Please help us begin to navigate DC
May 19, 2010 8:42 AM Subscribe
We're beginning to organize for a cross-country move to Washington, DC with a toddler. Please help us.
We're going to be moving at the end of the year to Washington DC with our (then) 2-year-old. We need help wrapping our heads around this.
First, for all the questions: we like being urban/walkable to stuff (parks, groceries, dining). We would like to have at least a small yard. We're moderately crunchy.
1. We're considering renting an apartment for ~6 months while we look for a house.
- Most of our stuff will be in storage, so furnished might be nice.
- We also have pets.
- Work and daycare will be at Foggy Bottom. I want to minimize time spent in-transit with the toddler.
Where should we be looking for that temporary housing?
2. What about a house? Let's assume that we're likely to be here for at least 5 years and need to consider school districts (leading to question 3).
- Houses are cheap right now!
- Our combined income will be ~$200k after daycare and debts are paid.
- Assume that we'll have a lot better income in 3 years if all goes as planned.
- One of us will be telecommuting for the first year or so, but we don't know where that person's future non-telecommuting job will be. (Is it worth waiting to see where that new job before buying?)
Should we try to find something now that is in a good public school district (long-term plan "A") or should we buy now based on travel needs and move again once Toddler is closer to school age? (short-term plan "B")
And if we do choose based on plan A, what cities? And if we do choose based on plan B, what neighborhoods/cities?
3. What is the deal with schools? Daycare is academic-y/pre-school-y and says that they have a kindergarten. Is this a good thing/normal? Do we need to start investigating waitlists/pre-K/kindergarten? Is private worth considering?
A short primer (link or written) on DC primary school would be extremely helpful.
We're going to be moving at the end of the year to Washington DC with our (then) 2-year-old. We need help wrapping our heads around this.
First, for all the questions: we like being urban/walkable to stuff (parks, groceries, dining). We would like to have at least a small yard. We're moderately crunchy.
1. We're considering renting an apartment for ~6 months while we look for a house.
- Most of our stuff will be in storage, so furnished might be nice.
- We also have pets.
- Work and daycare will be at Foggy Bottom. I want to minimize time spent in-transit with the toddler.
Where should we be looking for that temporary housing?
2. What about a house? Let's assume that we're likely to be here for at least 5 years and need to consider school districts (leading to question 3).
- Houses are cheap right now!
- Our combined income will be ~$200k after daycare and debts are paid.
- Assume that we'll have a lot better income in 3 years if all goes as planned.
- One of us will be telecommuting for the first year or so, but we don't know where that person's future non-telecommuting job will be. (Is it worth waiting to see where that new job before buying?)
Should we try to find something now that is in a good public school district (long-term plan "A") or should we buy now based on travel needs and move again once Toddler is closer to school age? (short-term plan "B")
And if we do choose based on plan A, what cities? And if we do choose based on plan B, what neighborhoods/cities?
3. What is the deal with schools? Daycare is academic-y/pre-school-y and says that they have a kindergarten. Is this a good thing/normal? Do we need to start investigating waitlists/pre-K/kindergarten? Is private worth considering?
A short primer (link or written) on DC primary school would be extremely helpful.
You'll probably find the most affordable but still walkable child-safe areas along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, like Clarendon as martinX says; but if you want to splurge, the immediate areas around Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and Cleveland Park are very, very nice.
Can't help you with schools, but the Obama kids go to Sidwell in Georgetown, and my church runs a daycare. (You can email me if you want to know about that.)
posted by brownpau at 9:14 AM on May 19, 2010
Can't help you with schools, but the Obama kids go to Sidwell in Georgetown, and my church runs a daycare. (You can email me if you want to know about that.)
posted by brownpau at 9:14 AM on May 19, 2010
Houses are cheap right now!
You haven't started looking yet, have you?
posted by inigo2 at 9:18 AM on May 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
You haven't started looking yet, have you?
posted by inigo2 at 9:18 AM on May 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
If you're commuting to Foggy Bottom and want a yard, the inner suburbs of Northern Virginia are your best bet. That means Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County. Staying inside the beltway (I-495) will make your commute infinitely easier, but will cost more. Staying east of Seven Corners (where several major roads meet inside the beltway in Fairfax County) will make things easier still.
You didn't mention a price range or where you're coming from or whether you'll have a car, but please understand that housing in the DC area is NOT cheap (maybe slightly cheaper than it used to be, but the housing market didn't crash as hard here the way it did in say, Vegas). A decent (smaller, older) single family home in NoVA will run you $400K and up in the inner suburbs. For a Townhouse you could possibly find something in the $300K range.
Assuming money isn't an issue, then I second North Arlington, followed by Shirlington and Falls Church.
Have you visited the City Data forum? Very active, lots of helpful people and lots of old threads comparing the virtues of this neighborhood vs. that, and also much discussion of schools and school districts.
