Rate these DC neighborhoods Forum

[LSATNightmares]

This is relevant to my interests. I will be staying in a complex in the Southwest Waterfront area...any experience with that neighborhood?

I had a friend who lived there once. It seemed okay... a little isolated, and I'm not sure about supermarkets. I was good friends with his girlfriend, and she would tell me that she felt uncomfortable late at night walking alone to Metro so she would always get a cab in those situations. SW Waterfront itself is okay, but it's not that far from sketchier neighborhoods.

[LawSuccess]

Can anyone recommend specific apartments in Capital Hill that have a good reputation among GULC students?

[bdubs]

http://dcist.com/2012/05/all_those_dc_m ... mapped.php

[danitt]

This is relevant to my interests. I will be staying in a complex in the Southwest Waterfront area...any experience with that neighborhood?

If it's around the base you're pretty safe, it's just kind of boring. But walk a few blocks east of the base and things definitely start getting dodgy.

[jess]

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[BattleBuddy]

Haha, you guys are all talking about Eckington, Petworth and Columbia Heights like it was Trinidad during the days of road blocks into and out of the neighborhood...

1) Get to know your neighbors.
2) If you live in a predominately AA neighborhood, get yourself a black mama (older black lady who's lived there for decades), she will look after you.
3) If you are white, chances are not so high you will be shot as opposed to being mugged.
4) You can get mugged anywhere in DC.
5) Chances are you won't get mugged, calm down.
6) Don't be dumb.
a) Don't walk back drunk in areas you're unfamiliar with or know is dangerous. Take the taxi.
b) Don't wear your headphones are night while walking around.
c) Don't be pulling out your smartphones when leaving the metro station at night. That's prime time for someone to follow you and then mug you.

Btw, I hate you cyclists who believe you're above the law on the road. Every time I see you, I hope the car wins.

[prezidentv8]

Just stoppin in to toot Cleveland Park's horn

[parebare23]

Moving to NoMa!

[portaprokoss]

Foggy Bottom is nice. Walking distance to the national mall. Very relaxed and mellow.

[mps102]

Question for past/current DCites: How long do rentals normally stay on the market? I've been tracking a few places and they seem to be off the market within days, if not sooner. Is this just the reality of trying to find a place in the city? Is it unrealistic to property search in June if trying to start a lease in August?

Thanks in advance.

[caminante]

I've lived in DC proper for the past 7 years. I didn't read through all of the posts in this thread, but I wanted to stop in an offer some thoughts.

As to the poster above- rentals move extremely fast in DC. Usually nice rentals/ good deals get snatched up on the first day they are shown. This does not give an incentive to owners to put them on the market months in advance of the lease-start. I have never been able to sign on a place more than one month in advance of the lease start-date. There are exceptions to this in the large luxury-type apartment buildings.

For GULC- I would recommend Capitol Hill (Including the area near Stanton Park/Mass Ave that is very close to GULC), Eastern Market, or Logan Circle. Buses in DC are cheap, reliable, and easy once you know your routes. Good places to live (with a dog) on the Red Line would take you really far away from GULC. If you want the option of walking or biking to campus, I would focus on the nice neighborhoods near GULC rather than the nice neighborhoods on the red line. Chinatown is pretty nice, close, and on the red line, but it is not a very convenient area to live with a dog.

One note- many posters use "Capitol Hill" VERY loosely on craigslist. Be sure to verify the address is not actually closer to the Stadium or Potomac Ave metros.

[jess]

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[mps102]

Thanks Caminate and Jessuf. I think we're just going to have to sign a lease a month early on July 1st.