Whats the vibe in falls church?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has never been artsy. Never. That would be Tacoma Park.

There are a couple nice specialty coffee shops and bakeries, which every desirable town should have. The new Harris Teeter has a wine bar, which speaks to the wealth of the city. New trendy Asian restaurants are opening up in the new mixed use developments on Broad St.

Falls Church still has an unassuming middle class feel, even though the homes are a couple million. It does not feel like Chevy Chase or Spring Valley on one end. Nor like Tacoma Park on the other. It’s also not exactly trendy like Petworth or Eckington in DC.

+1

I'd call it UMC liberal. More down-to-earth and less pretentious than areas north. Plenty of feds, but others as well. The original housing stock is small but expensive, so FCC attracts people who don't mind paying more for less space if the location and schools are good (which they are). On the downside, there's not much diversity.

It actually is kind of pretentious to suggest as PP did that the typical house in FCC is a “couple million” when the prices are lower. I do think people do make a conscious decision to trade space for proximity/amenities. Given how much smaller the schools are than in the surrounding areas, it’s a bit of a niche locale with considerable self-selection taking place among those who think that’s a plus vs. a minus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

You know this state has really gone in to shambles when Marshall is considered best in the state.

25- 30 years ago it did not have a good reputation at all, but the demographics in that part of Falls Church has been trending upscale ever since. Just look at all the threads dedicated to Pimmit Hills, once a working class hood, but now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the region. Marshall also has very high income areas zoned to it like those closer to Vienna. Marshall High School is now top tier in FCPS and Virginia.

That's pretty ridiculous, we chose to move into FCC (rent first until we could afford to buy) in the 80s because after issues and disappointments in APS and FCPS I did some research and FCC had high test scores, high graduation rate, comparable then and now with the best pyramids in those other jurisdictions. The small school system fit us perfectly and my kids thrived there. The reputation of FCC and it's schools has gotten even better since then except maybe among a few people on DCUM who only click on FCC threads to disparage with obviously little or no actual experience there.

It's a very highly educated, high HHI, blue voting, very involved community that is not as diverse as some other NoVa communities but is welcoming to all and demographics are similar to other affluent areas such as McLean, N. Arlington, Great Falls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

You know this state has really gone in to shambles when Marshall is considered best in the state.

25- 30 years ago it did not have a good reputation at all, but the demographics in that part of Falls Church has been trending upscale ever since. Just look at all the threads dedicated to Pimmit Hills, once a working class hood, but now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the region. Marshall also has very high income areas zoned to it like those closer to Vienna. Marshall High School is now top tier in FCPS and Virginia.

That's pretty ridiculous, we chose to move into FCC (rent first until we could afford to buy) in the 80s because after issues and disappointments in APS and FCPS I did some research and FCC had high test scores, high graduation rate, comparable then and now with the best pyramids in those other jurisdictions. The small school system fit us perfectly and my kids thrived there. The reputation of FCC and it's schools has gotten even better since then except maybe among a few people on DCUM who only click on FCC threads to disparage with obviously little or no actual experience there.

It's a very highly educated, high HHI, blue voting, very involved community that is not as diverse as some other NoVa communities but is welcoming to all and demographics are similar to other affluent areas such as McLean, N. Arlington, Great Falls.

You totally misread PP’s comments - they were talking about the area of Falls Church zoned to Marshall, not FCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

You know this state has really gone in to shambles when Marshall is considered best in the state.

25- 30 years ago it did not have a good reputation at all, but the demographics in that part of Falls Church has been trending upscale ever since. Just look at all the threads dedicated to Pimmit Hills, once a working class hood, but now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the region. Marshall also has very high income areas zoned to it like those closer to Vienna. Marshall High School is now top tier in FCPS and Virginia.

