Considering Petworth

Thanks to Mr. Martin's prompting, I am posting to the blog, looking for your input.

I am a single young woman considering a move to the Petworth neighborhood. I know it is not traditionally the safest neighborhood in the city, and though I am savvy and have my wits about me when out-and-about, I am also concerned about my safety.

For those of you who live and/or work in Petworth and know the pulse of the area much better than I, would it be in my best self-security interest to seek residence in other parts of the city, or should I feel safe moving to Georgia and New Hampshire Avenues, NW?

Thank you for your consideration and I appreciate any feedback you have.

Laina
[email protected]

[Editor's note - readers can use the comments link at the bottom of this post, and/or contact Laina directly]

Comments

[H.P]

Hi there,

My husband and I recently saw a property in the area that we are interested in. The plan is to be able to rent it out the basement and then the rest in a few years. Have you guys tried renting out in the area. Do you think it would be difficult to find renters since there isn't a whole lot around within walking distance?

[Ivy Cruz]

I have lived here for five years and have not experienced any problems. Before moving here, I looked at available housing throughout the DC metropolitan area. If you don't care for the suburbs and like diversity, then this neighborhood is perfect. It's also amazingly convenient to just about everything.

[Dan]

To repeat the sentiments previously posted, Petworth has been a fantastic place to live (so far). I am one of the new homeowners listed in the recent home sales post on this site and have lived here for about 1 month. After being "priced out" of Capitol Hill and wishing to obtain a larger house, Petworth was my next choice. The people here have been friendly, my house is large for the price, and you're close to Rock Creek, Georgia, North Cap, and Metro for access to downtown. Besides a couple of bored kids, the neighborhood is strong and is more inviting then Columbia Heights, Eckington, and even Cap Hill (people there are too cool to say hello). Give Petworth a fair look or drop me a line for more info.

[Jacqueline]

My husband and I have lived in Petworth for more than 12 years and are, I suppose, middle-timers -- we haven't been here as long as the long-timers (30-40 years), but were here before the metro and the skyrocketing home prices. We've seen dramatic change in the demographics of the neighborhood, and appreciate many faces that have remained constant. As we've walked our dogs around the neighborhood for all these years, we've met and chatted with generous, kind, and fascinating souls, new and old. Petworth is a neighborhood where you can count on a friendly smile, a helpful suggestion, or a lazy conversation about the weather. Businesses are moving into the neighborhood, neighborhood groups are regularly cleaning the streets and planting flowers, window shutters are being painted and yards landscaped, as the neighborhood spruces up for a revival of sorts. But, without the wonderful mix of culture, class, generations, and individual histories, this neighborhood would be nothing more than an evolving image. This neighborhood is a wealth of human contact and interaction if you want it, which I think is so much more important than just being safe. The neighborhood is as safe as any in the city, and clearly from all the other posts, safer than some. But, more importantly, it is a place that can become home in a very important way, the wonderful people sharing your world.

[MissJenn32]

As you can tell I am a woman and single. :-)I have lived in Petworth since 1996 and I love Petworth. I live four blocks away from the Petworth metro. I can either go to Silver Spring to my favorite bar or down to Gallery Place to my other favorite bar. I shop at the Safeway in Petworth and the Fresh Fields on P st. I do not own a car so living in the area is very key for me. My only complaint are the little drug kiddies that are here but they don't bother me and I don't bother them. The one thing you need to do is not be afraid to smile and speak. I noticed the newbies in the neighboorhood and they always look like someone is going to harm them. Yes, crime is everywhere but I honestly have not had a single problem since I have lived here. I don't hang out with the bad element and I come and go when I please from 5:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Just don't use the alleys as shortcuts to get where you need to be.

Well wait there is something that scared me the large rat I saw rustling in the trashbag. Now, honey that scared me. If you can try moving as close to the metro as possible. You may contact me at my email if you would like. [email protected]

[Son]

I have to agree with all the posters before that Petworth is generally as safe as it can get as far as urban neighborhoods in DC can go. I've been living in Petworth for almost three years now and I love it. I strongly suggest you get to know your neighbors, especially the long-time residents and retirees... they're the eyes and ears of your block!

