I’ve been renting in Capitol Hill, DC for almost a decade and love it dearly. While I look to buy in the near future, all that seems available to me are small spaces. While I could be happy in a 1-2 bedroom condo, I’m not sure how long that would suit me. I’ve always wanted to find a house to move into and stay for decades.
Bolton Hill architecture reminds me of Capitol Hill! It’s a stunning neighborhood.
However I’m used to the vibrancy, walkability and safety (I can walk at midnight with zero worries). Would Bolton Hill be too big of a jump for me? Or is the crime not all that bad?
All feedback appreciated!
needleinacamelseye t1_j0a1yjr wrote
Vibrancy: it's definitely residential. I describe it as being close to a lot of things without being next to them. You're close to Mount Vernon and Station North for all your culture wants - most of the city's cultural institutions and a fair number of its restaurants/bars are within a twenty-minute walk - but you're very much not in the middle of it all. With the exception of when MICA classes let out, the sidewalks are never very busy, and they're pretty much devoid of foot traffic by 8pm.
Walkability: Most of the things I need for daily life are within walking distance, but they're never on the corner of the block and there might only be one walkable option. There are three restaurants, a café, and a kick-ass dive bar, but those are your only entertainment options. There's a Save-a-lot discount grocery store in the neighborhood as well as a pharmacy, but beyond that most of your shopping will be found fifteen to twenty minutes away by foot in Mt Vernon. As said before, lots of cultural institutions and restaurants/bars can be found in Mt Vernon and Station North. Druid Hill Park is also within a slightly longer walk, as is most of downtown. There's also great transit access - the light rail and the subway both stop on the edge of the neighborhood, as do several bus lines.
Safety: It's not bad, but it could be better. Bolton Hill is a fairly wealthy neighborhood that sits very close to one of the city's poorest areas. MICA has their own safety patrols that keep eyes on the street at all hours. However, there have been a rash of muggings and carjackings this year, and property crime (including catalytic converter theft) is always a concern. I would feel OK walking around past midnight (fellow white guy here), but I would absolutely not wear headphones or walk around with my face in my phone. You absolutely will not have a problem being LGBTQ+ here - there are plenty of non-straight folks around. Overall, I don't think crime is much worse than, say, Mt Vernon, but it's definitely not as safe as Roland Park or Locust Point.
Please don't let the above make you think I don't like it here - Bolton Hill is a wonderful neighborhood in a great location filled with lovely people. I met a guy a few months ago who had lived in the same house on Park Ave for eighty years - this is definitely an area people commit to. I'd love to stay as long as I can.