Where in DC would you point two empty nesters who like urban/walkable/quaint

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

What do y'all think of 16th street north of Mt Pleasant, and adjacent areas. We were up there a couple of months ago for a visit to Fabrengen, and on the way it looked interesting, and transitional in a good way.

Convenient, safe, nice looking homes...but jack-all going on. Between Mt. P and Silver Spring, 16th Street is really a commercial dead zone.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

Convenient, safe, nice looking homes...but jack-all going on. Between Mt. P and Silver Spring, 16th Street is really a commercial dead zone.

I guess the commercial strip for that area is Georgia Avenue, which is still rather too sketchy for us.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

I'm thinking of Silver Spring. It's just over the District line, so technically a suburb, but it maintains an urban feel. It's on the Red Line, has got some stuff going on (restaurants, bars, shops, etc.), and is convenient to a lot. I know you said you weren't big on Montgomery/PG counties, but you may want to give SS a look-see. It's also one of the last bastions of affordability in the region that maintains a semblance of a commercial center.

we recently did a walk in Silver Spring (it was brief, we had just been looking at Azaleas at the arboretum) and were surprised and impressed with what we saw.

[lackadaisi]

You need to think a lot about whether you want density and hustle or bustle, or if you want space. For your price point, you are going to have to trade one for another. For me, the answer is simple - I care a lot more about daily experiences than accumulating stuff, so I have a smaller place in a denser location. But, that is just me. But, you will not be able to afford the size place that you are describing in an area that would be a perfect fit for the lifestyle that you are describing. So, what do you want to compromise on?

If you really don't mind the suburbs, I would look at Alexandria, near Old Town. It is close to many things, the metro is there (although it is a hike), and it is pretty safe. You get a discount because of the bad schools.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by lackadaisi

]If you really don't mind the suburbs, I would look at Alexandria, near Old Town. It is close to many things, the metro is there (although it is a hike), and it is pretty safe. You get a discount because of the bad schools.

The other thing about Old Town is that it is quite urban for a suburb; in fact it's got a density and feel to it that matches many DC neighborhoods. It's really the only neighborhood outside of DC that feels like it could be in the city. King Street is one of the region's best commercial corridors, IMO.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

The other thing about Old Town is that it is quite urban for a suburb; in fact it's got a density and feel to it that matches many DC neighborhoods. It's really the only neighborhood outside of DC that feels like it could be in the city. King Street is one of the region's best commercial corridors, IMO.

id have to check again, but looking at Redfin, SS may be more affordable than parts of Alex actually within walking distance of one of the metro stations.

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

id have to check again, but looking at Redfin, SS may be more affordable than parts of Alex actually within walking distance of one of the metro stations.

SS is *definitely* more affordable than Old Town. Youmight want to check out Del Ray, which is more affordable than Old Town but has a decent commercial stretch.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

SS is *definitely* more affordable than Old Town. Youmight want to check out Del Ray, which is more affordable than Old Town but has a decent commercial stretch.

the market for condos, esp elevator condos, is rather shallower in Del Ray than SS I think.

[lackadaisi]

Of course SS is more affordable than Old Town, Old Town is much nicer There are a few condos that type in Del Ray, but Del Ray is nowhere near as urban as Old Town. Have you gone to any of these areas? I would start exploring as they are very different.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by lackadaisi

Of course SS is more affordable than Old Town, Old Town is much nicer There are a few condos that type in Del Ray, but Del Ray is nowhere near as urban as Old Town. Have you gone to any of these areas? I would start exploring as they are very different.

We live in Annandale and have been visiting Old Town regularly for years and years. We get to Del Ray "once in a blue moon" as the saying goes. I posted on this again as we just visited SS, which I hadnt been to in years. Yeah, Del Ray isnt that urban, and Old Town is WONDERFUL but pricey. Thats why seeing how urban SS is (even if it has its weaknesses) was heartening.