Giving up on North Arligton... Is South Arlington going to improve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, if you prefer the more granular approach, white kids at Wakefield had SAT scores of 1569 in 2014 vs. 1860 at W-L, 1805 at Yorktown and 1641 at Stuart.

woah! that's really, really bad!!! did they even study for it???

They probably did, but they'd probably also been in lower-performing South Arlington schools for years, so they were behind the others.

yet that doesn't explain why WL whites scored higher than YT - WL gets some kids from SA ES/MS, but YT is entirely NA. What's dragging down scores there?

Nothing is dragging scores down at Yorktown, but W-L scores higher because W-L has both AP and IB. So the in-boundary AP kids stay at W-L, but out-of-boundary kids transfer there for IB. Wakefield languishes in comparison to both.

[Anonymous]

To the poster who asked about Mom's Pizza earlier in the thread, it's still there, and seems to be doing a good business. My kid loves the lasagna there!

I'm one of the posters living in (and loving) Alcova Heights. I was disappointed when the streetcar project was cancelled. Our neighborhood was very divided on this issue, however. I do think that Columbia Pike will continue to improve, even without the streetcar, although the pace of improvement will be slowed. Like others posting on this thread, I am eager to see which businesses move in to some of the new (and planned) commercial property along the Pike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally hope the gentrifying (chipotle, yay!) will move gently, because the diversity and variety is something we appreciate.

+100
It's a bit distressing to me to hear so many people clammoring for a Whole Foods, Pilates studio, spin classes, etc. that are decidedly not a priority for South Arlington's immigrant/lower-SES status residents. Tearing down a strip shopping center for a new Harris Teeter or for upscale shops can mean putting small family-owned establishments serving low-income residents out of business. It's like newer, more affluent residents want to remake affordable South Arlington into unaffordable North Arlington now that they got in for a discounted rate.

I don't think you need to worry about lightning fast gentrification on the Pike. I think it will continue moving at the same pace, a couple of new spots a year or so.
you aren't wrong about newer residents looking to remake the Pike into a more affluent area, although I myself don't want Clarendon II. I don't feel the least bit bad about seeing predatory establishments that are geared to lower SES residence go away. Check cashing places, car title spots and the Food Star can take a hike on the Pike as far as I'm concerned. That Food Star has terrible prices, but people who live close ( in affordable housing ) and don't have a car to drive are a captive customer base for that place.

[Anonymous]

Wow, so now people complain about adding higher end stores where the food mart is. You think those stores around food mart and the strip mall at the pike and 4 mile run Anne owned by locals? Check again.

[Anonymous]

The the check cashing stores and the like are all predatory. The karate place is local and it is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Evolve All - the martial arts studio near the Food Star - is locally owned and run, and it's a fantastic place! Tons of adults and kids in our neighborhood (Alcova Heights) use it, and is has a great sense of community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did and moved into Barcroft. The elementary in Barcroft is really stressed right now because of the low income housing and the city won't expand the school or shift anything around. Hate to hurt my own property values by saying that....

I have not heard one bad thing from Wakefield parents, their kids are thriving. And man, I got a lot more for my money in S. Arlington.

The pike is not so good, but honestly, go a couple blocks off the pike and the neighborhoods with sfh are lovely. Barcroft is really nice, fabulous neighborhood I have to say. Some old with renovations and expansions, and some new. Amazing to me that hte Barcroft school is like 70% latino because the local non-pike neighborhood is not.

We love it!

You live in Arlington yet you don't know that it's not a "city", but, rather, a County (which can matter in VA)? Back to study hall ...

You have hoisted yourself on your own petard, PP. don't bother with study hall, but simply Google Arlington VA and you will see it is a city and a county. I bet you think that Reagan Airport is also in Arlington. Or is it?

Jesus Christ, can you guys STFU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

So tell us again the benefits of living among poor people, especially if they behavior like stereotypes.

Most of them "behavior" better than you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evolve All - the martial arts studio near the Food Star - is locally owned and run, and it's a fantastic place! Tons of adults and kids in our neighborhood (Alcova Heights) use it, and is has a great sense of community.

