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I work in McLean, va and we are considering a move to shepherd park. Please share your thoughts on the neighborhood ( safety,walkability) and how i's get to NoVa, how long the commute would take. Many thanks in advance.
Shepherd Park neighborhood is very safe--lowest crime stats outside of Ward 3 in DC. One of the most integrated neighborhoods in DC with many white and black family households living on the same block. Per capita income is fairly high since most residents have high-paying professions in the legal, medical and federal government fields. It's 95 percent residential blocks with some large and expensive homes and well cared lawns. Lots of trees in yards and along streets. Close to the Maryland border and Silver Spring. Lots of families in the Shepherd Park area and I am sure there are opportunities to meet and greet your neighbors. You are also close to Rock Creek Park if you like to run or bike during your free time.
The one downside is that you won't find any stores within walking distance. Shepherd Park is very residential with little commercial amenities. You have to drive to Georgia Ave. or downtown Silver Spring for your shopping and errands needs. This will change as the former Walter Reed Army hospital property will get zoning for residential permits and serious retail and dining amenities that will follow. This would be a wonderful development for Ward 4 residents. But don't expect this grand redevelopment project to happen until we get closer to 2018-2020.
If I had serious money and I wanted to live in DC, I would pick Shepherd Park. It's quiet, safe, super family-friendly and diverse.
Your commute will suck however. Get on the Beltway EARLY in the morning if you can. 495 is a parking lot from College Park, MD all the way to Route 7 in NoVA during the rush hour periods.
It's the area of DC I'd pick out. I didn't know it had the lowest crime outside of Ward 3, though.
I've heard mixed stories on the integration -- in some cases people have loved it, in others, they say it's very superficial. That's probably a crapshoot depending on your individual neighbors.
Your schools are Shepherd-Deal-Coolidge (although if you go to Deal, you get into Wilson from what I understand.)
From the northern edge, Silver Spring is on the outer edge of walkable for Metro + fun stuff in downtown SS.
Agreed with coldbliss that the commute won't be very good. If McLean = Tysons (near 7/495/123), though, you might be able to Metro in, but not if you're in the McLean part of McLean.
I'll agree with what others have said. The area will change some as Walter Reed is redeveloped, but I suspect that will be a positive boost, not anything negative.
An alternative to be Beltway would be to run down Nebraska, cross Chain Bridge and out Chain Bridge Rd.
I live in Takoma which neighbors shepard park, both are great neighborhoods. So I don't think you could go wrong there.
Commuting to virginia would be tough though.
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