Renting first is a good idea (there are usually plenty of houses for rent on Craigslist). You really need to be here to get the feel for what is a doable commute and what is not. In the past I've moved "ten minutes away" and literally added a half hour to my commute.
posted by somanyamys at 9:19 AM on May 19, 2010
You didn't mention a price range or where you're coming from or whether you'll have a car, but please understand that housing in the DC area is NOT cheap (maybe slightly cheaper than it used to be, but the housing market didn't crash as hard here the way it did in say, Vegas). A decent (smaller, older) single family home in NoVA will run you $400K and up in the inner suburbs. For a Townhouse you could possibly find something in the $300K range.
Assuming money isn't an issue, then I second North Arlington, followed by Shirlington and Falls Church.
Have you visited the City Data forum? Very active, lots of helpful people and lots of old threads comparing the virtues of this neighborhood vs. that, and also much discussion of schools and school districts.
Renting first is a good idea (there are usually plenty of houses for rent on Craigslist). You really need to be here to get the feel for what is a doable commute and what is not. In the past I've moved "ten minutes away" and literally added a half hour to my commute.
posted by somanyamys at 9:19 AM on May 19, 2010
Sounds like the Del Rey area of Alexandria has everything you're looking for.
I live in Springfield, which is on the Blue Line and also has great bus service to the Pentagon (as a springboard to Metro). It can be a little more rough around the edges than Alexandria but it's also more affordable since it's technically 'outside' the Beltway. Oh... and pretty good schools from what I hear.
posted by matty at 9:21 AM on May 19, 2010
I live in Springfield, which is on the Blue Line and also has great bus service to the Pentagon (as a springboard to Metro). It can be a little more rough around the edges than Alexandria but it's also more affordable since it's technically 'outside' the Beltway. Oh... and pretty good schools from what I hear.
posted by matty at 9:21 AM on May 19, 2010
Sidwell isn't in Georgetown, it is up in Friendship Heights I believe.
Anyways, it may be a bit below your price range, but I am really enamored with Takoma Park right now, I would suggest you look into private school if you go that route, but the neighborhood itself offers pretty much everything you want, and its adjacent to cool stuff and close to the metro.
That being said, I actually grew up in North Arlington and it also fits all your criteria, its just a crappy (but short) commute into the city and full of douchebags these days.
And the Italian Store is awesome, but please stop telling the whole internet about it.
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:22 AM on May 19, 2010
Anyways, it may be a bit below your price range, but I am really enamored with Takoma Park right now, I would suggest you look into private school if you go that route, but the neighborhood itself offers pretty much everything you want, and its adjacent to cool stuff and close to the metro.
That being said, I actually grew up in North Arlington and it also fits all your criteria, its just a crappy (but short) commute into the city and full of douchebags these days.
And the Italian Store is awesome, but please stop telling the whole internet about it.
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:22 AM on May 19, 2010
If cross-country means California, $400k for a house must seem very cheap. You can't even get a condo in my city for less than $700k.
posted by k8t at 9:46 AM on May 19, 2010
posted by k8t at 9:46 AM on May 19, 2010
If you haven't looked at the DC Urban Moms and Dads forum, it has quite a bit of information about schools and daycare.
posted by mcroft at 9:49 AM on May 19, 2010
posted by mcroft at 9:49 AM on May 19, 2010
Houses are cheap right now!
DC market didn't get hit in the way the rest of the country did.
That said, hi, welcome, I'm a moderately crunchy, affordable homeowning (with a small yard) father of two little girls commuting to Foggy Bottom on a daily basis (@30 min via Metro). We live and love living in Brookland. I cannot recommend Brookland enough (and a visit to my posting history will prove this). It's not so "urban" so much, but is on the Red Line and an easy jump to the action, but it is safe, walkable, friendly and a community. Best of all it is still an affordable part of the city.
Schools, like the rest of the district, are going through a massive transformation. There is no guarantee that if you set roots in the District you will need to move for the sake of schools. Some of the charter schools, if you can get in, are some of the best schools anywhere. Some of the public schools too have been picked up as a sort of "cause" by neighborhoods and have been built into model schools. This movement is now starting to trickle up to the middle school level with the involved parents pressuring the school board for improvements there. Here is a great resource for school info. Our daughter will start at a small, (fairly inexpensive) private montesori in the fall, only becuase pre-k 3 programs are limited. We're actually thinking of opening a co-op daycare with our Brookland neighbors.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:51 AM on May 19, 2010
DC market didn't get hit in the way the rest of the country did.
That said, hi, welcome, I'm a moderately crunchy, affordable homeowning (with a small yard) father of two little girls commuting to Foggy Bottom on a daily basis (@30 min via Metro). We live and love living in Brookland. I cannot recommend Brookland enough (and a visit to my posting history will prove this). It's not so "urban" so much, but is on the Red Line and an easy jump to the action, but it is safe, walkable, friendly and a community. Best of all it is still an affordable part of the city.
