Tell us about Odenton...
Aug 16th, 2005, 07:01 AM
#2
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I assume you mean Odenton, MARYLAND.
It's a quiet area, surrounded by parkland and farms yet convenient to DC (via commuter rail - see website below), Baltimore and Annapolis. The houses are clustered in a typical suburban fashion. Most of them are rather new as it is becoming somewhat of a suburb instead of the tiny town in the middle of nowhere that it used to be. It's also VERY close to BWI airport and the huge outlet mall Arundel Mills. I don't live there but have driven through it.
It's a quiet area, surrounded by parkland and farms yet convenient to DC (via commuter rail - see website below), Baltimore and Annapolis. The houses are clustered in a typical suburban fashion. Most of them are rather new as it is becoming somewhat of a suburb instead of the tiny town in the middle of nowhere that it used to be. It's also VERY close to BWI airport and the huge outlet mall Arundel Mills. I don't live there but have driven through it.
Aug 16th, 2005, 07:02 AM
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Aug 16th, 2005, 12:02 PM
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My feeling about Odenton is that it's near Fort Meade and has its share of low rent military off-base housing and the problems that come along with that, i.e. strip bars, etc. Having lived in Baltimore for 40+ years, I don't have positive images about Odenton.
Aug 16th, 2005, 12:25 PM
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Typical suburban sprawl, not as ugly as some. Between Baltimore and Washington, closer to Baltimore, on the B-W Parkway. Within striking distance of Annapolis. North of Laurel, where I once lived, which has turned into an armpit. Lots of business and industrial parks that way. Fortunately, Odenton is in, I believe, Howard County, which definitely has better schools than those of PG County and probably has better schools than any of those in northern Anne Arundel County. If you like German food and polka music, Blob's Park is close by. So is Laurel Race Track, if you like the horses.
Aug 17th, 2005, 11:17 AM
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Odenton is in Anne Arundel County, sitting just south and east of Fort Meade (and south and east of Laurel -- I believe that Shane has confused Odenton with Jessup, which is north of Laurel in Howard County and something of an armpit). While fairfax is partially correct about there being some "low rent military off-base housing and the problems that come along with that, i.e. strip bars, etc", he clearly hasn't been in the area lately. Odenton has recently seen lots of middle to upper-middle class development, with the development of large planned communities such as Piney Orchard and Seven Oaks, as well as the Waugh Chapel area. Retail and restaurants are coming on the heels of that, as well as "luxury" apartment rentals. Yeah, it's pretty suburban-sprawlish, but I'd rather live in Odenton than in Schaumburg. (Incidentally, I don't live in Odenton, but am quite familiar with the area.)
Moreover, the addition of thousands of new jobs to the National Security Agency (located on Fort Meade) -- which are, incidentally, well-paying jobs and will result in job growth for government contractors in the area, will ensure the ongoing growth of better housing options and amenities for residents of western Anne Arundel County. Congestion will inevitably follow as well (no silver lining without a cloud...)
Of course, I wouldn't be too excited about the schools in western AA County right now. But there is talk of adding an International Baccalaureate program to Meade High School, which would improve matters.
Moreover, the addition of thousands of new jobs to the National Security Agency (located on Fort Meade) -- which are, incidentally, well-paying jobs and will result in job growth for government contractors in the area, will ensure the ongoing growth of better housing options and amenities for residents of western Anne Arundel County. Congestion will inevitably follow as well (no silver lining without a cloud...)
Of course, I wouldn't be too excited about the schools in western AA County right now. But there is talk of adding an International Baccalaureate program to Meade High School, which would improve matters.
Aug 17th, 2005, 11:59 AM
#8
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Great feedback on Odenton, thanks! It is official that we are moving and we are coming out the weekend of the 27th to look for a place. We also heard that Crofton was an area to check out. I am sure the schools in the area will improve with the growth. Exciting to hear of the new employment opportunities. I am currently an office manager/executive assistant. But, waiting until we are moved and the kids are settled in school to look for a new job. Thanks again!
Aug 18th, 2005, 05:26 AM
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Callaloo has deservedly taken me to the woodshed. I did confuse Odenton with the Savage-Jessup area on the west side of Fort Meade. Odenton and Crofton are very good choices for your circumstances, Dawn. You might add Crownsville to the mix. The Odenton-Crofton-Crownsville area is ideal in that they are close to Annapolis, Washington and Baltimore. You will be able to do most of your shopping in the Odenton-Crofton area and go to Westfield Mall outside Annapolis.
