Safety Concerns for female moving to D.C. (working near Washington Medical Center) (middle-class)

[cali-d.c.]

I am a young female considering moving to Washington D.C. for work. I am having doubts about taking the job now after hearing about crimes/numerous safety concerns.

My place of work will be at Children's National Medical Center on Michigan Avenue (near Catholic University)...I have heard that during the day it is fine there but at night....it is not some place you want to be. My work will probably require me to work long hours thus I am very very concerned about my safety while commuting home. I plan to live outside of D.C. perhaps in Silver Springs MD and commute via metro/bus.

I have heard stories but would like some real information from people that are familiar with this area....I am so torn at this point as the hospital would provide me with much experience but....I do not want to risk my safety/happiness.

Is anyone familiar with this area? Any info would be greatly greatly appreciated.

cali-d.c.

[saganista]

It isn't the greatest area in the world, but it's far from the worst either. I don't think I'd let fear of an urban environment make your job decision for you. Thousands of people work at CNMC every day, and they get up the next day and do it again. The hospital campus itself is about as safe as anywhere. It sits more or less in between the Park View and Edgewood neighborhoods, which are for the most part stable, peaceful, and long-established lower-middle and middle-class African American areas. There hasn't been so much gentrification here, certainly not to the degree as in nearby Petworth or Shaw, each of the latter having a Metro station in it.

Bottom line is that you'll want to take sensible urban precautions. I would talk to the folks at Children's about what security measures they have in place or recommend for staff with night arrivals and departures. This is not a new situation for them. They've handled it for years. Decades actually. They can tell you what you need to know and need to do. The hospital itself is of course one of the nation's premier pediatric institutions. I would not think the opportuntiy to work there is one that should be easily passed by.

[Zippy7fo]

Originally Posted by cali-d.c.

I am a young female considering moving to Washington D.C. for work. I am having doubts about taking the job now after hearing about crimes/numerous safety concerns.

My place of work will be at Children's National Medical Center on Michigan Avenue (near Catholic University)...I have heard that during the day it is fine there but at night....it is not some place you want to be. My work will probably require me to work long hours thus I am very very concerned about my safety while commuting home. I plan to live outside of D.C. perhaps in Silver Springs MD and commute via metro/bus.

I have heard stories but would like some real information from people that are familiar with this area....I am so torn at this point as the hospital would provide me with much experience but....I do not want to risk my safety/happiness.

Is anyone familiar with this area? Any info would be greatly greatly appreciated.

cali-d.c.

YOU"LL BE FINE...I did work there and didn't have any problems. Its a gigantic medical complex thats walled off from the neighborhoods and it has security and parking garages so you'll be fine. Your worrying about nothing really. Now that doesn't mean once you get outside of it that you should hop up and down the street at midnite because it is meh area at night. But like I said you'll be fine and don't listen to the others.....