC metro area, so were accustomed to driving everywhere even while living in ward 2.
- Didn't want to worry about schools after elementary. Job security is getting worse these days and we didn't want to have to commit to having to pay for schools.
- wanted one-story living with basement and attached garage, NW DC is not the place for these types of properties, even if you have money. We were willing to compromise on 1-2 story living, but even finding a place with attached garage was challenging.
- Ward 3 didn't feel that urban to us to really have to pay extra and many places were not that walkable to metro anyway and streets didn't have sidewalks in some parts. We just didn't see the value.
- Driving to most places of interest in DC took just as long from some parts of ward 3 as from close in suburbs in NOVA.
- We never used the metro after the kids were born anyway, driving was easier to run errands, see family. Even as DINKs we only used it once in a while, preferred to walk to take cabs instead when going out. Living in ward 3 would probably have us driving or taking cabs anyway on our rare date nights out, same as we do in Mclean.

Anonymous wrote:Lived in Ward 3 for years and recently moved to the 'burbs. What a change. I am surprised at how much more friendly and open the people are in the 'burbs. I had gotten used to the unfriendly, pretend-we-don't-know-you vibe from our NW neighbors, but am happy to know that isn't the norm in the entire area.

What neighborhood did you move to? We may be joining you.

Lived in Ward 3 for years and recently moved to the 'burbs. What a change. I am surprised at how much more friendly and open the people are in the 'burbs. I had gotten used to the unfriendly, pretend-we-don't-know-you vibe from our NW neighbors, but am happy to know that isn't the norm in the entire area.

We moved from Dupont to 20016, and we hate it. Thank god we decided to rent before buying because we have decided that the cost of living here is not worth it.

I have lived all over DC, and even in VA for a short stint, and am shocked by how often we encounter rude and/or self-absorbed people on our daily life. When we lived in Dupont, I thought that DCUMers were exaggerrating the rudeness of Ward 3.

And its not that they are not nice people in Ward 3. They certainly are. (I know many). It is just that the number of rude people is remarkable, compared to other Wards. I just don't understand why residents of the richest ward in DC which has decent schools, relatively low crime, is pleasantly leafy, are so miserable and take it out on their fellow citizens.

yes $800K won't necessarily get us more in Ward 3 (esp if we want to be near a metro, in which case we may need to bump the price up a bit) - but we'd have better schools. We just wouldn't be able to walk to Cork, and WF, and Vinoceta and the 9:30 club.

Anonymous wrote:PP 19:07 here: Yes we now live in one of those $800K Logan properties but may have to eventually move to ward 3 b/c we can't afford our mortgage and private school plus a yard would be nice. if the charter school gods smile on us or our local schools turn around we may stay.

Yeah, finding enough space plus the school issue in that area is tough. But, you know, $800k won't necessarily get you more in Ward 3 right? We moved from Dupont for similar reasons but had to spend $1.3 for a 3br 3 ba, finished basement with a small (but nice) yard and deck.

PP 19:07 here: Yes we now live in one of those $800K Logan properties but may have to eventually move to ward 3 b/c we can't afford our mortgage and private school plus a yard would be nice. if the charter school gods smile on us or our local schools turn around we may stay.

But, you know there are a lot of 1.3 million homes in Ward 3 and plenty of properties in Logan for much less than that, right? I assume you do know that, but you want more space than the $800K Logan properties offer (2 bed, 2.5 bath, little patio)

It's funny we might move to ward 3 because money is an issue - we can stretch and afford a house in the Janney/Murch district and be semi-walking distance to the metro. If we had more money, we'd stay in our current neighborhood (logan) and buy a 1.3 million dollar house with a small yard and parking and send our kids to private.

Anonymous wrote:We also moved from Ward 3 to Takoma Park--love it! People are so nice, great sense of community, tons of kids out and about, etc.

I worry about crime there. I am really angry about the crime there actually. Because there is an us against them mentality of lower class AA's there and an assumption that all the whites walking around are rich invaders that somehow deserve to be preyed upon. I t is a very toxic racial mix. I wish there could be more tolerance and acceptance of the rights of all people to live together regardless of race and economic circumstances. There have been some really violent f*cked-up muggings by by marginal folks who live in those quasi-project like apartments just past the metro stop. Can they please close down that giant LIQUOR store there? It is just a beacon for vagrants and trouble.

We also moved from Ward 3 to Takoma Park--love it! People are so nice, great sense of community, tons of kids out and about, etc.

Anonymous wrote:PP, you do know that living near a great charter gives you no priority in their lottery, yes?

Yes, which is why we're happy in Ward 8, we're going charter most likely. Brookland has the highest concentration of quality bilingual programs so it'd be a great commute! I work in Tyson's and am responsible for drop off to daycare/school fyi.

I have to admit that I didn't read all seven pages of responses, but I'll respond to the OP's question. We considered moving to Ward Three after we had kids and went so far as to go to a good number of open houses. We have friends there and there are some beautiful houses/areas. We can afford quite a lot since our HHI is about 1M. We looked a little in MoCo, but the longer commute made that less appealing.

Ultimately, we decided to stay in our rowhouse on Captiol Hill and rework the upstairs to have three bedrooms, albeit small ones. Mostly, we were used to the neighborhood, liked the direction that things are going here (elementary schools/H street shopping/trolley line.) I have nothing against Ward 3. I just like the slightly more urban feel of Ward 6 and the fact that traffic is lighter on this side of the city.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. Won't touch DC and the messed up political 'leadership' / schools with a 10 ft pole. I'll stay in NOVA

Ditto. HHI of $435K.

Coming from a resident of the state - sorry, commonwealth - that has elected Ken Cuccinelli to state-wide office, this is rich. I suppose I prefer corrupt, race-baiting incompetence to malevolent, conservative bigotry. To each his own, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. Won't touch DC and the messed up political 'leadership' / schools with a 10 ft pole. I'll stay in NOVA

Ditto. HHI of $435K.

It's so funny when people say this. We've lived in DC for the last 15 years and I've hardly paid attention to local political leadership. We started out in Georgetown and now are off Foxhall. We have a total household income above $500k, and life is just life. I don't wake up and wonder about what is happening in the Wilson building every day.