Written by Lise Howe, Associate Broker at RLAH in Chevy Chase, MD, with lots of experience helping sellers, buyers, landlords and renters in Kenwood Forest, Chevy Chase MD.
Kenwood Forest I compared to Kenwood Forest II – how do you choose? Both are charming communities of townhouse-style condominiums located at the intersection of Bradley Boulevard and Arlington Boulevard, right on the edge of downtown Bethesda. Originally built as apartments for returning World War II veterans and later converted to condominiums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, these homes are set around quiet, landscaped courtyards with mature azaleas, cherry trees and crape myrtles that give the neighborhood a peaceful, established feel. The community is especially popular with pet owners, thanks to its easy access to the Capital Crescent Trail and walkability into downtown Bethesda.
How Buyers Choose Between Kenwood Forest I and Kenwood Forest II
Kenwood Forest is made up of two closely related communities—Kenwood Forest I and Kenwood Forest II—which together include nearly 400 homes. While the architecture and overall feel are very similar, the two are governed by separate condominium associations. Over the years, I’ve helped many clients buy, sell, and rent in both communities, and understanding these distinctions can make a real difference when deciding which one is the better fit.
Kenwood Forest I primarily offers two-, three-, and four-bedroom townhomes, some with basements and some without. Homes are arranged along green courtyards and streets including Fairfax Road, Bradley Boulevard and Kenwood Forest Lane. The location is a major draw—close to downtown Bethesda, the Bethesda Pool, and just steps from the Capital Crescent Trail. While it is not close to Norwood Park, it is close to a small park with a soccer field that runs along Arlington Road.
Kenwood Forest II has two-, three- and four-bedrooms townhomes with basements and without, just as Kenwood Forest I has, but it also has studio condos along Hillandale Road and one bedroom units along Offutt Lane and Hillandale. Homes are arranged along Bradley Boulevard, Hillandale Road, Chevy Chase Drive, Offutt Lane and Willett Since it is east of Arlington Road, it is slightly closer to downtown Bethesda and the Metro. It is also close to Norwood Park, the Bethesda Pool, and the Capital Crescent Trail (accessible through a gate from behind several of the townhomes directly onto the Trail) Norwood Park is popular for its playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, and large open green fields.
How Kenwood Forest I Differs from Kenwood Forest II
At first glance, the two communities look almost identical, but there are several practical differences I always review with my buyers and renters.
Kenwood Forest I uses an off-site property manager, while Kenwood Forest II has an on-site manager. Both use Abaris for its condo management. Parking is another key distinction. In Kenwood Forest I, each townhome comes with one assigned parking space, plus access to unnumbered reserved spaces. In Kenwood Forest II, residents receive parking stickers—typically two per unit plus a guest pass—and may park anywhere on the property, though there is no assigned space directly outside the home. In practice, parking in Kenwood Forest II is rarely an issue, but some buyers strongly prefer the predictability of an assigned space, which makes Kenwood Forest I especially appealing.
Maintenance responsibilities also differ slightly. Both associations cover roofs and exterior maintenance such as painting and siding, and both fund infrastructure repairs through reserves. However, deck maintenance is handled differently: in Kenwood Forest I, decks are the responsibility of the individual owner, while in Kenwood Forest II, decks are maintained by the association. This is one of those details that often surprises buyers—and something I always flag early in the process.
Pet Policy
Kenwood Forest I is known for its flexible and pet-friendly policies. Currently, there are no breed or weight restrictions, and the rules do not appear to limit residents to a single dog, making this community especially attractive to pet owners. Kenwood Forest II states that there should only be one dog per unit, but there is no restriction on breeds or weight. Although the language is there in the condo rules, I have not known it to be enforced in Kenwood Forest II, but it is important to recognize the restriction does exist.
Schools
Kenwood Forest I is part of the Westbrook Elementary, Westland Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) cluster. Kenwood Forest II goes to Somerset Elementary, Westland Middle and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School B-CC is well known for its strong academics, International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and recently expanded facilities, including new classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and athletic amenities. Nearby private school options include Holton-Arms, Landon, Georgetown Prep, and Stone Ridge.
What’s Nearby
Both Kenwood Forest I and II are true leave-your-car-at-home neighborhoods. Downtown Bethesda’s restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and Metro stations are just minutes away. The Capital Crescent Trail is right around the corner—perfect for biking or walking all the way to Georgetown. Grocery shopping is easy with Safeway on Bradley Boulevard and Trader Joe’s and Target nearby on Wisconsin Avenue. Favorites like True Food Kitchen, Moby Dick’s, Sweetgreen, Silver, Five Guys, Mon Ami Gabi and Luke’s Lobster are all close at hand.
Norwood Park and the Bethesda Pool are within walking distance, adding to the neighborhood’s appeal.
What’s for Sale in Kenwood Forest I or II
Homes here tend to sell quickly, and inventory is often limited. If nothing is currently available, there’s a good chance I know of a home coming to market soon—I frequently work with both owners and buyers in this community. Similar townhome communities my clients often consider include Westbard Mews and Hamlet Place.
Who Would Be Happy in Kenwood Forest?
One of the things I love about Kenwood Forest is its diversity. When you stand at the corner of Hillandale and Chevy Chase Drive in the morning, you see a large collection of children waiting for the school bus to go to Somerset Elementary. In the late afternoon, you see lots of people walking their dogs after work. There are young couples renting and enjoying life as first time home buyers and people who are downsizing from larger homes in Chevy Chase or Potomac. There are people who have lived there for 40 years and others who just moved in last month. Several diplomats live there – in fact, one embassy owns two homes there for its employees. IMF and World Bank employees live in Kenwood Forest and staff at Walter Reed and researchers at NIH. In other words, regardless of how you define or see yourself, there will be people here in Kenwood Forest that you will enjoy calling neighbors.
Thinking of Selling Your Kenwood Forest Home?
If you’re considering selling, I’d love to help. The Lise Howe Group has buyers actively looking for homes on Fairfax Road and Kenwood Forest Lane. Online estimates can be misleading—they rely on delayed public records and algorithms with wide error margins. My team provides free, accurate market analyses based on real-time local sales and deep experience in Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
We pride ourselves on detailed, stress-free transactions and strong results. Call us at 240-401-5577 or email lise@thelisehowegroup.com for a confidential conversation about your home’s value. You may be pleasantly surprised by today’s market.
FAQs:
Q, Are Kenwood Forest I and II pet friendly.
A, Yes. Both are very pet friendly. Kenwood Forest I does not have a restriction on the number of pets or breeds. Kenwood Forest II does not limit the size or breed of dogs, but does have a rule in its condo documents limiting the number of dogs per household.
Q. Where do children go to school from Kenwood Forest?
A. Kenwood Forest I is part of the Westbrook Elementary, Westland Middle School, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) cluster. Kenwood Forest II goes to Somerset Elementary, Westland Middle and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
Q. Are there washers and dryers in each unit?
A. Yes
Q. What does the condo fee cover in each community?
A. Each community condo fee covers water and sewer, master insurance, reserve funds, property management, roof replacement and repair, landscaping and general exterior maintenance such as painting the exterior or pointing the bricks. In Kenwood Forest II, the condo fee also covers deck repair and maintenance.
Q. How do I find out what is for sale or rent in Kenwood Forest I or II.
A. Email me at lise@thelisehowegroup.com or call me at 240-401-5577 and I will set you up for auto email notifications whenever a home is available. In addition, sometimes I am aware of a home being available before it comes on the market and I am glad to share that information with you.