Fort Hunt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools aren't as prestigious as the rest of FFX county, and it's a hike to any of the privates. It's also a hike into downtown, with a slowdown through Old Town, and poor transit availability. It's very quiet down there, though, and people who live there seem to love it.

Yes, the closest metro is Huntington - it's not an area for people who are daily metro riders. (We pretty much never use it.) But it's not a hike into downtown - all of 20-25 minutes up the parkway or 295.

You'll usually hear people complain about "rt 1 corridor" and "not as prestigious schools" which is their attempt to tell you without telling you there are a lot more people of color around, especially Latino.

We love it down here though and yeah, don't need it to get even more expensive.

It is definitely NOT 20-25 minutes downtown during rush hour. We sold our house in Hollis Hills b/c the commute was killing us — it was taking us 45 minutes plus (sometimes close to an hour) to get to our offices downtown.

Mmmmmkay, I just drove to a meeting in Chinatown this AM and it took 30 minutes. Reliably 25 to the hill in the morning.

That is because most are still not going into the office. I agree that it is a 45 minute commute on average and can be much longer in the evening. For the past 18 months commutes have been easy everywhere. But the congestion is ticking up and by Spring could be at prepandemic levels.

Do you really think so? I know hardly anyone going back to 5 days a week.

Lots of people are back already, as PP noted - at least as much as they're going to go back. From what I read the other day, only 20% are working from home FT right now. Traffic is not a linear relationship - ie, 20% less cars means 20% better traffic. 20% reduction might make 50%+ better traffic. The amount of WFH/flexible schedule that remains permanent may be enough to permanently change the traffic congestion. (Woohoo!)

Compared to other similar areas, I don't think the commute (in normal times) is especially worse from Ft Hunt. It's not a fair comparison to say, N Arlington where you can spit on DC and can't find a teardown for less than a million these days. Either look at similar housing stock/price brackets, or relation to roads/downtown. GW Parkway even in the worst of times is better than 66, 395 or coming in along 50/Little River from Annandale outside the beltway. Sell in Hollin Hills to buy a 2 br condo in Navy Yard or suddenly find an extra $1m lying around to get a house in Lyon Park? Not feasible for most *families* around here. Hollin Hills specifically is a little different demographic but overall you'll notice the Parkway neighborhoods are pretty full of families with 3+ kids, because it's one of the better locations to balance price, size, and proximity IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools aren't as prestigious as the rest of FFX county, and it's a hike to any of the privates. It's also a hike into downtown, with a slowdown through Old Town, and poor transit availability. It's very quiet down there, though, and people who live there seem to love it.

Yes, the closest metro is Huntington - it's not an area for people who are daily metro riders. (We pretty much never use it.) But it's not a hike into downtown - all of 20-25 minutes up the parkway or 295.

You'll usually hear people complain about "rt 1 corridor" and "not as prestigious schools" which is their attempt to tell you without telling you there are a lot more people of color around, especially Latino.

We love it down here though and yeah, don't need it to get even more expensive.

It is definitely NOT 20-25 minutes downtown during rush hour. We sold our house in Hollis Hills b/c the commute was killing us — it was taking us 45 minutes plus (sometimes close to an hour) to get to our offices downtown.

Mmmmmkay, I just drove to a meeting in Chinatown this AM and it took 30 minutes. Reliably 25 to the hill in the morning.

That is because most are still not going into the office. I agree that it is a 45 minute commute on average and can be much longer in the evening. For the past 18 months commutes have been easy everywhere. But the congestion is ticking up and by Spring could be at prepandemic levels.

Do you really think so? I know hardly anyone going back to 5 days a week.

Lots of people are back already, as PP noted - at least as much as they're going to go back. From what I read the other day, only 20% are working from home FT right now. Traffic is not a linear relationship - ie, 20% less cars means 20% better traffic. 20% reduction might make 50%+ better traffic. The amount of WFH/flexible schedule that remains permanent may be enough to permanently change the traffic congestion. (Woohoo!)

Compared to other similar areas, I don't think the commute (in normal times) is especially worse from Ft Hunt. It's not a fair comparison to say, N Arlington where you can spit on DC and can't find a teardown for less than a million these days. Either look at similar housing stock/price brackets, or relation to roads/downtown. GW Parkway even in the worst of times is better than 66, 395 or coming in along 50/Little River from Annandale outside the beltway. Sell in Hollin Hills to buy a 2 br condo in Navy Yard or suddenly find an extra $1m lying around to get a house in Lyon Park? Not feasible for most *families* around here. Hollin Hills specifically is a little different demographic but overall you'll notice the Parkway neighborhoods are pretty full of families with 3+ kids, because it's one of the better locations to balance price, size, and proximity IMO.

Feds are not back in great numbers. Traffic is increasing, but nowhere near pre-pandemic.

I like this part of the area, and have always thought home prices were a good value given the proximity to DC. I love the bike trail. I do agree that the pandemic has pushed prices up here. I have also always heard that West Pot/Sandburg aren't great. Lots of people do private/Catholic.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in Fort Hunt for 20+ years. The neighborhoods in this area are lovely and close to the river. The elementary schools are considered good, but the middle school and high school are horrible. This is why the prices are low. It definitely has to do with FCPS’ decision to concentrate the huge population of low income hispanic kids that live along the Route 1 corridor to West Potomac. The school is HUGE and mixes the extreme poverty from Route 1 and upper middle class kids from Fort Hunt.

[Anonymous]

It is a small hidden gem of NoVA in my mind - but I am biased since we live here. Houses are generally affordable for the space you get and the people are super friendly. Very family friendly/small town feel but within 10 miles of DC and 5 miles of Old Town. We couldn't love it more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a small hidden gem of NoVA in my mind - but I am biased since we live here. Houses are generally affordable for the space you get and the people are super friendly. Very family friendly/small town feel but within 10 miles of DC and 5 miles of Old Town. We couldn't love it more.

