Choosing Between Two Homes (McLean vs. Falls Church)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left Falls Church recently -- the constant road work, mess at Haycock and 7, increasing pop density and traffic, etc. Our street was a cut-through to the metro and the constant traffic was enough to make neighbors move away a couple of years before we finally did. Pay attention to the street you are on, and what kind of traffic it gets; it might be getting a lot more than you might think.

I'd vote Mclean. But go with the house you like best.

This!!!! Falls church is a nightmare!

[Anonymous]

I’d prefer the slope, it adds privacy and interest. Why flatten it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is #2 in Pimmit Hills?

Pimmit Hills feeds to Marshall, so #2 can't be in Pimmit Hills if it's currently zoned to McLean.

[Anonymous]

Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Falls Church has issues and tries to tax and spend for woke performative things.

It sounds like you are referring to Falls Church City. House #2 can't be in FCC if it feeds to McLean HS.

I don't think OP has said whether the McLean house feeds to Langley HS or McLean HS, but any single-family house in McLean is going to stay zoned to Langley or McLean. A McLean-zoned house in Falls Church currently zoned to Haycock ES has a very high likelihood of staying at McLean HS. If you're in Falls Church and zoned to Lemon Road, Timber Lane, or Westgate, there's a higher possibility of getting redistricted to another high school, although the latest FCPS boundary proposal doesn't move anyone out of those three schools to a different high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

The McLean tax district doesn't fund the McLean Citizens Association (MCA). The MCA is funded through membership dues. The MCA can be obnoxious, but the membership is about 550 area residents out of roughly 50,000 in McLean, and there are really only about two dozen active members, who are easily ignored when they get too NIMBY.

The tax district funds the McLean Community Center (discounts on classes, performances, etc.) and the Old Firehouse Center (tends to be an after-school hang-out spot for tweens). It's not a big surcharge per resident.

There's not a big difference in feel between McLean south of Route 123 and the parts of Falls Church in Fairfax County zoned to McLean HS. McLean north of Route 123 tends to be more expensive with bigger lots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d prefer the slope, it adds privacy and interest. Why flatten it?

One word: drainage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

Well, I'm the one who posted that they recently left Falls Church, thanks to all of the traffic, development, etc, and our house was on the edge of FCC zoned to Mclean HS. So I was talking about "the Falls Church area of Fairfax" that OP is talking about.

I don't necessarily disagree with your statement that "Mclean is old and boring" though. I definitely think of the population as ... relatively ... senior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d prefer the slope, it adds privacy and interest. Why flatten it?

One word: drainage.

OP didn't provide detail on whether this lot is draining towards the house or away from it. Also, flat lots have drainage issues even more as it can get soggy and water doesn't have a place to go anywhere. I've seen such property with a flat yard that had to be leveled and redone because it was full of mud and would get puddles. There isn't a universal negative to sloped lots and a universal positive to flat lots in the areas of mixed terrain. Your lot can be flat but you could be on the bottom surrounded by properties on the hills that drain water towards you, and unless you have a slope behind you (a positive in this case) you have to figure out how to drain this water.

[Anonymous]

You need to think about which neighborhood would enhance your quality of life the most socially. McLean is nice but not the friendliest and neighborhoodie so not the most community oriented. Our culture is becoming more and more socially isolating because of various technologies. I would not pick to live in a neighborhood where friendliness is at a minimum. In the two areas you presented, Falls Church to me, has more the more community feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not aure why everyone is talking about Falls Church City when OP explained the house is in the McLean HS zone so its in (one of) the Falls Church area of Fairfax.

McLean is old and boring plus you will have to pay extra for the McLean tax district and you don’t get anything from that other than an obnoxious old citizens group (MCA) and a discount on classes at the MCC.

The McLean tax district doesn't fund the McLean Citizens Association (MCA). The MCA is funded through membership dues. The MCA can be obnoxious, but the membership is about 550 area residents out of roughly 50,000 in McLean, and there are really only about two dozen active members, who are easily ignored when they get too NIMBY.

The tax district funds the McLean Community Center (discounts on classes, performances, etc.) and the Old Firehouse Center (tends to be an after-school hang-out spot for tweens). It's not a big surcharge per resident.

There's not a big difference in feel between McLean south of Route 123 and the parts of Falls Church in Fairfax County zoned to McLean HS. McLean north of Route 123 tends to be more expensive with bigger lots.

I didn’t say the tax funds the mca but you can’t be a member of the mca unless you live in the McLean tax district.

[Anonymous]

We had the same dilemma decades ago and picked the one in Haycock. DC didn't have to change schools for the AAP and we could walk to the metro. It was also closer to the mclean little league and the Tuckahoe swimming pool. There are some lovely older neighborhoods that are very walkable, which we didn't find in mclean proper. We really enjoyed that, as the kids got older and could walk or bike to more places with their friends. If you have to be in DC, avoid the area that feeds into Langley, the traffic is a nightmare. If I'd have to buy again now, I'd also look around east falls church metro, I love those neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to think about which neighborhood would enhance your quality of life the most socially. McLean is nice but not the friendliest and neighborhoodie so not the most community oriented. Our culture is becoming more and more socially isolating because of various technologies. I would not pick to live in a neighborhood where friendliness is at a minimum. In the two areas you presented, Falls Church to me, has more the more community feel.

McLean south of 123 and the Falls Church areas zoned to McLean HS are very similar. You could be just north of Kirby and in McLean or just south of Kirby and in Falls Church and you wouldn’t really know the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re deciding between two single-family homes and could use some input:
•Option 1: Flat, rectangular lot in McLean — great location, solid layout, but about $100K–$150K more expensive.
•Option 2: Corner lot with a slope in Falls Church (McLean HS zone) — a brand new 2025 build with all high-end finishes and modern design. Walkout basement.

I’m really torn — McLean has the location and lot shape, but the Falls Church home is new and beautiful inside and out.
Would love to hear thoughts on how others might weigh location, lot quality, and new construction in this situation. How much does it cost to flatten the slope (moderate) in general?

The “ Falls Church” that is zoned for McLean HS are the communities that are off of Great Falls Rd, Westmoreland or Idlewood. Essentially the leftover strips of land that hug the highway 66. Don’t confuse them with the City of Falls Church. It is not part of Fairfax County. The car exhaust from the highway in the summer can be bad. Also, the neighborhoods and the roads are cramped and dingy. I would pick McLean one.

[Anonymous]

What is the condition of Mclean house, is it old? Does it need work? Do you have funds to change whatever you don't like about it?