McLean "Town Center"- Where is it?
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Anonymous
We were in the same shoes as you are, wanting to have walkability, metro access and neighborhood feeling. We looked in N.Arlington but were disappointed what we found in our price range. We found ourselves looking further into the more residential parts of N.Arlington, which were over 1-2 miles away from metro, where prices were more reasonable. But at that point, we also realized we might as well be in Mclean, it's just extra 3-5 min drive, but we actually could be walkable to something near downtown Mclean, whereas, the residential parts of Arlington, we looked at, were not walkable to anything. Downtown Mclean does provide some walkability to most of the businesses you may need on regular basis as well as some PT options, like buses taking you to Arlington metro stops and Tysons. In the future, there is supposed to be a shuttle bus from DT Mclean to Tysons East station, from what I heard. So, I would look somewhere near DT Mclean if I were you, I don't think it's a bad idea, even if it's obviously, not a glamorous or cute type of location. |
Anonymous
McLean resident here. They weren't gun shy due to recession. There was strong opposition in McLean from the business that have been here for 20+ yrs. THere was no recession in most of McLean. You can be in Arlington in 15 minutes, or in Tysons. Or in G-town. You just can't really walk anywhere, but Arlington is the same unless you live in the Rosslyn/Clarendon/Ballston corridor. BTW, the desirable areas of McLean, the houses are over $1.5m, so not sure how you're priced out of Arlington but not here. You'll be looking around Westmoreland, towards that area, I think. Houses there aren't sitting on an acre, either. |
Anonymous
If you are looking at larger, newer construction home, prepare to pay the same, it's upwards of 1.5 mil for sure. Anything under 1.5 mil is an older remodeled home, or just larger older home and under 1 mil, it's all old fixer uppers in various degrees of work required. Tear downs can easily cost 800K in most inside beltway desirable areas. |
Anonymous
| 16:09 Here. In my neighborhood, a teardown went for over $1.2m. It was replaced by something for over $2-something (can't recall exactly). |
Anonymous
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16;09 - YOU NAILED IT.
OP, how much are you looking to spend? Are you thinking you will buy new? Is walkability mandatory? Your choices seem rather limited. I have many friends who own more than one house, at least one of which is in McLean. There are plenty of "last generation McLean people" that are practically priced out of McLean as it is. They will be damned if they will let downtown development price them out completely. If you know anything about the "knock down neighborhoods" - where knock downs are well underway, you will know that those who can barely afford to be in McLean are putting on (practically) makeshift additions, instead of the economically wiser knock down/rebuild choice. In many cases, they look not unlike the trailers that are added on in the poorer areas. They just keep going, looking at the back of their house. It looks horrible, but they are proud to just be there, I suppose. Most people I know would far prefer to have new construction to look at every morning, even if it is out their window. It is not a choice for the "last McLean generation", as they can barely afford the "old house" taxes, and can certainly NOT take on the "new house" taxes. They fight change in a rather hostile and sneaky manner. Of course, they would never admit this. But they are one tax payment away from moving elsewhere, fast. It won't be long before the knock downs/rebuilds are the majority, and the "old house contingent" will have far less choices. The latter knows this. It is an interesting aspect of McLean economics that few people see from the inside, and fewer admit. Understandably, it is a sensitive issue, both amongst the "old house contingent" and when young couples easily get outbid by builders, since the latter consistently has cash in hand. You might feel more comfortable in a neighborhood with less unspoken animosity. |
Anonymous
Also a McLean resident, but I think the OP saw some of the articles reporting that Dan Montgomery, who heads Clark Construction, now owns most of downtown McLean and claimed back in 2010 that he'd shelved redevelopment plans due to the recession. It seems inevitable that, given the location and economics, there will be denser development aimed at making the heart of McLean more pedestrian-friendly at some point, but when that will happen is anyone's guess. The potential is there, and the WalkScore in the neighborhoods near downtown is already pretty high. But there are some older residents and business owners who fight any increased density tooth and nail. For them, Bethesda stands for everything they do not want McLean to become, and as far as they are aware Clarendon is still a run-down part of Arlington with cheap Vietnamese restaurants. McLean has one of the best locations, and some of the nicest houses, wealthiest residents and best schools, in the region. It does not have one of the nicest downtowns. |
Anonymous
Agreed. If you ever drive to the giant / cvs it's shocking and scary to see all the old white people attempting to drive, they fill the entire parking lot. |
Anonymous
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16:09 here. That crack about Clarendon cracked me up...I remember when it was like that, because I bought a condo there back then--and saw it triple in price in about 4 yrs. WHich is one of the reasons I now live in the part of McLean that I do.
Downtown McLean could use some developement, but I have to say that I'm not interested in it becoming another Clarendon or Bethesda, either. Part of what I actually like about it is that it feels a little bit like you're living in a small town--but you're not. You can be in Tysons in 10 minutes. Or in Arlington or Bethesda in 15. You can't beat the location, really. But when When WHEN are they doing something with the old McDonalds? And I want ChickenOut back. Or rather, my kids do. 
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Anonymous
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16:34 - I think your perspective is a bit exaggerated.
There are plenty of additions all over Arlington as well. They didn't stop just because Arlington got more expensive with redevelopment along the Orange Lne. If people like the location, and have finite budgets, they may choose an addition rather than tear down an older house and build new. Sometimes the additions are very nice and sometimes they are not. Local zoning codes allow this, even if some would prefer more new construction. If you want to live in an HOA neighborhood, Ashburn is probably a better bet than most of Arlington or McLean. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks for this info. I read some articles that discussed Dan Montgomery and his portfolio ownership of 30+ business in the McLean business corridor (the town center). The articles were pretty vague, but they stated that the economy is what drove redevelopment to a standstill. Do you have more of an inside scoop or is there another story floating around. I know you mentioned the businesses were opposed, but which ones? I'm trying to get to the real story to see if the fact that Tyson's will be on a major real estate upswing that will impact the micro-economy positively, will give Dan Montgomery the uptick he needs to go forward with redevelopment. Anyways, I'm looking for a teardown in $850-950 range with a decent amount of land to it. There much more of this possibility here than in Arlington. |
Anonymous
I'm not sure where the ramshackle additions in McLean are. I've seen a lot of teardowns/rebuilds, but fewer additions. I'm in the Langley area off G-Town Pike, fwiw. |
Anonymous
That's just ugly. McLean trends older because it takes serious money to move there, and people seem to like it and opt to "age in place." But enrollment at many area schools is the highest it's been in many years, elderly residents notwithstanding. |
Anonymous
Don't know which businesses specificaly (although I could guess), as can most longer term McLean residents. Good friend is 2nd generation McLean resident, in tehe business. Info came from there. Wouldn't hold my breath on major redeveopment, there realy isn't a driving need for it. But you never know. However, I do know that house prices never crashed hard here. You can't really go wrong with location, location, location. http://www.trulia.com/property/3129142865-7109-Thrasher-Rd-McLean-VA-22101 Try this one. RIght by both Cooper MS and hurchill ES. Teardown neighborhood, walkable to McLean--sidewalks all the way. |
Anonymous
It depends. The baseline older unimproved home is slightly more expensive in McLean than in Arlington but 50%+ larger- so by sqft (house and lot size), McLean is less expensive. The newer blowouts and McManions can be more expensive mainly because they are larger because they are on larger lots. Downtown Mclean is east of Rt 123 with Old Dominion running down the center. There a a few blocks of retail to either side of Old Dominion. Post Office is on Elm. |
Anonymous
This was written by a person with a penis, for sure, and likely some type of business background. |