Will The Facebook for Neighborhoods Be Popular in DC?

Would you join a Facebook made up of only your neighbors?
Nextdoor is a closed social network for residents of a given neighborhood. It offers an alternative to the neighborhood listserv, an old technology that can feel cluttered and clunky. The newer Nextdoor, which raised $18.6 million in investment this summer, has a user-friendly interface where neighbors can discuss crime, invite each other to BBQs, sell their furniture and find babysitters. Users must be verified residents, and each neighborhood site is closed to the rest of the world.
The site has been generating some buzz this year; we heard about it on Scott Roberts’ Bloomingdale neighborhood blog yesterday, and a bit of digging around revealed articles in Forbes, Wired and The Washington Post, among others.
The layout is similar to Facebook; neighbors post on a “wall” and commenters can respond. Tabs at the top indicate a marketplace, crime and safety discussion, and recommendations. There is also a map of the area, a statistic on how many of the households have joined, and lists of groups and events.

A demo page of Nextdoor.
Although we don’t have access to many of the DC neighborhoods, some clicking around revealed a few active sites, including Dupont Circle, 16th Street Heights and Bloomingdale. Other populated neighborhoods, like Adams Morgan and Capitol Hill, don’t yet have members, but residents are prompted to be the first to sign on. You can find a list of DC neighborhoods here.
Readers, what do you think? Is there a need for a slick neighborhood social network or do you like interacting with your neighbors the old fashioned way?
This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/will_the_facebook_for_neighborhoods_be_popular_in_dc/5906
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever

The spring housing market looks to be one of the best on record for the area.... read »

Despite a six-month delay, this 10-acre development may break ground this year.... read »

The non-profit recently selected a winner for their second international design compe... read »

More than half of the units will be two- and three-bedrooms.... read »

Of the ten zip codes with the highest T3 index score in April, nine are located in Vi... read »
- A Market on Steroids: The DC-Area Housing Market Went Into Overdrive in March
- 527 Residences, a Grocery Store and a Hotel: The Plans for a West Falls Church Site
- With New Exhibition (and New Entrance), Dupont Underground Hopes to Advance Design Conversation
- 480 Affordable Apartments Proposed for Arlandria Site
- In March, Virginia Remained At the Top When It Came to Home Buyer Demand
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Visit guides.urbanturf.com or start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro
7 Comments