Wheaton

The community of Forest Estates is a part of the greater Forest Glen area in Silver Spring. Offering residents’ charm, parks and location all in one, this DC suburb is a cool place to be. “A lot of people like this area because the neighborhood is very established, has a lot of mature trees and beautiful homes,” explains Tamara Kucki, Realtor with RLAH @properties. Comprised of approximately 700 homes, this community features many houses built in the 1930s and ‘40s. “The homes in Forest Estates feel really custom built. They have a lot more detail and craftmanship, like crown molding and custom woodwork. They tend to be larger and they have larger footprints and driveways” Prospective buyers can choose from minimalist designs like cottages and ramblers to split-levels and Colonial styles. The average sale price here is $562,000, with price points varying depending on the age, size and condition of the property. The area also benefits from a strong community association, which works collaboratively to sponsor events like the local Farmers’ Market, held in General Getty Park each week. Students here attend Montgomery County Public Schools, like Flora M. Singer Elementary, Sligo Middle and Albert Einstein High School. Ranking as Maryland’s second-best school district in the state, it should come as no surprise that all three schools received a rating of B+ or higher from Niche.com. For all your essential amenities a quick jaunt down Georgia Avenue provides grocery stores, casual eateries and retail options too. And for all of your healthcare needs, you’ve also got Holy Cross Hospital in your backyard too. Founded in 1963, Holy Cross is a 449-bed, not-for-profit teaching hospital that attends to more than 36,000 patients each year. “One of the biggest draws for this area is the parks. You’ve got the General Getty Park right off Georgia Avenue, and the Sligo Creek Park too. People are always using the Sligo Creek Trail, you’ll see them out jogging, walking their pets, it’s just a really beautiful area,” adds Kucik. For a unique experience and architecture from across the century, head over to neighboring Forest Glen and explore the National Park Seminary. Formerly home to an all-girls boarding school (early 19th century) and later converted to a triage area for the Walter Reed Army Hospital during World War II, this park sat dormant for many years. Today the National Park Seminary encompasses 32 acres and was redeveloped to maintain the area’s unique architecture. In addition to town house and condo options, a stroll through the Seminary offers such unique structures as a pagoda, a Tudor-influenced Victorian complex and a windmill. The other perk of living in Forest Estates? “It’s commutable, and you’re less than a mile from the Metro Station” says Kucik. Hop on the Red Line at Forest Glen Station, or snag one of the MTA bus lines and take it into downtown Washington DC, for work or play. This is Forest Estates, a cozy community to call home, in the heart of Silver Spring.

Pagodas, Tudors and castles? Oh, my! Welcome to Forest Glen, a charming community of Silver Spring. Featuring an eclectic mix of architectural styles and builds from the 19th century to the present date, Forest Glen offers residents charm and location all in one suburb with proximity to Washington DC. “It’s a really unique area,” explains Tamara Kucik, Realtor with RLAH @properties, “Because you’ve got the austere, plain World War II housing, then you have a section of brand new town houses. Then another section of the original Forest Glen homes—that are more stately, Victorians, Colonials, and then some simpler ordinary ramblers too.” Prospective buyers can choose from single-family homes, town house or condo options in a wide variety of styles from across the past few decades. The average sales price here is $800,000 with price points varying depending on the age, size and condition of the property. For example, a two-bedroom two-bath condo can go for $535,000; a three-bedroom four-bath town house can go for $620,000 and a fully renovated four-bedroom three-bath Tudor style cottage can go for upwards of $1.1 million. Forest Glen is also home to the National Park Seminary, which in its former life was an all-girls boarding school (early 19th century) and then was later converted to a triage area for the Walter Reed Army Hospital during World War II. Sitting dormant for many years, today the National Park Seminary encompasses 32 acres and was redeveloped to maintain the area’s unique architecture while also offering town house and condo options. A stroll through the Seminary, offers such unique structures as a pagoda, a Tudor-influenced Victorian complex and a Dutch windmill. Students here attend Montgomery County Public Schools, like Flora M. Singer Elementary, Newport Mill Middle and Montgomery Blair High School. Ranking as Maryland’s second-best school district in the state, it should come as no surprise that all three schools received a rating of B+ or higher from Niche.com. For all your essential amenities a quick jaunt down Georgia Avenue provides grocery stores, casual eateries and retail options too. And for all of your healthcare needs, you’ve also got Holy Cross Hospital in your backyard too. Founded in 1963, Holy Cross is a 449-bed, not-for-profit teaching hospital that attends to more than 36,000 patients each year. “One of the biggest draws for this area is the parks. You’ve got the General Getty Park right off Georgia Avenue, and the Sligo Creek Park too. People are always using that trail, you’ll see them out jogging, walking their pets, its just a beautiful area,” adds Kucik. And of course, one of the best parts about living in Forest Glen? “It’s commutable, and you’re less than a mile from the Metro Station” says Kucik. Hope on the Red Line at Forest Glen Station, or snag one of the MTA bus lines and take it into downtown Washington DC, for work or play. This is Forest Glen, a magical place to call home, right in the heart of Silver Spring.

