Best places to live with a family in Downtown DC (Washington: middle-class, condo)

[Doniphon]

I am looking to rellocate to DC in the Autumn. I have browsed through the threads and there is plenty of advice on areas to live in and out DC, but advice to families with small children seem to focus on out-of-town areas.

I absolutely do not wish to live in any of the DC burbs or in Virginia. I would be definitely looking for a place downtown that has easy access to public transport, shops, amenities and the capitol area. I would consider going without a car. We have two small children below 6, and therefore the area would also need to be conviviable, with some green spaces where to walk and, most importantly, reasonably safe.

What are the choices?

Many thanks for the help!

[juniperbleu]

Try looking in Capitol Hill. I always see a bunch of young families in the parks on sunny days. There's shopping and restaurants along Pennsylvania Avenue, 7th & 8th Street, including a large farmer's/flea market (Eastern Market). You've also got numerous buses and 3 metro lines at your disposal (orange and blue at Capitol South and Eastern Market, red at Union Station).

Another good area would be Woodley Park in NW DC. The main reason that out-of-DC neighborhoods are often mentioned is because DC public schools aren't so hot. I've heard that there are a few elementary ones that are ok, but beyond that many people either move or send their kids to private schools (if they can afford either option).

[JimGriffith]

A. No one really lives "downtown" -- it's a business district with virtually no housing stock. Foggy Bottom and Chinatown are the closest residential neighborhoods to downtown.

B. It's very difficult to give you good advice on this unless we know how much space you need and how much money you're willing to pay.

[5stones]

We have friends with small kids (under 4) they live in Capitol Hill area and really love it.
Before kids they were in Foggy Bottom and liked that area as well.

What is your budget though? That may really restrict you and where you are able to live.

[PenguinSix]

Hi

Ok, just to roll through some neighborhoods to get you started:

Capitol Hill / Eastern Market
Woodley Park
Cleveland Park
AU Park / Tenleytown
Friendship Heights
Georgetown ($$$, No Metro)
Glover Park (No Metro)
Cathedral (No Metro)
Pallisades ($$, No Metro))
Kent ($$$, No Metro)
Spring Valley ($$$, No Metro)

Try realtor.com with zip codes 20007 (Gtown) 20016 (Upper NW) 20008 (Woodley Park) and 20003 (Capitol Hill) to get an idea of housing prices and stock.

You aren't going to find a lot of green spaces in many of the more urbanized neighborhoods. Some of the places like Palisades and Kent and Spring Valley may have bigger lawns and whatnot, but you'll pay through the nose for housing there. You can live without a car in some of those areas, but personally, with two small kids who may need to be rushed to the pediatrician one day or something, I wouldn't do it. Metro and Buses are great if you are going to work, but it's a hub and spoke system, not a fully integrated 'cross town' like system (i.e. you can't get 'everywhere' on the bus / metro).

I shared the disdain of 'suburbs' when I lived in Gtown, but changed a bit as the kids got older and things like schools and safety became more and more important. It is very important to note that your definition of 'suburb' might not match that which is in DC. Sure there are endless Targets / Walmarts strip mall 'suburbs' but there are also those suburbs 'inside the Beltway' which are somewhat built up. In fact, living along Wilson Blvd in Arlington, with Rosslyn and Courthouse and Clarendon will offer more in the way of 'city living' of restaurants, shops, people than living in the city 'proper' in neighborhoods like Palisades, or Kent or Spring Valley (i.e. nearly anything West of Wisconsin Avenue). Same goes for Bethesda area, with the shops and stores just on the Metro. Not exactly the same as living in say Chinatown (but that's not necessarily a bad thing). I'd encourage you to take a look at some of those areas (use google maps street view) and you may be surprised how built up they are, despite not being technically 'in the city'.

Good luck with your hunt. People here will be able to give you much more specific advice if you a) tell us your housing budget per month and b) can be more specific on where you are going to be working (i.e. what metro station or street).

[Doniphon]

Thank you for the very useful contributions. That was great advice.

Sorry, I am in Europe and I guess by downtown I meant the city, as in around-downtown, rather than the suburbs . In any event, all the information is very useful, also about the more urban suburbs, although I´d still like to be close to work. We are only rellocated for a limited amount of time and was hoping a car might not be needed, so the advice on that subject and the transport system is very much welcomed.

I would be working around Pennsylvania Ave., I understand quite close to the White House and GeorgeW University. Budget would be around 2000-3000 $? for 2 but better 3 bedrooms.

Thanks a lot for all this help>!

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by Doniphon

I would be working around Pennsylvania Ave., I understand quite close to the White House and GeorgeW University. Budget would be around 2000-3000 $? for 2 but better 3 bedrooms.

You shouldn't have too many problems finding a townhouse or condo in your budget. If you'll be near the White House or GWU, then you'd want to aim for places near the orange or blue metro lines (you can pull up a map on their website to see what lines go where). Look into Capitol Hill (closer to Eastern Market or Capitol South) and Foggy Bottom. For suburban options, try Rosslyn, Clarendon, or Courthouse. You could also live along the red line, such as Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, or Cleveland Park, and walk from Farragut North or Dupont Circle (a little further of a walk, but not too bad). In any of these areas you won't need a car.

[PenguinSix]

Are schools an option or are you working at a place that sends them to Washington International School (or the British School or French School or German School)? Basically will you be here so long as to need to put your kids into the DC public (free) school system (i.e. kids >4 or 5 years old)? That can drastically affect what is an option.

Google Street View on the Google Maps is something you should really utilize. Click on the 'little man' above the zoom in zoom out and you can 'drop' the man on any street and take a look at what is around there. Will help you start to visualize the neighborhoods a bit.

[jm67]

I've never quite understood the idea of moving to the 'burbs because of childrens' "safety". I've never heard of a well-heeled child being killed or assaulted in the District. Now, I've heard of several children hit by vehicles in the suburbs, and teen driving fatalities are sadly common, but DC crime does not affect upper-middle class children.

[jaamkie]

I'd agree with previous posters that parts of Arlington are quite urban and you could live happily without a car. Also, DC has height restrictions on buildings and so doesn't have a "downtown" of skyscrapers- the highest skyline is actually across the river in Rosslyn in Arlington (though don't move to Rosslyn- it is just offices with no sense of community). On the other hand, parts of DC are nice too, and there are denser bar districts than anywhere in Arlington (not that I'd ever want to live in Adams Morgan- talk about parking nightmare)... I personally live in Arlington to be closer to family out in VA and because it has more comfortable "middle-class" areas compared to DC's schizophrenia of rich and poor. Arlington really isn't a SUV-infested bedroom suburb- in fact the county has run a marketing campaign to get people to give up their cars! (Arlington's Car-Free Diet)