Chevy Chase DC Neighborhood
There’s a town in DC named after Chevy Chase, the actor? Is there a difference between Chevy Chase (in DC) and Chevy Chase in Maryland? Along with these mysteries to solve, we’re also going to learn why the streets are so quiet, what may happen if the schools are rezoned and what the big warning is to watch out for if you buy a condo. Let’s discuss why people love living in the DC Neighborhood of Chevy Chase!
I do these videos for you every week and break down living in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. I’ve lived here over 20 years and I know these areas. I go deeper than anybody. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the new videos.
Location
Chevy Chase is just inside the DC line and west of Rock Creek Park. I’m including Barnaby Woods today too, since it’s a small residential pocket northeast of Chevy Chase. This is a somewhat unique area in the city. You’re tucked away off the main path of the city noise. Here, you will find quiet, tree-lined streets with great access to parkland. Many of the roads dead end at Rock Creek Park so you’re in the lucky position of not being an area people pass through on the way to somewhere else. This means there are safer streets for kiddos and dogs to play.
Real Estate in Chevy Chase
There are all different types of homes in Chevy Chase DC. Along one of the main thoroughfares, Connecticut Avenue, there are tons of mid-century style condo buildings. Studios and one-bedroom condos start around $200,000 and go into the $300,000’s.
If you want a two bedroom / two bath, the prices start around $600,000 and go to the low $1M’s. The value on some of these condos is amazing for the price and square footage that you get. Here’s your warning about condos – watch out for the monthly fees. Many of these buildings are full-service, meaning they have amenities and front desk staff 24/7. That translates to high monthly fees.
If you want single family houses, Chevy Chase and Barnaby Woods have houses. Many many houses. You will find both rowhomes or twins, and single family detached homes. You can find homes here under $1M, but it’s not super common. It is more possible here though to find a home under $1M than it is in neighboring AU Park and Tenleytown. This is because you’re a bit farther from metro here, and more car dependent. Approximately 5% of the homes in Chevy Chase will sell under $1M but they will likely need work or be on the smaller side as in the case of a rowhome.
Many homes are actually Sears Catalog homes. Of course they’ve been added on to and renovated so the Sears Catalog origins are not always evident. Houses here are going to set you back in the 7 figures. You can find homes at any price point between $1M to $2.2M and the rise in prices is spread evenly. The average price for the last six months is $1.79M. The median price is $1.5M.
There are a variety of house types in Chevy Chase – colonial, tudor, craftsman, farmhouse, bungalow, contemporary, modern. Many of the homes have front and backyards so if it’s green space you want, green space you will get!
Fun
This is definitely a quieter part of DC. Just because it’s quiet though, doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Two of the neighborhood hotspots are right on Connecticut Avenue. Comet has music and ping pong.
There’s Politics & Prose Bookstore which is a great place to grab a cup of coffee or pick up a new read. You can also head to the Chevy Chase library!
If you love to be outside, consider yourself lucky. Rock Creek Park is the eastern border of Chevy Chase, where there’s endless opportunities for hiking, sports and picnics.
Lafayette Pointer Park and Recreation Center was renovated in 2021. Fun Fact – they added the “Pointer” part to the name after a slave who bought his freedom and who lived on the land where the park is. His house was ultimately seized by the District for eminent domain to build the elementary school. The park has playgrounds, a splash park, tennis and basketball courts and baseball. They also have indoor rooms where they host camps in the summer, yoga and other programs.
There are also tennis courts at Fort Reno Park at Chesapeake and Nebraska. Fort Reno also has a summer concert series and you can bring your dogs, if they like music. Annie is partial to this new band called the Aussie Shepherds. Their new album is called Barking Up the Wrong Tree.
Is Chevy Chase Good for Families?
Public schools in Chevy Chase are highly rated and highly sought after. Lafayette Elementary is one of the highest rated schools in the city. They are about to announce a new principal, which, depending who you ask, is a good thing. There were strong opinions about the current Principal. She will be gone at the end of the school year in spring 2024.
Lafayette-Pointer park is adjacent to the school and has a fantastic playground and tennis/basketball and baseball.
The middle school for a large part of NW is here too – Alice Deal Middle School. It has a very high enrollment number – close to 1500 students across three grades, 6th, 7th and 8th. One thing to know, the overcrowding at Deal Middle School is enough of a problem that there is always a possibility of rezoning. But, it seems for the next 10 years that is not going to happen. And if it comes up again, it’s likely to be fought tooth and nail.
The high school for most of NW DC is also here – Jackson Reed.
Honorable mention goes to Ramer’s Shoes on Northampton Street in Chevy Chase. Most city parents come here to get their children fitted here for shoes because they are so excellent at getting you the right size. They also hand select every shoe in the shop and they know what the kids (and parents) like!
Food in Chevy Chase
Because it shares the Western Ave border with Chevy Chase, Maryland, a lot of the same restaurants and retail serve both areas.
Inside Chevy Chase DC, the Connecticut Avenue strip has several great choices. My favorite restaurant in DC is here – Parthenon, which serves amazing authentic Greek food.
Macon Bistro & Larder is well known for its southern cooking. They have fresh biscuits, gourmet burgers and the “larder” side supplies carry out-ready pickles, cookies, and pies.
Blue 44 serves American “comfort” food. The Avenue has updated pub fare with a kid-friendly basement den.
Broad Branch Market is a gourmet deli and grocery store at Broad Branch Road and Northampton St, just across from Lafayette Elementary School. The neighbors love this shop for craft coffee, beer & wine and grab and go foods.
Sfoglina is just a bit south of Chevy Chase on Connecticut Avenue in Van Ness. This is a Fabio Trabocchi Italian restaurant and is really highly rated.
In Friendship Heights on Wisconsin Avenue, there’s Clyde’s, which is a local DC favorite, as well as Maggianos and Cheesecake Factory. There are some hidden gems to know about in Chevy Chase on the Maryland side, Bethesda and Silver Spring too – which you have very quick access to.
La Ferme is a French restaurant and usually makes the “most romantic restaurant” lists in the area. Enjoy the country farmhouse decor, large fireplace, and live piano music. They also have a covered patio.
Brookeville Market is a small grocery store, also in Martin’s Addition.
Olympia Café has salads, wraps, and sandwiches and is also in Martin’s Addition
You will also be close to the much revered Parkway Deli in Silver Spring. This is a New York City style deli, famous for their Matzo Ball Soup.
As far as grocery stores, you are not lacking for food options here. There is Safeway on Connecticut Avenue inside the DC line, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and MacGruders.
So Is Chevy Chase Named After the Neighborhood?
Indirectly. Chevy Chase the actor’s last name really is Chase. His first name is Cornelius. His grandmother nicknamed him Chevy, after the Ballad of Chevy Chase which was written about the battle over a “chaice” in the 1300’s in England. The Chevy Chase Historical Society believes that the name originated from the same Ballad.
Chevy Chase DC started its existence as a streetcar suburb – a suburb that came about thanks to the streetcar trolley. Nevada Senator Francis Newlands began acquiring land in Chevy Chase in the late 1800’s at the height of the Gilded Age. Newlands formed the Chevy Chase Land Company which was a major homebuilder that built homes along Connecticut Ave Dupont Circle, to where Chevy Chase DC is now. A streetcar suburb no more, Chevy Chase is a highly desired neighborhood with a ton of empty nesters and families who happily call it home.