North Kensington is a census-designated place and a prime example of a Montgomery County suburb. “Back in the ‘80s, everyone wanted to go to Chevy Chase or Bethesda and probably didn’t know where Kensington was if you asked them. Now people want to live here,” says Gary & Diana Ditto, two longtime Kensington residents and real estate agents with the Ditto Group of Long & Foster. Buyers are drawn to the area’s housing stock of midcentury homes cloaked in mature trees, especially in subdivisions like the Rock Creek Woods Historic District. Residents here have diverse benefits, from three public schools within the neighborhood limits, convenient access to Rock Creek Trail and other parks to the west and a dense retail center in Wheaton bordering to the east. North Kensington's homes branch from Connecticut Avenue, which stretches to the nation's capital in 10 miles. Home values range from $450,000 to $1 million, varying by age, square footage and lot size. Much development came in the post-World War II housing boom, which spread for miles surrounding Washington D.C. Styles include Cape Cods, split-levels and brick ramblers, often sitting on spacious grass lawns and shaded by consistent tree coverage. The Rock Creek Woods Historic District lies at the heart of North Kensington and was plotted and designed by architect Charles M. Goodman in the mid-1950s. “The houses are avant-garde and designed very differently than in nearby areas,” says Gary Ditto. “[There are] California-style ranchers with lots of grass, open space, and not many walls. For a long time, it was populated by medical doctors from NIH.” Goodman wanted to distinguish his Contemporary home designs from the typical Virginia Colonial Revival homes on the other side of the Potomac. The result is a modern suburb that preserves native plants and topography, creating winding cul-de-sacs dotted with beech, poplar and dogwood trees between homes. "One of the great features of this neighborhood is that it backs right up to Rock Creek Park," explains Harry Moore, Realtor with eXp Realty LLC. "So biking, hiking, walking, and just wandering the woods are all just outside your front door." The vast regional green space of Rock Creek serves as the western border to North Kensington, so locals can quickly access the 18-mile Rock Creek Trail, which stretches from Rockville into Northwest D.C. Ken-Gar Palisades Park also takes up 20 acres of Rock Creek close to home, and features basketball and tennis courts, fields for soccer and softball and a playground for kids. The Montgomery County Road Runners Club, the largest running club in the region, usually trains in Ken-Gar Palisades Park. Further north is Dewey Local Park, which was renovated in 2020. Dewey Park hosts a playground with a "trike track" for kids still pedaling with training wheels, a picnic shelter, and a large, lighted dog park. East of Connecticut Avenue is Newport Mill Park, beside Albert Einstein High School. It has a playground and multi-use field where the community comes out for Mid-County Sparkles in July, a fireworks show that brings spectators from Wheaton and Kensington. Ditto served on the board of the Kensington Historical Society for many years and speaks highly of Kensington’s stalwart community spirit and popular annual events. One major event is the Kensington Train Show, which happens over a weekend in the Fall. “We started that about 12-14 years ago. Around 2,000 people come, including the local Boy Scouts. There are hot dogs, and on that Sunday, we have a storyteller who comes in and sings old-time train songs.” There’s also the Kensington Farmer’s Market, which runs year-round on Saturday mornings along Howard Avenue, close to the train station. Folks can buy local produce, preserves and artisan goods less than a mile south of home. There’s also the Kensington 8K Race in the fall, which Ditto claims brings out the serious runners in town, while the 1K race is more popular for kids and young adults. Less than a mile down Veirs Mill Road is Westfield Wheaton, an indoor mall featuring over 100 retailers with 27 dining options. Locals can shop at JCPenney or Target and grab a fast-casual lunch from Firehouse Subs or Grill Kabob in the food court. Down Connecticut Avenue is Kensington Shopping Center, with a Safeway for groceries and Artha Rini