Do you think Annandale will ever take off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools are the issue there.

Here we go again. The schools….blah, blah, blah. If you have firsthand experience please share. If not, please sit this out.

Signed a resident of Annandale whose kids attend the public schools, inside the beltway.

Don't get defensive, but the schools in Annandale suck.

Average SAT score for Annandale HS was 1107 in 2021, perhaps that "sucks" compared to richy rich school in Mclean but by national standards that's pretty good and better than the suburban new england school where I grew up along with the suburban NJ school where my DH grew up.

Q: Is MS 13 is still dumping bodies in Annandale and Springfield?

(not an actual question from the SAT test)

Ms13 has been around since i was in high school in Arlington in the 90s. Everyone wanted to be a gangsta.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

I doubt it. Annandale has particular problems. Its development was extremely haphazard and it has a mix of uniquely ugly homes. Its central area is horribly run down. Its schools are low rated.

Fairfax, Annandale outside the beltway, Burke, Vienna, the neighborhoods are much more attractive and the housing more fit for modern living.

Annandale inside the beltway has always been a dump since I moved to NOVA more than 20 years ago.

Typical anti-minority rant disguised as aesthetic critique. GTFOH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

I doubt it. Annandale has particular problems. Its development was extremely haphazard and it has a mix of uniquely ugly homes. Its central area is horribly run down. Its schools are low rated.

Fairfax, Annandale outside the beltway, Burke, Vienna, the neighborhoods are much more attractive and the housing more fit for modern living.

Annandale inside the beltway has always been a dump since I moved to NOVA more than 20 years ago.

Typical anti-minority rant disguised as aesthetic critique. GTFOH.

Get over it. Annandale inside the beltway is a dump. It’s always been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

Can you explain to me how FCPS concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS? I'm curious how the county did this. This is a factor of there being a plentiful supply of small salt-box houses that were affordable. I lived in Annandale in the 80s and 90s and watched the neighborhood change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

Can you explain to me how FCPS concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS? I'm curious how the county did this. This is a factor of there being a plentiful supply of small salt-box houses that were affordable. I lived in Annandale in the 80s and 90s and watched the neighborhood change.

It all stems back to the decision to turn Jefferson into a magnet decades ago. To make the Jefferson families feel better about losing their school, FCPS told them they could all go to Annandale. So Annandale ended up with more kids living in apartments off Route 236 from Landmark to just inside the Beltway. Then, when the school got overcrowded, kids in single-family neighborhoods at AHS got moved to Falls Church, Woodson, Lake Braddock, and Edison. That concentrated poverty at Annandale HS and Poe MS.

Even without all the boundary changes Annandale and Poe would have gotten poorer due to the aging neighborhoods and housing stock - just like at Justice and Falls Church. But in Annandale’s case it was on steroids because so many single-family neighborhoods got redistricted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

I doubt it. Annandale has particular problems. Its development was extremely haphazard and it has a mix of uniquely ugly homes. Its central area is horribly run down. Its schools are low rated.

Fairfax, Annandale outside the beltway, Burke, Vienna, the neighborhoods are much more attractive and the housing more fit for modern living.

Annandale inside the beltway has always been a dump since I moved to NOVA more than 20 years ago.

Typical anti-minority rant disguised as aesthetic critique. GTFOH.

Get over it. Annandale inside the beltway is a dump. It’s always been.

You’re an ass. Always were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

Can you explain to me how FCPS concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS? I'm curious how the county did this. This is a factor of there being a plentiful supply of small salt-box houses that were affordable. I lived in Annandale in the 80s and 90s and watched the neighborhood change.

It all stems back to the decision to turn Jefferson into a magnet decades ago. To make the Jefferson families feel better about losing their school, FCPS told them they could all go to Annandale. So Annandale ended up with more kids living in apartments off Route 236 from Landmark to just inside the Beltway. Then, when the school got overcrowded, kids in single-family neighborhoods at AHS got moved to Falls Church, Woodson, Lake Braddock, and Edison. That concentrated poverty at Annandale HS and Poe MS.

Even without all the boundary changes Annandale and Poe would have gotten poorer due to the aging neighborhoods and housing stock - just like at Justice and Falls Church. But in Annandale’s case it was on steroids because so many single-family neighborhoods got redistricted.

