Recommend a community in Bowie, MD

[dkf747]

If you need to get to Seabrook then you can't beat Glenn Dale. There's some nice homes up MD Highway 564, north of MD-193. Sorry, I'm not sure which zip code. I just know that the area is nice.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by RT85

I used to live in the Red Willow neighborhood (20720) and I had a Bowie mailing address, but I wasn't technically in Bowie. My voting place was at High Bridge Elementary School, but I could not vote in the Bowie elections.

Something to think about.

How did you like Red Willow? The residents there really keep uip the curb appeal, and it seems quiet. I have the same deal (20720 but not in the city of Bowie) where I live.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by dkf747

If you need to get to Seabrook then you can't beat Glenn Dale. There's some nice homes up MD Highway 564, north of MD-193. Sorry, I'm not sure which zip code. I just know that the area is nice.

I agree. I think one of the communities there is Wingate, which is very nice. There's also Severn Crossing on the same road, which has a Bowie zip. Those homes may be more within the OP's price range.

[cool rob]

Originally Posted by bowian

Cool rob, to many folks, it will always be Mitchellville and never, never Bowie. I won't get into the history!

From my understanding you had Bowie trying to cede into Anne Arundel (like Laurel and Takoma Park), and the response from the county was to make Bowie so large that it would be impossible in order to keep the tax base steady. Is that about right?

My daughter went to Woodstream for a year. Mixed reviews, but very nice people, from teachers to admin., run the school.

What didn't you like about it? We are sending our daughter there next year, Everyone I hear from and most websites are saying it is a good school. Only downside I see so far is the price! It is still up in the air however between their/Riverdale Baptist/Grace Brethern

Thanks!

[bowian]

Originally Posted by cool rob

Thanks!

I think Bowie's frequent annexation efforts may play a part. And I think (but I'm not sure) that county Master Plans may have Bowie in the title rather than Mitchellville. But I think there is still a Mitchellville post office, so I thought the change from Mitchellville was a marketing ploy by the builders (among other things). For instance, back in 200-2001 and maybe a little later, all you heard about was Mitcellivlle. Then Mitchellville basically became built out, so people started looking in the Bowie area. And when the new communities were being marketed, many were advertised as being in Mitchellville/Bowie. Then it changed to just Bowie.

Also, there are some Mitchellville folks who hate Bowie (perceptions of racism, self-entitlement, the whole cessation issue and the Bladensburg High annex issue), so while they can address their mail with either Mithcellville or Bowie, they choose Mitchellville.

Re Woodstream, while I thought the pre-K pace was a bit fast for my child, I've heard that upper grades' curriculum wasn't advanced enough. Last year, my daughter's class was larger than we were told it would be, and because of the size, the teacher could not give her enough individualized attention. Their solution was to offer her tutoring after school (for an additional fee) with the same teacher. I declined, and worked with her at home. She's in K in public school and is doing well.

A lot of parents pulled their kids from Woodstream when the tuition increased for this year, but quite a few parents stayed and are very satisfied. What I miss (besides the nice staff and parent) is the children my daughter had as classmates and friends. More kindness, respect of others, good values, more birthday parties, etc. Since my daughter's been in public school, she's had some incidents with a few manipulative, borderline bullying and thieving kids.

But I've heard mixed reviews about Riverdale as well. The Grace Bretheren that I've heard good things about is in Clinton, but I assume you mean the one in Bowie. I haven't heard anything bad about the Bowie Grace B.

[ptsum]

Originally Posted by ccse

Thanks. We’re not limited to Bowie, but based on our research it seems a better fit for us. My husband will be working in Greenbelt and me in DC, so it's either Bowie or Glenn dale. We like Bowie better from what we can deduce so far. I wanted the 20721 area because my commute would be about 15 miles from DC anything else it goes to 20 or more. Plus if we end up at the magnet program that we like, it's in Seabrook so we'll need to have a short drive to the Greenbelt area and DC.

We looked at greenbelt and couldn't find anything we liked. We wondered about Beltsville, it’s not out yet, we have some possibilities in Glen dale but we really like Bowie. The town center, parks and close proximity…

Look at the 20769 ZIP code area, that's one of the Glenn Dale ZIP codes, and it's right next to Bowie without the Bowie taxes and you still have access to all of the shopping centers and parks in the area, this part of Glenn Dale is just outside of the Old Bowie area near Seabrook and closer to Greenbelt off of Lanham Severn Road Route 564 and Springfield Road, there's new developments in that area and worth giving it a look at. I lived in the Bowie and Glenn Dale area for over 30 years, born and raised in Prince George's County over 60 years ago.

[RT85]

Red Willow south of Old Chapel Road has a HOA. That part of the neighborhood is quiet and clean. North of Old Chapel Road is almost the exact opposite. The HOA part of the neighborhood doesn't really have any amenities.