An interesting anecdote - I had jury duty yesterday and spent the good part of the day in the courtroom gallery sitting and waiting. During that wait, I got to chat with my fellow District residents from all corners of the city - from Capitol Hill to Columbia Heights to Anacostia to Brentwood. As we talked we realized that we all shared the same hassles and problems with living in DC - crime, crazy housing prices, that freezing upstairs bedroom in the back - and we had our fair share of horrific crime stories too. I gained a sense of solidarity with my fellow citizens from the crap we have to put up, but I also left thinking life in Petworth isn't so bad after all.

-Son

[Brooke]

I have been living in Petworth for almost two years now. When I first moved here, I lived alone. I was quite surprised how comfortable and safe (for the most part) I felt in this area, especially since I was used to living in the suburbs. As other people have indicated, you have your drug-dealers, occasional burglaries, and other crimes; however I can say, living here has been a positive existence. I would recommend you getting to know your neighbors, joining the neighborhood watch, and attending community meetings. Petworth is developing into a tight- knit community, with many people who will look out for you and your property.

[Abby]

My husband and I have recently moved to DC from down south, and my main concern with moving to the city was our safety in the areas we could afford. Of the areas we considered, this is by far the most comfortable to me. I walk home from the metro (about 6 blocks) and have never really felt threatened (and I'm a wuss!). I do watch for suspicious characters, but I'm very comfortable walking by myself. We're also starting to build quite a community, so I think we all watch out for each other.

[Joe]

My wife and I have lived in Petworth for only a month or two. Petworth seems safer to us than other neighborhoods we have lived in, e.g. Mt. Pleasant, Columbia Hts.

Hardcore Mt. Pleasant-style violence does not seem to happen much in Petworth, unless I am misreading the police blotter. You can of course get mugged or have your house broken into or simply be shaken by the presence of drug dealers in the alleyways, but most of that is likely in any neighborhood in D.C. and much of the suburbs.

And as a matter of subjective experience, we feel no more threatened by anything/anybody we encounter walking around Petworth than we have in those other neighborhoods. Generally we feel very free and serene walking around, even after dark. As everywhere, one has to be alert to one's surroundings, of course.

Neighborly relations between newcomers and longtimers I find quite good -- I am tempted to say better than anyplace I have ever lived, and I have lived in quite a few such brink-of-sweeping-change environments.

[Bill]

My wife and I have lived in Petworth for two years - after five years in Adams Morgan, where petty crime and riff-raff issues were much more of a problem - and really like it. The sense of community is really building like no other area of DC, I believe. Even old vs. new tensions are not so bad, many long-time residents are happy to latch onto the positive changes going on. And parking in front of your own house is an amazing luxury! Try that anywhere in Dupont etc. As far as safety, truth be told there is some nagging drug dealing in some spots and an occasional high-profile violent episode. Usually bad guy vs. bad guy. My sense is that muggings, burglaries, etc seem rare compared to many areas. I see women walking alone from the metro all the time, even after dark. Police tell me Petworth is drastically safer and quieter than it was even a few years ago.

[Tim]

The key thing to know about Petworth is that it is an old neighborhood. There are people here that have been here for generations (like my neighbor, she has lived in her house for over 55 years, as has her next door neighbor)and now new folks are moving in. This can and does create racial, economic and lifestyles differences and tension that are part and parcel of "gentrification". That said, I have found most folks very congenial and friendly - because generally speaking we all want to live safe and happy lives. There is that DC wariness but it is generally easy to unarm with a little kindness. To be sure, there is the thug element - sinister looks, muggings, drug deals, and car theft, etc. But it is a city neighborhood and that is part of the deal. If you are moving into the city from say, Rockville, Pentagon City or some other suburban area, it'll be very different. But I'll bet that Petworth will be more "interesting".

[AJS]

It's a great neighborhood; it's in the city. (You don't want to live out in Rockville, do you?) There are people up to no good in every neighborhood in the city, including Petworth. I believe there are far fewer of them here than in many other parts of the city, however, including some that are significantly more expensive.