Is McLean Really That Desirable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean has the most high-end houses in the DC area, along with some of the top public schools in the region, an enviable location between DC and Tysons (the region's two biggest job centers), good access to DCA and IAD, and proximity to the only malls in the region that have weathered the trend towards online shopping.

Every discussion devolves into an attack on its central area and its food scene, because those are its weak spots, but the reality is that this keeps people who don't live there out, which is fine with most residents. Things might be different had the CIA allowed for more commercial development along the Route 123 (Dolley Madison) commuter route in McLean, but then the traffic would be worse.

Now that metro goes to IAD, what was once a hassle to get to from DC has become very easy.

Obviously if you live in DC central area anything along metro lines is accessible. If you live in more residential parts of DC where Metro lines are different and you have to walk a mile or more to get to your nearest metro stop (Hardly unusual for DC residential areas) then driving is a lot better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Nobody would say it's a destination place. It's just a convenient suburban shopping plaza for people's daily needs , it has limited amenities, it's also not DT Mclean, it's a short drive away.

As far as National Harbor, Navy Yard and the Wharf why would you even compare? These are not real towns either, they are dining/entertainment/promenade weekend destinations, and which is why they are also not desirable for everyday living IMHO. Very few everyday routine living amenities, they feel disconnected and bubble-like and poorly served by Metro (incomparable to central parts of DC where you can walk from one line to another). They are essentially weekend promenades off the HWy with atrociously priced parking. Mclean DT has more of a town feel than any of these and serves communities nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d argue that Yorktown zoned Arlington is much better than McLean because schools are as good, just as safe, better housing stock and much closer to DC.

There isn't a lot of difference between the 2 parts as far as residential areas are concerned. You wouldn't notice where the border of Mclean ends driving into N.Arlington. It's a nice area with hilly scenic terrain, but it's not walkable unless your house is very close to shopping areas. It's not less car dependent than Mclean overall. You'd have to go closer to denser parts of Arlington for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d argue that Yorktown zoned Arlington is much better than McLean because schools are as good, just as safe, better housing stock and much closer to DC.

Yorktown HS is not on par with Langley HS or McLean HS, as any comparison of the annual number of National Merit Semifinalists will reveal, and the housing stock isn’t as nice. You get a lot of the same types of new builds, but they are on smaller lots in North Arlington with all the aesthetic compromises that entails (for example, more houses where the most prominent feature is the garage). That’s why the average prices are lower even though it’s closer to DC.

[Anonymous]

This thread is as useless as the 15+ previous threads on the same topic. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

I hated the actual McLean houses. Specifically the old 1960s homes and split levels. So many had been gutted and rearranged and the layouts didn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Indian (mentioning because someone above assumed that every Indian who lives in McLean has no interest in DC) and lived in Spring Valley for more than a decade. It was fine. I now live in McLean and love it. I can actually walk to more things now, and I disliked the social climbing /anxiety driven/ comparison culture of upper NW (but I too thought the area was classy when I lived there, because of the prevailing perception that it’s elite ). I was nervous to move to McLean because I assumed it would be even worse but I have found it much easier to avoid that here. There’s just more people and more diversity, so it feels easier to find good people and not be bothered by others who feel differently. The public schools are so much better (but not the case with privates). In SV, nearly everyone sent their kids to private after elementary school. We toured some but didn’t love the culture, so we are happier in public in McLean.

I think it’s a very individual preference and a lot depends on whether you tend to try to find happiness where you’re at.

We moved from North Arlington and also found McLean to be more diverse and welcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

LOL. My thoughts exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

LOL. My thoughts exactly.

They need to tear down Chesterbrook and start over. Get rid of that decrepit Safeways. Elsewhere there are actual plans drawn up for the shopping center on Chainbridge (Giant). At one point they were going to replace it with a complex similar to Mosaic-ish. I wish they do it already. Half of the stores facing Old Dominion are empty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you look at who buys in McLean you see a lot of rich 1st generation immigrants (Indians love McLean). DC has no appeal to them, they are not white Gen X or Millennial hipsters. They do not care about the hottest new restaurants or anything DC has to offer, plus all the Asian grocery stores are in VA or MD and they tend to cook at home or have multigenerational households so they need more space. Asian immigrants also want the best school pyramid with access to advanced academic programs plus they want to apply to TJ and top VA colleges.

Yes, two new houses on my street were sold within the past two years, one to an Indian family with a doctor, and the other to a Chinese family with an engineer. They all have young kids.

Yes. It seems like the overall trend is the UMC / wealthy white “young” families stick to moco or N Arlington and McLean is the goal for the UMC / wealthy Indians and Asians. Putting young in quotations because they usually have young kids but the parents are minimum early / mid 40s. Lots of people having their first kid at or over 40 here and lots of second marriages w a younger wife who also wants kids.

Honestly these kinds of generalizations are so dumb. I feel like it’s mostly based on your perceptions from reading DCUM vs actually knowing these areas well.

Agree, in my neighborhood, a young white couple with a baby just moved in. Plus, two other families moved in over the past couple of years — they’re all white with teenager kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

LOL. My thoughts exactly.

They need to tear down Chesterbrook and start over.[b] Get rid of that decrepit Safeways. Elsewhere there are actual plans drawn up for the shopping center on Chainbridge (Giant). At one point they were going to replace it with a complex similar to Mosaic-ish. I wish they do it already. Half of the stores facing Old Dominion are empty.

Uh, they just refaced that entire mall. I was there eating at Mylo’s on Sunday. Looks fresh now and there is even an art gallery. Wish I had a Mylo’s where we live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

LOL. My thoughts exactly.

They need to tear down Chesterbrook and start over. Get rid of that decrepit Safeways. Elsewhere there are actual plans drawn up for the shopping center on Chainbridge (Giant). At one point they were going to replace it with a complex similar to Mosaic-ish. I wish they do it already. Half of the stores facing Old Dominion are empty.

The tiny converted houses where Sushiko and Rx pharmacy operated, closed over 4-5 years ago. It’s still sitting empty.

[Anonymous]

The fact that they had to stand up a McLean revitalization corporation is telling.

https://mcleantoday.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Nobody would say it's a destination place. It's just a convenient suburban shopping plaza for people's daily needs , it has limited amenities, it's also not DT Mclean, it's a short drive away.

As far as National Harbor, Navy Yard and the Wharf why would you even compare? These are not real towns either, they are dining/entertainment/promenade weekend destinations, and which is why they are also not desirable for everyday living IMHO. Very few everyday routine living amenities, they feel disconnected and bubble-like and poorly served by Metro (incomparable to central parts of DC where you can walk from one line to another). They are essentially weekend promenades off the HWy with atrociously priced parking. Mclean DT has more of a town feel than any of these and serves communities nearby.

So what is DT Mclean? What are the cross streets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Nobody would say it's a destination place. It's just a convenient suburban shopping plaza for people's daily needs , it has limited amenities, it's also not DT Mclean, it's a short drive away.

As far as National Harbor, Navy Yard and the Wharf why would you even compare? These are not real towns either, they are dining/entertainment/promenade weekend destinations, and which is why they are also not desirable for everyday living IMHO. Very few everyday routine living amenities, they feel disconnected and bubble-like and poorly served by Metro (incomparable to central parts of DC where you can walk from one line to another). They are essentially weekend promenades off the HWy with atrociously priced parking. Mclean DT has more of a town feel than any of these and serves communities nearby.

So what is DT Mclean? What are the cross streets?

Not sure about that poster but to me it’s Chain Bridge and Old Dominion.