That's pretty ridiculous, we chose to move into FCC (rent first until we could afford to buy) in the 80s because after issues and disappointments in APS and FCPS I did some research and FCC had high test scores, high graduation rate, comparable then and now with the best pyramids in those other jurisdictions. The small school system fit us perfectly and my kids thrived there. The reputation of FCC and it's schools has gotten even better since then except maybe among a few people on DCUM who only click on FCC threads to disparage with obviously little or no actual experience there.

It's a very highly educated, high HHI, blue voting, very involved community that is not as diverse as some other NoVa communities but is welcoming to all and demographics are similar to other affluent areas such as McLean, N. Arlington, Great Falls.

You totally misread PP’s comments - they were talking about the area of Falls Church zoned to Marshall, not FCC.

Which probably is a good indicator of just how intelligent those FCC residents actually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

wha? Marshall takes kids from Vienna. Longfellow and Haycock are in McLean.

[Anonymous]

I live on the Arlington / FCC border and my kids went to preschool and camp in FCC from 2017-2022.

My impression of FCC - at least the parts along Columbia Ave and close to the main drag of Broad St. and/or Cherry Hill park - is similar to my husband’s hometown of Summit, NJ. There are a lot of rich people who don’t realize or like to pretend they are not rich. People are friendly and seem welcoming and mostly down to earth - but not in an artsy / hippie way - but also not in a Midwestern way - it’s hard to describe. Some of the newer houses are large and very expensive, others are older and more modest - but still expensive. If I had to stereotype, it’s a lot of SES / not quite C-level execs who like to wear Lands End and cosplay living in Mayberry while still having all the amenities of their Whole Foods lifestyle. Overall I feel like people on my side of the border Arlington of similar means are more open about their wealth and consumption. Perhaps it’s something about the “Little City” that people want to fit in / conform because you see the same people everywhere you go for school, sports, camp, etc. at least in the preschool and elementary years. There is only one elementary, middle school, and HS - so if your family or kids are jerks, it could get lonely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

You know this state has really gone in to shambles when Marshall is considered best in the state.

25- 30 years ago it did not have a good reputation at all, but the demographics in that part of Falls Church has been trending upscale ever since. Just look at all the threads dedicated to Pimmit Hills, once a working class hood, but now one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the region. Marshall also has very high income areas zoned to it like those closer to Vienna. Marshall High School is now top tier in FCPS and Virginia.

That's pretty ridiculous, we chose to move into FCC (rent first until we could afford to buy) in the 80s because after issues and disappointments in APS and FCPS I did some research and FCC had high test scores, high graduation rate, comparable then and now with the best pyramids in those other jurisdictions. The small school system fit us perfectly and my kids thrived there. The reputation of FCC and it's schools has gotten even better since then except maybe among a few people on DCUM who only click on FCC threads to disparage with obviously little or no actual experience there.

It's a very highly educated, high HHI, blue voting, very involved community that is not as diverse as some other NoVa communities but is welcoming to all and demographics are similar to other affluent areas such as McLean, N. Arlington, Great Falls.

You totally misread PP’s comments - they were talking about the area of Falls Church zoned to Marshall, not FCC.

Which probably is a good indicator of just how intelligent those FCC residents actually are.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live on the Arlington / FCC border and my kids went to preschool and camp in FCC from 2017-2022.

My impression of FCC - at least the parts along Columbia Ave and close to the main drag of Broad St. and/or Cherry Hill park - is similar to my husband’s hometown of Summit, NJ. There are a lot of rich people who don’t realize or like to pretend they are not rich. People are friendly and seem welcoming and mostly down to earth - but not in an artsy / hippie way - but also not in a Midwestern way - it’s hard to describe. Some of the newer houses are large and very expensive, others are older and more modest - but still expensive. If I had to stereotype, it’s a lot of SES / not quite C-level execs who like to wear Lands End and cosplay living in Mayberry while still having all the amenities of their Whole Foods lifestyle. Overall I feel like people on my side of the border Arlington of similar means are more open about their wealth and consumption. Perhaps it’s something about the “Little City” that people want to fit in / conform because you see the same people everywhere you go for school, sports, camp, etc. at least in the preschool and elementary years. There is only one elementary, middle school, and HS - so if your family or kids are jerks, it could get lonely.

