Living in Kensington’s Historic District
Kensington was established in the early 1890s as a planned Victorian community with a garden suburb vibe, complete with a library, local newspaper, a church and architecturally unique homes. Thanks to B&O passenger trains and streetcar lines, the neighborhood developed into a commuter community where those who worked in Washington, D.C. lived – a quieter place without the hustle and bustle that comes with owning a home in the nation’s capital. Much of the neighborhood’s early identity remains in Kensington’s Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Local businesses largely support the economy, and Victorian-style homes are within walking distance of Antique Row, the largest antiquing district in the D.C. area. But murals on the sides of these Howard Avenue buildings nod to the present-day, and newly constructed townhouses are conducive to modern lifestyles. Realtor and Kensington resident Scott Roof with Re/Max Realty Services says, “Kensington maintains trees, nature, walkability and a beautiful landscape. But, geographically, you’re close to Bethesda, D.C. and other major metropolitan areas. It’s a place where you can support small businesses.”
Weekends along Antique Row
On Howard Avenue, east of Connecticut Avenue, sits Antique Row, the oldest and largest antiquing district in the D.C. area. Inside brick buildings with stucco awnings and beside railroad tracks lie antique and specialty stores, cafes, restaurants, design centers and bookstores. Murals paint the sides of buildings, and public art is scattered throughout the area. With sidewalks and street parking, this is a great place to spend a weekend afternoon window shopping. It lies in Kensington’s Historic Business District, a small commercial district along Howard Avenue within walking distance of the neighborhood’s historic residencies. “The historic district embraces mom-and-pop shops,” Roof explains. “It has a lot of charm with the local businesses and the train running through.” This is the site of numerous community events, including the Kensington Farmer’s Market, the Kensington Day of the Book Festival, the Labor Day Parade and the summer concert series at Howard Avenue Park. To the west, there’s a Safeway grocery store where residents can pick up dinner ingredients. But numerous eateries, like Frankly… Pizza! and BabyCat Brewery also provide options for eating out.
Preserved garden suburb
Most of Kensington’s homes are part of the Kensington Historic District, an area listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 to preserve the neighborhood’s turn of the 20th-century garden suburb feel. Many houses have features that embody the time they were made, like wraparound porches and stained-glass windows. Sidewalks shaded by mature trees connect many residential roads, and white picket fences enclose some properties. Queen Annes, Colonial Revivals, shingle and Victorian homes sit along curved drives up and down this sloping landscape. Potential homebuyers can find a single-family home for between $620,000 and $1.25 million, depending on the size, age and condition. There are also some recently constructed townhouses in the area, typically costing between $580,000 and $1.2 million.
Pocket parks and Rock Creek Park
A few pocket parks are scattered throughout Kensington—small spaces great for reading a book on a bench or spending time in the sun. One such space is St. Paul Park, where there’s a playground, youth ball field, basketball court and paved walking trails around a large green space with scattered benches. Nearby Kensington Cabin Park offers similar amenities – plus a tennis court and cabin rentals – in a larger outdoor space. Four-and-a-half-acre Warner Circle Park is the former estate of town founder Brainard Warner and features a beautiful 19th-century Queen Anne home, carriage houses and lots of open green spaces, making it a great place for community activities. But Roof notes that nearby Rock Creek Park is the most trafficked in the area. “On the weekends, the infrastructure around the park is closed – they shut down the main road to get there, Beach Drive,” he explains. “People have to walk or bike to get into the park, which is nice because people can enjoy their time outdoors without cars driving by.”
Montgomery County Public Schools
Kensington is zoned for Montgomery County Public Schools. Students can attend Kensington-Parkwood Elementary School and North Bethesda Middle School, two schools that Niche grades an A. They can finish their public education at Walter Johnson High School, which Niche gives an A-plus and ranks No. 7 in Best Public High Schools in Maryland. At Walter Johnson – the first high school in the country named after a professional baseball player – numerous high-level academic programs are offered to students. Some include the Advanced Curriculum for Excellence in Science (ACES) Scholar Program, the APEX-Reach Scholars Program, Dual Enrollment with Montgomery College and the Linguistic Excellence and Discovery (LEAD) Program.
4 miles to Bethesda, 9 miles to Washington, D.C.
“Geographically, Kensington is in a great location,” Roof explains. “Commute-wise, you can get to whatever metropolitan area – Bethesda, D.C. – easily.” The neighborhood is 4 miles north of Bethesda and 9 miles north of the nation’s capital. Maryland Route 185 cuts through the center of Kensington and links with the Capital Beltway, which leads to Washington, D.C. It also forks with Maryland Route 193, which leads towards the northern and northeastern suburbs of D.C. To access the nation’s capital using public transportation, the Kensington MARC station leads right to Union Station. The neighborhood is also about 36 miles south of Baltimore and 38 miles west of Annapolis. In case of emergency, Suburban Hospital is about 3 miles southwest. And when it’s time to fly, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is about 23 miles south.
Photography Contributed By
Tyler Priola