I think most of us are happy with locally owned places like that. I think an earlier poster had mentioned wanting to see more places like that. Esp those geared to kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, if you prefer the more granular approach, white kids at Wakefield had SAT scores of 1569 in 2014 vs. 1860 at W-L, 1805 at Yorktown and 1641 at Stuart.

woah! that's really, really bad!!! did they even study for it???

They probably did, but they'd probably also been in lower-performing South Arlington schools for years, so they were behind the others.

yet that doesn't explain why WL whites scored higher than YT - WL gets some kids from SA ES/MS, but YT is entirely NA. What's dragging down scores there?

Nothing is dragging scores down at Yorktown, but W-L scores higher because W-L has both AP and IB. So the in-boundary AP kids stay at W-L, but out-of-boundary kids transfer there for IB. Wakefield languishes in comparison to both.[/quote

Oh so it's not about the low quality education of S Arl ES/MS...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My hope for the pike in the next 5 years....

In addition to Chipotle - I would love a Pilates/barre Studio at the corner of Glebe/Columbia Pike as well as a few more small cafes with (outdoor?) seating.

A Whole Foods or HT where the food star is in addition to a few different options there in terms of restaurants or even kids classes. (Expand Evolve? or a JW tumbles type place?)

The South Arlington Whole Foods is going to be in Crystal City/Pentagon City.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/05/vornados-schear-whole-foods-a-game.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did and moved into Barcroft. The elementary in Barcroft is really stressed right now because of the low income housing and the city won't expand the school or shift anything around. Hate to hurt my own property values by saying that....

I have not heard one bad thing from Wakefield parents, their kids are thriving. And man, I got a lot more for my money in S. Arlington.

The pike is not so good, but honestly, go a couple blocks off the pike and the neighborhoods with sfh are lovely. Barcroft is really nice, fabulous neighborhood I have to say. Some old with renovations and expansions, and some new. Amazing to me that hte Barcroft school is like 70% latino because the local non-pike neighborhood is not.

We love it!

You live in Arlington yet you don't know that it's not a "city", but, rather, a County (which can matter in VA)? Back to study hall ...

You have hoisted yourself on your own petard, PP. don't bother with study hall, but simply Google Arlington VA and you will see it is a city and a county. I bet you think that Reagan Airport is also in Arlington. Or is it?

Jesus Christ, can you guys STFU?

Watch your language young lady!!!

[Anonymous]

The pike at glebe and east is improving and the home prices and performance of schools are showing the results.

West of glebe is a mess, still full of title stores, 7/11, check cashing, laundry mats and auto shops. There are a few gems, like pan american cafe, OMG their food is amazing.

Need to redo the food mart corner and the ones around 4 mile run to be more like penrise area. That will help a lot. Mix of local but successful stores and some good anchors, like a decent grocery store. It will still be surrounded by cheap apartment and subsidized housing, but it will get traffic from the higher income sFh as well.

Tired of going all the way to north arlington, shirlington or penrose for a gallon of milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But, if you prefer the more granular approach, white kids at Wakefield had SAT scores of 1569 in 2014 vs. 1860 at W-L, 1805 at Yorktown and 1641 at Stuart.

woah! that's really, really bad!!! did they even study for it???

They probably did, but they'd probably also been in lower-performing South Arlington schools for years, so they were behind the others.

yet that doesn't explain why WL whites scored higher than YT - WL gets some kids from SA ES/MS, but YT is entirely NA. What's dragging down scores there?

Nothing is dragging scores down at Yorktown, but W-L scores higher because W-L has both AP and IB. So the in-boundary AP kids stay at W-L, but out-of-boundary kids transfer there for IB. Wakefield languishes in comparison to both.

Oh so it's not about the low quality education of S Arl ES/MS...

[Anonymous]

We live in S Arl (near the Pike) and love it.

Our income is in the mid 400's and we could afford most of N Arl but chose to live here for the diversity and for our elementary school that gives preference to S Arl families.

That said, the school's all over the county are a mess with all the overcrowding, the focus on testing etc (in my opinion) and so we are headed to private school in the fall. North Arlington schools are not an option either in my opinion as the overcrowding and emphasis on test scores is the same there.

I'm a supporter of affordable housing. The kids who live in well-run, committed affordable housing communities do better in school as the families are in more stable/supported environments. It's the kids who are constantly moving or that are in market rate affordable housing units that struggle more.

We