It's extremely insular for sure. You could be the best family ever, but if one of the long-standing FCC families cajoling for local "power" among community members decides they don't like you, the lemmings will follow their leader into disliking you, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on the Arlington / FCC border and my kids went to preschool and camp in FCC from 2017-2022.

My impression of FCC - at least the parts along Columbia Ave and close to the main drag of Broad St. and/or Cherry Hill park - is similar to my husband’s hometown of Summit, NJ. There are a lot of rich people who don’t realize or like to pretend they are not rich. People are friendly and seem welcoming and mostly down to earth - but not in an artsy / hippie way - but also not in a Midwestern way - it’s hard to describe. Some of the newer houses are large and very expensive, others are older and more modest - but still expensive. If I had to stereotype, it’s a lot of SES / not quite C-level execs who like to wear Lands End and cosplay living in Mayberry while still having all the amenities of their Whole Foods lifestyle. Overall I feel like people on my side of the border Arlington of similar means are more open about their wealth and consumption. Perhaps it’s something about the “Little City” that people want to fit in / conform because you see the same people everywhere you go for school, sports, camp, etc. at least in the preschool and elementary years. There is only one elementary, middle school, and HS - so if your family or kids are jerks, it could get lonely.

It's extremely insular for sure. You could be the best family ever, but if one of the long-standing FCC families cajoling for local "power" among community members decides they don't like you, the lemmings will follow their leader into disliking you, too.

This. It’s like one big middle school clique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has some of the worst schools in the entire county. However the schools in FCC are tolerable, although nothing to write home about (except to the people who live in falls church ffx co)

Oh, STFU. You haven't a clue. Some of the best schools in the state are in the Falls Church part of the county or FCC - Marshall HS, Longfellow MS, Haycock ES, Meridian HS, etc. And the ones that you probably intend to bash here - Falls Church HS and Justice HS - still offer dozens of AP and IB courses.

wha? Marshall takes kids from Vienna. Longfellow and Haycock are in McLean.

Marshall is in Falls Church. Most Marshall students live in Falls Church (county, not city); some live in Vienna.

Longfellow and Haycock are both in Falls Church (county, not city). Most Longfellow students live in McLean. Most Haycock students live in Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live on the Arlington / FCC border and my kids went to preschool and camp in FCC from 2017-2022.

My impression of FCC - at least the parts along Columbia Ave and close to the main drag of Broad St. and/or Cherry Hill park - is similar to my husband’s hometown of Summit, NJ. There are a lot of rich people who don’t realize or like to pretend they are not rich. People are friendly and seem welcoming and mostly down to earth - but not in an artsy / hippie way - but also not in a Midwestern way - it’s hard to describe. Some of the newer houses are large and very expensive, others are older and more modest - but still expensive. If I had to stereotype, it’s a lot of SES / not quite C-level execs who like to wear Lands End and cosplay living in Mayberry while still having all the amenities of their Whole Foods lifestyle. Overall I feel like people on my side of the border Arlington of similar means are more open about their wealth and consumption. Perhaps it’s something about the “Little City” that people want to fit in / conform because you see the same people everywhere you go for school, sports, camp, etc. at least in the preschool and elementary years. There is only one elementary, middle school, and HS - so if your family or kids are jerks, it could get lonely.

It's extremely insular for sure. You could be the best family ever, but if one of the long-standing FCC families cajoling for local "power" among community members decides they don't like you, the lemmings will follow their leader into disliking you, too.

This. It’s like one big middle school clique.