This. Been here 15 years and love it. Kids did go to private so I can’t speak to the schools but it feels like the neighborhoods were when I was growing up in the 80’s/90’s. Lots are big, people are really nice, the river trails are amazing. Great rec sports teams as well. I hope people stay away and keep the feel we have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a small hidden gem of NoVA in my mind - but I am biased since we live here. Houses are generally affordable for the space you get and the people are super friendly. Very family friendly/small town feel but within 10 miles of DC and 5 miles of Old Town. We couldn't love it more.

This. Been here 15 years and love it. Kids did go to private so I can’t speak to the schools but it feels like the neighborhoods were when I was growing up in the 80’s/90’s. Lots are big, people are really nice, the river trails are amazing. Great rec sports teams as well. I hope people stay away and keep the feel we have now.

No, you don’t, or you wouldn’t be posting here (along with the “hidden gem” poster) to call more attention to the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

WHAT? Mulitfamily housing from route 1 is already zoned and bussed to Carl Sandburg and West Potomac. Why do you think the FARMS rate at both schools have hovered around 42% and the schools demographics are 62% minority and 38% white. They are bussing kids into these schools. Waynewood Elementary is the only school with no bussing (hence the local nickname “Whitewood”) and is considered “the best” school in Fort Hunt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

WHAT? Mulitfamily housing from route 1 is already zoned and bussed to Carl Sandburg and West Potomac. Why do you think the FARMS rate at both schools have hovered around 42% and the schools demographics are 62% minority and 38% white. They are bussing kids into these schools. Waynewood Elementary is the only school with no bussing (hence the local nickname “Whitewood”) and is considered “the best” school in Fort Hunt.

This is an ugly conversation. Be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a small hidden gem of NoVA in my mind - but I am biased since we live here. Houses are generally affordable for the space you get and the people are super friendly. Very family friendly/small town feel but within 10 miles of DC and 5 miles of Old Town. We couldn't love it more.

This. Been here 15 years and love it. Kids did go to private so I can’t speak to the schools but it feels like the neighborhoods were when I was growing up in the 80’s/90’s. Lots are big, people are really nice, the river trails are amazing. Great rec sports teams as well. I hope people stay away and keep the feel we have now.

No, you don’t, or you wouldn’t be posting here (along with the “hidden gem” poster) to call more attention to the neighborhood.

Well aren’t you a peach!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a small hidden gem of NoVA in my mind - but I am biased since we live here. Houses are generally affordable for the space you get and the people are super friendly. Very family friendly/small town feel but within 10 miles of DC and 5 miles of Old Town. We couldn't love it more.

This. Been here 15 years and love it. Kids did go to private so I can’t speak to the schools but it feels like the neighborhoods were when I was growing up in the 80’s/90’s. Lots are big, people are really nice, the river trails are amazing. Great rec sports teams as well. I hope people stay away and keep the feel we have now.

So it’s great if your kids can go to private.

[Anonymous]

We’re in 22307. Public and very happy. Not hung up on our kids going to a majority white school, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

WHAT? Mulitfamily housing from route 1 is already zoned and bussed to Carl Sandburg and West Potomac. Why do you think the FARMS rate at both schools have hovered around 42% and the schools demographics are 62% minority and 38% white. They are bussing kids into these schools. Waynewood Elementary is the only school with no bussing (hence the local nickname “Whitewood”) and is considered “the best” school in Fort Hunt.

it's the only school in fort hunt with a decent rating. The other schools are still good for kids who live in ft hunt, but they are failing the kids being bussed in. Of course schools like Mt. Vernon Woods and Hybla Valley are failing kids in similar demographics even worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

WHAT? Mulitfamily housing from route 1 is already zoned and bussed to Carl Sandburg and West Potomac. Why do you think the FARMS rate at both schools have hovered around 42% and the schools demographics are 62% minority and 38% white. They are bussing kids into these schools. Waynewood Elementary is the only school with no bussing (hence the local nickname “Whitewood”) and is considered “the best” school in Fort Hunt.

it's the only school in fort hunt with a decent rating. The other schools are still good for kids who live in ft hunt, but they are failing the kids being bussed in. Of course schools like Mt. Vernon Woods and Hybla Valley are failing kids in similar demographics even worse.

Ok but do you think schools in other parts of fairfax are actually better? Or do they serve a majority wealthy population so they look better on ratings websites like Great Schools? And so if you buy a house in McLean because you care about “good schools,” are you actually buying a better school for your kids? Or just some space for that pleasant illusion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long till FCPS re-zones areas of this "hidden gem" to allow multifamily housing, thereby turning it into a hidden "piece of coal"?

WHAT? Mulitfamily housing from route 1 is already zoned and bussed to Carl Sandburg and West Potomac. Why do you think the FARMS rate at both schools have hovered around 42% and the schools demographics are 62% minority and 38% white. They are bussing kids into these schools. Waynewood Elementary is the only school with no bussing (hence the local nickname “Whitewood”) and is considered “the best” school in Fort Hunt.

it's the only school in fort hunt with a decent rating. The other schools are still good for kids who live in ft hunt, but they are failing the kids being bussed in. Of course schools like Mt. Vernon Woods and Hybla Valley are failing kids in similar demographics even worse.

Ok but do you think schools in other parts of fairfax are actually better? Or do they serve a majority wealthy population so they look better on ratings websites like Great Schools? And so if you buy a house in McLean because you care about “good schools,” are you actually buying a better school for your kids? Or just some space for that pleasant illusion?

you're buying a cohort for your kid that doesn't have any of the problems that accompany poverty.