As for your husband's route into the city, let me give advice from a 45 year old who has worked downtown for 27 years. In the morning, he should take 50 West to just past the New Carrollton Metro stop and get off at Exit 5- Route 410. Take 410 North for half a mile to Route 450-Annapolis Road. Take 450 West through Landover Hills and Bladensburg where it merges into Route 202- Landover Road. Take 202 into Cottage City where you take a right onto 38th Avenue and into Brentwood. Then take a left onto Rhode Island Ave. Rhode Island Avenue will take you into north downtown and your husband will take 9th or 11 th Street to the Convention Center.
The route home will be a little different. Take Rhode Island east. Just past the Cluck-U Chicken in Northeast DC, he'll take a right on Evarts Street. Evarts leads to Queen's Chapel Road and he'll take a right here and take the road over the train tracks and to Bladensburg Road. Take a left on Bladensburg Road and a quick right onto V Street. V Street leads you to the South Dakota Avenue/New York Avenue merge near the Washington Times offices. This road becomes Route 50 East and the road home.
As for your husband's route into the city, let me give advice from a 45 year old who has worked downtown for 27 years. In the morning, he should take 50 West to just past the New Carrollton Metro stop and get off at Exit 5- Route 410. Take 410 North for half a mile to Route 450-Annapolis Road. Take 450 West through Landover Hills and Bladensburg where it merges into Route 202- Landover Road. Take 202 into Cottage City where you take a right onto 38th Avenue and into Brentwood. Then take a left onto Rhode Island Ave. Rhode Island Avenue will take you into north downtown and your husband will take 9th or 11 th Street to the Convention Center.
The route home will be a little different. Take Rhode Island east. Just past the Cluck-U Chicken in Northeast DC, he'll take a right on Evarts Street. Evarts leads to Queen's Chapel Road and he'll take a right here and take the road over the train tracks and to Bladensburg Road. Take a left on Bladensburg Road and a quick right onto V Street. V Street leads you to the South Dakota Avenue/New York Avenue merge near the Washington Times offices. This road becomes Route 50 East and the road home.
Aug 18th, 2005, 06:19 AM
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Shane,
Whoh! How many trips before you settled on that route? I'll file it away in case I ever drive in or out of downtown toward that area during rush hour.
If I lived in Odenton, then I would just take a commuter train and relax, read, or have a beer.
Whoh! How many trips before you settled on that route? I'll file it away in case I ever drive in or out of downtown toward that area during rush hour.
If I lived in Odenton, then I would just take a commuter train and relax, read, or have a beer.
Aug 18th, 2005, 06:27 AM
#13
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I've driven that route into DC Shane but with the Marc train so close to Odenton Bardo probably had a great thought there to ride in and out and just chill out.
Odenton is a nice area Dawn and so is Crofton but that Marc train might give you a little easier trip than driving would.
As to schools in an area - for the most part you will still have to check out the individual schools that your children would go to. There are marvelous schools in Fairfax, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel and there are also some with pretty bad reputations. And by bad reputations I mean indifferent administrations, drug problems, each school should be looked at.
Odenton is a nice area Dawn and so is Crofton but that Marc train might give you a little easier trip than driving would.
As to schools in an area - for the most part you will still have to check out the individual schools that your children would go to. There are marvelous schools in Fairfax, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel and there are also some with pretty bad reputations. And by bad reputations I mean indifferent administrations, drug problems, each school should be looked at.
Aug 18th, 2005, 08:50 AM
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bardo, it took me approximately 17,746 commutes to come up that route.
As for the MARC train, if it serves beer, as bardo alludes to, that might be a very nice alternative. The Washington Metro, however, does not allow for eating or drinking on their very uncomfortable subway cars. I tried the subway for two years, hated it, and will never try it again, even with gas prices at the $ 2.65 a gallon level. Life's too short. Standing for 35 minutes on the subway after a day's labor is not fun.
As for the MARC train, if it serves beer, as bardo alludes to, that might be a very nice alternative. The Washington Metro, however, does not allow for eating or drinking on their very uncomfortable subway cars. I tried the subway for two years, hated it, and will never try it again, even with gas prices at the $ 2.65 a gallon level. Life's too short. Standing for 35 minutes on the subway after a day's labor is not fun.
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