SO I doubt my family-meaning hubby and me are liked, however are kids after 6 th grade have had a lot of friends and are popular...so once middle school starts all of the fixing of friendships the in parents did from k05 dissapears..i guess no arranged marriages nor friendships

[Anonymous]

Speaking as a long-time (if 15 years counts as a long time) Falls Church City resident, all the new construction and the traffic and congestion it is causing is horrendous and will NOT be worth it in the end. The West Falls Community was just delayed another year due to financing. I would not be surprised if the other two communities currently under construction (Founders 2 and the supposed Whole Foods) are delayed due to financing issues as well. We're going to be under construction for the next decade. More and more people, especially those with young children, are going to be moving in and I feel like the schools are going to go downhill as a result. We may have just increased capacity, but it won't last forever and then there's nowhere else to put new schools. This is poor city planning at its absolute worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and for the person who always comes on these threads to talk about the City's segregated past: Yes, there were ugly, shameful decisions made 70+ years ago regarding school and neighborhood boundaries. The current situation is much more inclusive, with representation and awareness for people of all ethnicities, sexualities, and perspectives. (Except for the people who like the food at the Four Ps. Not sure I'll ever understand them.)

There is still a lot of work to be done -- affordable housing is a major issue, and the secondary campus has seen a string of problems this year. But there is genuine diversity in neighborhoods, classrooms and friend groups, and responsiveness from schools/government when problems arise.

What do you mean by “genuine diversity”? If you’re referring to demographics, it’s is markedly less diverse than neighboring Arlington or Fairfax. FCC is 76% white and <3% poverty. The BLM rally at Cherry Hill in June 2020 was almost comically performative for a city with ~4% Black population. Politically there is virtually no diversity at all.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fallschurchcityvirginia,arlingtoncountyvirginia,fairfaxcountyvirginia/PST045222

There are a TON of mixed race kids/families in FCC. They may identify as white when that doesn't tell the whole story. My child was one of only a handful of white kids in his boy scout troop in FCC.

[Anonymous]

It's weird to me when people paint such huge broad strokes about an entire community.

Among my friends - several are single Mothers, government workers, state department, military, government contractors (so very usual mix for DC area).

Many friends have kids in sports, drama, and music. In fact, there is a very good music program and some of the kids are really considering going professional.

There are many kids questioning their orientation and gender identity and receive nothing but full support from peers and educators.

Lots of older, retired folks that do lament the changes happening to the town. I respect and appreciate that they live with us and push the community to do better.

I know some of the public servants - staff at city hall, teachers and police and they are all awesome people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as a long-time (if 15 years counts as a long time) Falls Church City resident, all the new construction and the traffic and congestion it is causing is horrendous and will NOT be worth it in the end. The West Falls Community was just delayed another year due to financing. I would not be surprised if the other two communities currently under construction (Founders 2 and the supposed Whole Foods) are delayed due to financing issues as well. We're going to be under construction for the next decade. More and more people, especially those with young children, are going to be moving in and I feel like the schools are going to go downhill as a result. We may have just increased capacity, but it won't last forever and then there's nowhere else to put new schools. This is poor city planning at its absolute worst.

The new HS is big enough for a lot more students. Also, the city acquired the property across from Oak Street Elementary in case they need to expand at the elementary level.

I agree the construction is changing the whole atmosphere and dynamic of the city but FCC has survived many changes over the years, there always seems to be enough people who like what FCC has to offer on many fronts to maintain viability.

In the 1960s FCC was a dumpy little town with no reputation for good schools, good services, good amenities, etc. and was mostly just a pass through for commuters on their way to and from work. I grew up in Arlington but chose to raise my kids in FCC and when I did my brother told me that FCC used to have the reputation of where you could go to buy drugs or meet biker gangs.

Despite this sketchy past school enrollment back then was as high or higher than it is now. Many people think this is the peak but it's not really. Enrollment did drop until it was in the neighborhood of 1200 total in the 80s and has rebounded to 2500 now.

City leaders have been trying for some time to take the major tax burden off of the homeowners by expanding the commercial tax base, we'll see if they are successful.