There were also plenty of apartments redistricted out of Annandale and Poe. Would you rather Fairmont Gardens and the Bren Mar Park apartments remained?

[Anonymous]

Does Annandale High still have a suicide problem? My parents said that Annandale was notorious for suicides in the late 80s and 90s, especially after three senior boys all committed suicide in one month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

Can you explain to me how FCPS concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS? I'm curious how the county did this. This is a factor of there being a plentiful supply of small salt-box houses that were affordable. I lived in Annandale in the 80s and 90s and watched the neighborhood change.

It all stems back to the decision to turn Jefferson into a magnet decades ago. To make the Jefferson families feel better about losing their school, FCPS told them they could all go to Annandale. So Annandale ended up with more kids living in apartments off Route 236 from Landmark to just inside the Beltway. Then, when the school got overcrowded, kids in single-family neighborhoods at AHS got moved to Falls Church, Woodson, Lake Braddock, and Edison. That concentrated poverty at Annandale HS and Poe MS.

Even without all the boundary changes Annandale and Poe would have gotten poorer due to the aging neighborhoods and housing stock - just like at Justice and Falls Church. But in Annandale’s case it was on steroids because so many single-family neighborhoods got redistricted.

There were also plenty of apartments redistricted out of Annandale and Poe. Would you rather Fairmont Gardens and the Bren Mar Park apartments remained?

On balance far more single-family neighborhoods than apartment complexes were redistricted out, including to Falls Church and Edison, and only single-family areas were sent to Lake Braddock and Woodson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Annandale High still have a suicide problem? My parents said that Annandale was notorious for suicides in the late 80s and 90s, especially after three senior boys all committed suicide in one month.

Yes, but that is the least concern of the many other problems the school faces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

Except the evidence is to the contrary. Look at how prices have gone up in places like South Arlington and Pimmit Hills.

South Arlington went up after Amazon moved in. Pimmit Hills is zoned for Marshall and right next to Tysons. Annandale doesn't have anything going for it unlike those two areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Annandale High still have a suicide problem? My parents said that Annandale was notorious for suicides in the late 80s and 90s, especially after three senior boys all committed suicide in one month.

Woodson HS had a suicide problem in the 2001-14 era, six in three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

Except the evidence is to the contrary. Look at how prices have gone up in places like South Arlington and Pimmit Hills.

South Arlington went up after Amazon moved in. Pimmit Hills is zoned for Marshall and right next to Tysons. Annandale doesn't have anything going for it unlike those two areas.

Pimmit hills is and will always be the poor neighborhood between McLean and Vienna despite all the teardowns. I went to Marshall high and wish I went to McLean. Not sure why it’s ranked where it is.

Agree on Annandale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

Except the evidence is to the contrary. Look at how prices have gone up in places like South Arlington and Pimmit Hills.

South Arlington went up after Amazon moved in. Pimmit Hills is zoned for Marshall and right next to Tysons. Annandale doesn't have anything going for it unlike those two areas.

Pimmit hills is and will always be the poor neighborhood between McLean and Vienna despite all the teardowns. I went to Marshall high and wish I went to McLean. Not sure why it’s ranked where it is.

Agree on Annandale.

I hate to say it, but schools that have high URM populations are unappealing. Whether it be Annandale, Marshall, Woodson, basically anything that’s not Langley is not reputable to buyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long run no. Eventually, most of the beltway will become more like Annandale, not the other way around. Exburbs will be the new suburbs.

Except the evidence is to the contrary. Look at how prices have gone up in places like South Arlington and Pimmit Hills.

South Arlington went up after Amazon moved in. Pimmit Hills is zoned for Marshall and right next to Tysons. Annandale doesn't have anything going for it unlike those two areas.

Pimmit hills is and will always be the poor neighborhood between McLean and Vienna despite all the teardowns. I went to Marshall high and wish I went to McLean. Not sure why it’s ranked where it is.

Agree on Annandale.

I hate to say it, but schools that have high URM populations are unappealing. Whether it be Annandale, Marshall, Woodson, basically anything that’s not Langley is not reputable to buyers.

But you're a Democrat. You're supposed to support this diversity not antagonize the schools!