Indonesian Restaurant, which is locally loved for its authentic dishes like jackfruit curry and lamb satays. It is also the first halal Indonesian Restaurant in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region. Montgomery County Public Schools serve North Kensington. Students can attend Rock View Elementary and Albert Einstein High, earning A-minus overall ratings on Niche. Then there's Newport Mill Middle School, which has a B rating. Einstein High has an extensive College & Career Center, and the school is part of the Montgomery County Career Advising Program, which works in collaboration with Montgomery College to help middle and high school students search for the right careers. Commuters can take Connecticut Avenue or 16th Street Northwest to reach the major employers in downtown D.C. after a 10-mile drive, which takes about 40 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic. The Wheaton Metro station is less than 2 miles east and offers Red Line access through D.C. and Maryland. North Kensington is also within a mile of the Kensington and Garrett Park train stations, which offer MARC train access as far north as Frederick and south as far as Union Station in D.C. As Ditto says, Kensington is “where the train still stops, and the people still walk.”

A community within the greater Wheaton area, the neighborhood of Connecticut Avenue Park is located just south of Glenmont and above North Kensington. Primarily a residential area, residents of Connecticut Avenue Park benefit from cozy homes, lots of woodlands and proximity to Washington DC. Housing styles in Connecticut Avenue Park range from single-family homes to town house options. Prospective buyers can choose from minimalist cottages, ramblers and split levels or opt for the larger Colonial styles.. The average sales price is $467,000, but price points vary depending on the age, size and condition of the property. Students here attend Montgomery County Public Schools like Arcola Elementary, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School and Wheaton High School. Ranking as Maryland’s second-best school district in the state, it should come as no surprise that all three schools received a rating of ‘B’ or higher from Niche.com. In addition, Wheaton High School serves over 2300 students in ninth through twelfth grades and is known for its academies which range across disciplines from art to the biosciences to technology and global studies. For all of your daily essentials head over to Veirs Mill Road where you’ll find the Stoneymill Square Shopping Center. Featuring an expansive Korean Korner grocery store, several casual and fast food eateries and multiple retail options, you can knock out all of your errands here. Across the street, you’ll also find a Walgreens pharmacy and additional dining options. For an even broader assortment of retailers, the neighboring Westfield Wheaton Mall features over 100 stores and 27 dining establishments to choose from, as well as a movie theater. Situated adjacent to big box retailers like a Costco, DICK’s Sporting Goods and a Target, you can truly shop til you drop here. For some time outdoors, head over to Stoney Brook Local Park which features tennis courts and soccer fields for public use. Nearby, the Matthew Henson State Park offers 116 acres of green spaces and woodlands and is also home to the Matthew Henson Trail. Popular with hikers, bikers and rollerbladers this 4.2-mile trail includes a section of wooden boardwalk and contours the local creek. And being a part of the greater Wheaton area means residents of Connetticut Avenue Park will also benefit from this area’s shared amenities, like the Wheaton Regional Park and Wheaton Ice Arena. The park, which encompasses over 500 acres of land, includes three major recreational areas—Shorefiled, Glenallen and Orebaugh—with each offering a unique set of amenities ranging from playgrounds and athletic fields to picnic pavilions and even Brookside Gardens. An added benefit of living in Connecticut Avenue Park? You’re always close to local transit options, like the Glenmont Metro Station. Perfect for those commuting into neighboring Washington DC , park at the local Kiss and Ride station, then take the Metro where you need to be. This is Connecticut Avenue Park, a suburb of the greater Wheaton community.