Why is McLean so prestigious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean is not prestigious. Who actually respects or admires McLean?

McLean is not a city. McLean is a just a hodgepodge collection of wealthy neighborhoods in Fairfax County with a few unimpressive shopping plazas and office buildings that constitute a car-centric "downtown."

+ 1

It had a certain cache 30 years ago when the rest of the dc area wasn’t gentrified. But in 2021, there is nothing appealing about McLean (and yes there are many luxury houses there, but there are many more luxury houses in other parts of the DMV that are in better locations ).

[Anonymous]

Another multi-page thread full of people bitter because they can't afford to live in McLean. Why don't you all give it a rest and go back to debating the merits of Silver Spring vs Springfield? Or wherever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another multi-page thread full of people bitter because they can't afford to live in McLean. Why don't you all give it a rest and go back to debating the merits of Silver Spring vs Springfield? Or wherever.

I have no dog in this fight but if you are a McLean resident, you are adding to the stereotype of snob

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean is not prestigious. Who actually respects or admires McLean?

McLean is not a city. McLean is a just a hodgepodge collection of wealthy neighborhoods in Fairfax County with a few unimpressive shopping plazas and office buildings that constitute a car-centric "downtown."

+ 1

It had a certain cache 30 years ago when the rest of the dc area wasn’t gentrified. But in 2021, there is nothing appealing about McLean (and yes there are many luxury houses there, but there are many more luxury houses in other parts of the DMV that are in better locations ).

Can't really agree with that take, since the contrast between the wealth/prestige of McLean (and a few other areas) and the rest of the region has increased over the past 30 years, not diminished. That's probably what drives so much resentment on DCUM towards McLean. Its location, housing quality, schools, and history continue to make it highly desirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean is not prestigious. Who actually respects or admires McLean?

McLean is not a city. McLean is a just a hodgepodge collection of wealthy neighborhoods in Fairfax County with a few unimpressive shopping plazas and office buildings that constitute a car-centric "downtown."

That is part of its appeal. McLean does not want more traffic and more shopping. It has a hometown feel without being commercialized. It's admired and respected for that. Tons of folks put McLean in a high status. Why do you think people are clamoring to move there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another multi-page thread full of people bitter because they can't afford to live in McLean. Why don't you all give it a rest and go back to debating the merits of Silver Spring vs Springfield? Or wherever.

LOL. Typical ignorant McLean booster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proximity to Great Falls?

Best answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean is the third wealthiest city in the United States. People who can afford it move there for the excellent public schools and location to Maryland, Tysons and D.C.

And it’s #1 with Saudi princes.

Love the McLean boosters making up random “facts”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean is home to Mars HQ and the CIA. It also contains Tysons Mall. It has been the home for top government officials, diplomats, military officers, members of Congress, etc. This makes McLean prestigious.

A mall? Government officials?

Literally nothing on this list would make it “prestigious”.

What makes a place prestigious?

Certainly not a shopping mall or government workers.

[Anonymous]

So much resentment, which is the main way flattery manifests itself on this forum. Please keep it up.

Meanwhile, we'll continue to have:

* a great location between DC and Tysons, with easy access to MD as well

* the largest concentration of high-end single-family homes in the region

* proximity to the top shopping location in the DC area (Tysons)

* the top two neighborhood public high schools in VA, along with several privates

* famous residents, both historical and current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proximity to Great Falls?

Best answer.

Proximity to Great Falls + a more central location = win/win.

[Anonymous]

Try going on Zillow and search homes over $5M in mclean. For some reason the rich live Mclean. They also love Manhattan for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mclean = Potomac, Bethesda = Vienna, Arlington = Silver Spring, Fairfax = Rockville

As someone who has lived in multiple areas of MoCo and NoVa this is my best analogy for prestige and also for the general culture, demographics, and feel of each area.

Wow way off.
Mclean= NWDC, CCDC, CCMD
Arlington= Bethesda ( Bethesda is big)
Vienna= northern Bethesda, North Bethesda
Fairfax = Kensington and other SS suburbs.
Potomac = Great Falls

[Anonymous]

There is such a spread in both Bethesda and Arlington. Very rich, also UMC.

[Anonymous]

Who the F#$ cares about McLean. If you like it, move there, if you don't move someplace else. The fact that people keep comparing this or that place to McLean just lends more credibility to the notion that some people seem to have. We've lived in McLean, Falls Church City and (now) Vienna. Guess what folks. They're really not THAT different. Each has "prestigious" neighborhoods and ugly hodge podge neighborhoods. Hell, for that matter it almost comes down to which street you live on. Stop worrying about what other people think, and just live the life you want - wherever you want it.