Biking from Affordable Chevy Chase

by Redfin Blogger | 3 Comments

Can’t afford Chevy Chase? How about a townhouse with traditional colonial style instead of a single family home? Have you heard of the Crescent Trail?

Chevy Chase is not usually associated with the word “affordable.” But there are a few wonderful townhouses tucked into older neighborhoods that can be a real find. For a lower price ($400k-$700k) these homes offer most of the same benefits as independent houses, such as quiet residential streets, green spaces for the kids or dogs, and good schools. 

There are two such homes for sale on the same street right now on Hamlet Place in Chevy Chase Lake. One of them just reduced in price. The other is a corner unit. Try looking also in the Kenwood Forest development (more on that below). 

If you’re a bicycle commuter, then TAKE NOTE: the Crescent Trail is nearby. This takes you through Chevy Chase and Bethesda to downtown DC, much of it through beautiful national park land (entering the forest while crossing Massachussets Ave., photo below). Just think – you could live in Chevy Chase while keeping your monthly commuter payments and gym membership fees down. That’s got to be worth – what? – maybe a point on your mortgage?

Crescent Trail Overpass 

Other things to know about Chevy Chase Lake: this particular neighborhood is close to basic shopping on Connecticut Ave, and has great access to Bethesda, downtown DC, and the Beltway. You can get to Rockville in about 10 minutes if you have to do some evil but sometimes necessary “big box” shopping.  

Kenwood Forest is an entire mini-neighborhood of nice condominium townhouses and large lawns, located south of Bradley Road. It is very close to downtown Bethesda, the Chevy Chase shopping area on Wisconsin Ave., and the Bethesda Pool (oh, and the Crescent Trail runs right through it.) If you can’t afford Neiman’s or Tiffany’s then you can head to Filene’s Basement, Loehmann’s and TJ Maxx.

A few properties are for sale now in Kenwood Forest, such as this 3 Bed/2.5 Bath colonial at $559,900. There is also a Web site for the area at www.kenwoodforest.com. I once visited a friend on Hillandale in this area. His house looked small from the front but had a large kitchen, a small deck off of the dining room, 3 good-sized bedrooms up and a walk-out basement with nanny room.    

For more on Chevy Chase you can also visit the Chevy Chase Citizens Association.

Let me know if you have any other townhouse favorites in Chevy Chase and Bethesda.

Cheers, Allison

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  • E Harris

    Thanks for the great overview of the area! I especially like the idea of being near the Crescent Trail, and cycling to work. What about grocery stores in the area?

  • http://washingtondc.redfin.com/blog/author/allison.scuriatti allison.scuriatti

    Supermarkets:

    Near Chevy Chase Lake you have a variety of stores on Connecticut Ave north of Jones Bridge Road. There is a major supermarket, Einstein Bagels, Starbucks, an Italian eatery, a pricey garden furniture store, etc.

    Kenwood Forest is served by stores on all sides. There is a Whole Foods nearby on River Rd and a Trader Joe’s and Honey Baked Ham nearby on Wisconsin. On Arlington Blvd at Bradley Rd there is a Safeway, Strosneiders’TruValue Hardware, CVS, a bike shop, the awesome Daruma Japanese Market (and lunch counter), a bakery, and gift stores. That’s just the beginning. There is a also a Giant Foods and MANY more stores just a few blocks up where downtown Bethesda begins. This is all about half a mile away (except Whole Foods – 1.5 miles). If you really have a hole burning in your pocket then you can also visit the Mercedes Benz dealership.

    Have fun exploring.
    -a

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