Old Town, VA vs. National Harbor, MD (Fort Washington: apartments, condo)

[RLCMA]

I know you really can't compare the two because Old Town is very charming and colonial while National Harbor has a Vegas/Disney feel to it. I thought about looking for a condo in National Harbor since I love being on the water and the prices are far cheaper than Old Town. Does anyone live in National Harbor who thoroughly enjoys it? Do you think it would be a good investment to move there? I have to admit I was turned off by the place last night since it is very nice (a little too much of a commercial feel for me) but the people seemed a little trashy for the most part. I'm even thinking about staying in DC and spending more for less since I love the city. Any feedback on National Harbor at all from someone who lives there, frequents there, or has a good grasp of what is anticipated for the area in the future?

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by RLCMA

I know you really can't compare the two because Old Town is very charming and colonial while National Harbor has a Vegas/Disney feel to it. I thought about looking for a condo in National Harbor since I love being on the water and the prices are far cheaper than Old Town. Does anyone live in National Harbor who thoroughly enjoys it? Do you think it would be a good investment to move there? I have to admit I was turned off by the place last night since it is very nice (a little too much of a commercial feel for me) but the people seemed a little trashy for the most part. I'm even thinking about staying in DC and spending more for less since I love the city. Any feedback on National Harbor at all from someone who lives there, frequents there, or has a good grasp of what is anticipated for the area in the future?

I don't live there but frequent the National Harbor. It sounds like you have a pretty defined set of criteria for what you are looking for and the National Harbor would not be it. The National Harbor, like any other area in the metro, is a lifestyle choice. If you are looking for a more old world charm then Old Town would be a little more up your alley. Remember though, all of the current metro river fronts (DC, MD, and VA) are in the process of or will be redesigned to have a more contemporary feel between now and 2020. That said you may want to target neighborhoods that won't be impacted by those changes. Based on the renderings all of them are going to have a more commercial/tourist-driven feel to them. They also appear to target the 20 something, 30 something, and married with no children crowd.

As for what is planned in that area for the future. Short term the only thing on the books that I know of are what is known (Tanger Outlets, Casino at NH or Rosecroft, Esplanade Luxury Apartments at the National Harbor, Wal-Mart, New Oxon Hill Fire Department, New Oxon Hill High School, and Fort Washington Police Station. The long term about 20 years out will be to have DT Oxon Hill transformed into a Business District, build a BRT or LRT (most likely an extension of the Purple Line), Improvement to 210 and other arteries in that area.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by RLCMA

I know you really can't compare the two because Old Town is very charming and colonial while National Harbor has a Vegas/Disney feel to it. I thought about looking for a condo in National Harbor since I love being on the water and the prices are far cheaper than Old Town. Does anyone live in National Harbor who thoroughly enjoys it? Do you think it would be a good investment to move there? I have to admit I was turned off by the place last night since it is very nice (a little too much of a commercial feel for me) but the people seemed a little trashy for the most part. I'm even thinking about staying in DC and spending more for less since I love the city. Any feedback on National Harbor at all from someone who lives there, frequents there, or has a good grasp of what is anticipated for the area in the future?

What makes an individual seem trashy?

[justtitans]

I'm not really sure what you're looking for here. It sounds like your mind is made up. I can understand how you feel because people take issues with those suburban town center type developments that bring a faux-urban element to the mix. I would say that if you are looking for something that is established and has an identity, then National Harbor won't be your cup of tea. It's hard to say how good of an investment it will be. All signs seem to suggest that it will remain successful, but it's still not as established as Old Town so you can't completely hang your hat on that being the case. My advice to you is to analyze what is the single most important factor in buying your next place. If it's price or having newness, then NH is a good fit. If it's anything else, then it's not.

[Fast GTO]

Major down side to national harbor is that it is almost completely closed off from anything.

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by Fast GTO

Major down side to national harbor is that it is almost completely closed off from anything.

Not Alexandria , just the tax paying citizens of PG County.

[armory]

If you have ever spent much time in Old Town - not just the water front - you will know it to be a neighborhood of older homes where people live. It is part of the rest of NOVA.

NH is almost an novelty beside the water. I have been to both and find NH lifeless in comparison. IMO, there is not much there other than the big bright lights.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by armory

If you have ever spent much time in Old Town - not just the water front - you will know it to be a neighborhood of older homes where people live. It is part of the rest of NOVA.

NH is almost an novelty beside the water. I have been to both and find NH lifeless in comparison. IMO, there is not much there other than the big bright lights.

I can agree that, aside from a special event, the NH can appear lifeless but it is still being built out so I don't have a expectations of it being a 24/7 destination. On the other hand I lived in Alexandria for five years when I first moved to the area and, IMO, Old Town (and its waterfront) is pretty boring. Bottom line it really depends on what you are looking for that will determine whether you would consider a good place to live/visit.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by armory

If you have ever spent much time in Old Town - not just the water front - you will know it to be a neighborhood of older homes where people live. It is part of the rest of NOVA.

NH is almost an novelty beside the water. I have been to both and find NH lifeless in comparison. IMO, there is not much there other than the big bright lights.

That's just it. It's not a place where people live. It becomes lifeless during the day. But I wouldn't call it a novelty. It is a destination. This is evident by Gaylord's and and Wyndham's investment. I go to the gym in Crystal City on Saturdays. The place is a ghost town. You could literally run down the middle of a street and not worry about getting hit. Why? Crystal City is mostly offices. So, on the weekends it's dead. That doesn't mean it's a novelty. It's just that not many people live there. Or at least not in the part where my gym is.

give it time. Residential pieces are being built. Old Town had over a century to develop its character. Why should we expect NH, barely half a decade old, to have instant character and liveliness.

[Fast GTO]

NH will start getting pretty consistent traffic once Tanger is completed. That is really the whole point of it being added to the development...bring in traffic.