Schools, like the rest of the district, are going through a massive transformation. There is no guarantee that if you set roots in the District you will need to move for the sake of schools. Some of the charter schools, if you can get in, are some of the best schools anywhere. Some of the public schools too have been picked up as a sort of "cause" by neighborhoods and have been built into model schools. This movement is now starting to trickle up to the middle school level with the involved parents pressuring the school board for improvements there. Here is a great resource for school info. Our daughter will start at a small, (fairly inexpensive) private montesori in the fall, only becuase pre-k 3 programs are limited. We're actually thinking of opening a co-op daycare with our Brookland neighbors.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:51 AM on May 19, 2010
Adding to the chorus - Arlington sounds like a good fit for you. Decent public schools, easy commute into the city (Especially Foggy Bottom), and the county itself is sufficiently urban that you can easily find a place within walking distance of parks, bike trails, retail, etc. I live in the Ballston neighborhood now - I'm ten minutes from a Metro stop, a stone's throw from a bike trail, and only two metro stops (or a half-hour's leisurely walk) from Clarendon. (Clarendon and Courthouse are sort of the "downtown" neighborhoods of North Arlington - good restaurants, bars, music venues and so on). I pay less than $1000/month for a one-bedroom apartment.
If you like, I'd be happy to talk to you about the area in more detail - feel free to memail me.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 10:15 AM on May 19, 2010
If you like, I'd be happy to talk to you about the area in more detail - feel free to memail me.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 10:15 AM on May 19, 2010
Your commute largely determines your quality of life in DC. If you can find a place where you can easily walk/Metro to work, you will be much happier. And under no circumstances succumb to the temptation to live more than a very short drive away (i.e. less than a couple miles).
The Foggy Bottom, the West End, or even the southern reaches of the Dupont Circle area would be convenient for you initially; there are very many temporary/corporate housing units on offer there, and the neighborhoods are pleasant and relatively safe. However, you are simply not going to reliably get a quality education from the DC Public Schools; the very few DC neighborhoods that have decent public schools are out of your price range even at a $200K/year annual household income.
I'd recommend basing yourself in North Arlington right from the start. That will give you an immediate feel for the neighborhoods there. The neighborhoods within easy walking distance of the Courthouse, Clarendon, and Ballston Metro stops would be the only ones I'd consider; living there will give you the option of commuting via Metro, car (if necessary), or even walking (if the weather is nice, or the occasional infrastructure-overwhelming event occurs). Each of those three neighborhoods is great, and each has a different feel, with Clarendon being the most 'happening'. But those three Orange Line metro stops are definitely your "sweet spot"; Rosslyn is too sterile, and you're too deep in the suburbs if you go all the way out to one of the Falls Church stops.
posted by Dimpy at 10:57 AM on May 19, 2010
The Foggy Bottom, the West End, or even the southern reaches of the Dupont Circle area would be convenient for you initially; there are very many temporary/corporate housing units on offer there, and the neighborhoods are pleasant and relatively safe. However, you are simply not going to reliably get a quality education from the DC Public Schools; the very few DC neighborhoods that have decent public schools are out of your price range even at a $200K/year annual household income.
I'd recommend basing yourself in North Arlington right from the start. That will give you an immediate feel for the neighborhoods there. The neighborhoods within easy walking distance of the Courthouse, Clarendon, and Ballston Metro stops would be the only ones I'd consider; living there will give you the option of commuting via Metro, car (if necessary), or even walking (if the weather is nice, or the occasional infrastructure-overwhelming event occurs). Each of those three neighborhoods is great, and each has a different feel, with Clarendon being the most 'happening'. But those three Orange Line metro stops are definitely your "sweet spot"; Rosslyn is too sterile, and you're too deep in the suburbs if you go all the way out to one of the Falls Church stops.
posted by Dimpy at 10:57 AM on May 19, 2010
Just to throw it out there: The only Trader Joe's in DC is in Foggy Bottom. You may be able to get your shopping done on the way home from work.
I drive across the city to do my shopping there. Like many other aspects of DC, the grocery situation was once dire, but is slowly improving (there are a few Whole Foods locations, but I'm not even sure that moderately crunchy folks can afford to shop there).
I get my produce from these guys.
If you want suburbs, NoVA's got lots of 'em, and most people seem to prefer raising kids out there over DC itself. That said, DC public schools are improving by leaps and bounds, there are excellent charter schools dotted around the city, and I commend you for even considering DCPS.
posted by schmod at 11:51 AM on May 19, 2010
I drive across the city to do my shopping there. Like many other aspects of DC, the grocery situation was once dire, but is slowly improving (there are a few Whole Foods locations, but I'm not even sure that moderately crunchy folks can afford to shop there).
I get my produce from these guys.
If you want suburbs, NoVA's got lots of 'em, and most people seem to prefer raising kids out there over DC itself. That said, DC public schools are improving by leaps and bounds, there are excellent charter schools dotted around the city, and I commend you for even considering DCPS.
posted by schmod at 11:51 AM on May 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 9:05 AM on May 19, 2010