DC House hunting

[susiesk]

My family and I are moving to the DC area in November.  I have 2.5 year old twins.  My husband will be working at Bolling AFB from Jan 2012-June 2012 and then in the Rosslyn area. 

We are looking at apartments and neighborhoods.  Our rent budget is $2600, including parking.  Here are is the wish list.

1. Walking community, we only have one car, library, parks, grocery/farmer's market

2. A shortish commute to both Bolling and Rosslyn, by public trans or car

3. 2 bedrooms, more would be great

4. cheap/decent part time preschool, not at all concerned about Elementary, we will move again before that

5. a yoga studio

6. vibrant community, not so much MacDonald's and Walmart

7. washer/dryer in apt, in the building at the very least

We have one friend recommending Old Town Alexandria and another recommending Adams Morgan/Woodley Park.  We will have a 5 day premove trip to check out neighborhoods and I really want to narrow it down to a certain area.

All advice will be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!

[mojumi]

You might consider the Capitol Hill area as well -- sounds like it fits your criteria.  

(I'm biased, that's where I grew up )

Just curious, what's your expectation for a 'shortish commute'.  5-10 mn?  20mn?  30-40?

Monique

[RosieL]

Old town is great, but I'm biased toward Capital Hill. I worked there for years and spend many an afternoon with coworkers wandering through the neighborhoods full of flowers good neighbors, working while walking. I know there's a strong "mothers on the hill" community, and that it's very walkable (at least around the 8th and Penn south east area). 

Old Town is also really nice, although I think a bit more yuppy than cap hill is. Old town is shorter to Rosslyn (same train line, blue), and a shorter trip to bolling, I expect. 

[dollyanna]

Agree with PPs that Capitol Hill is nice.

You might want to look into the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria.  http://www.visitdelray.com/ I haven't really spent much time there, but it seems like a nice community & I would assume more affordable than Capitol Hill.

Be forewarned: daycare in the DC area is expensive & hard to find.

[toutou22]

I have a three bedroom and 3 bathroom house for rent I think it is like your wish list it is walking distance to bolling AFB 19 minuets drive to Rosalyn 10 minuets from farmers market and the price is right it is 2000.00 only if you are interested please e-mil me to [e-mail]