Debating moving to Vienna from DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The driver is simple: $1.1 or $1.2M get me a nice place in Vienna. The downside is its bloody Vienna. I worry it'll feel like suburban hell. Can anyone comment on life out there?

Given your attitude ("bloody Vienna"), I suggest you stay in DC. Vienna is a nice town, and I would it hate it if people like you moved here.

yeah, as if Vienna is full of people as pure as the drive snow...long time Vienna resident and there are plenty of dickheads in the village - old and new alike and in all 3 zip codes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The driver is simple: $1.1 or $1.2M get me a nice place in Vienna. The downside is its bloody Vienna. I worry it'll feel like suburban hell. Can anyone comment on life out there?

Given your attitude ("bloody Vienna"), I suggest you stay in DC. Vienna is a nice town, and I would it hate it if people like you moved here.

yeah, as if Vienna is full of people as pure as the drive snow...long time Vienna resident and there are plenty of dickheads in the village - old and new alike and in all 3 zip codes.

Sure, but do we really need one more?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Ok I came off as a bit of an asshole. Kids were on my nerves today, no offense intended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't live in Vienna, but live in 22043. My child is doing a sport in Vienna and I was stunned at the nice sense of community and the relaxed vibe there. I somewhat second guess my decision to choose 22043, but I just couldn't handle the extra 10-15 minutes on my commute. Also, I didn't look in Vienna when we bought so I had no idea how nice it was. You should spend some time out there and see how you like it.

10 to 15? More like 30 minutes

[Anonymous]

I don't understand all the complaining about the Vienna commute. Drive to the Metro, always get a seat, read the paper all the way to work. It's only two stops further than WFC.

[Anonymous]

Maple ave is always a parking lot , I think there is a stranded island effect which causes the community feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maple ave is always a parking lot , I think there is a stranded island effect which causes the community feel.

OP here - I think you captured my worry well: it's a nice area but its far from DC (in terms of "popping over for lunch") and other than Tyson's, heading east gets you little in terms of options.

That said, its hard to deny the appeal of a new construction home which would cost $2.5M in DC - or more.

Appreciate the insights. I think I'm going to try and get a hotel out there and spend a week or two in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all the complaining about the Vienna commute. Drive to the Metro, always get a seat, read the paper all the way to work. It's only two stops further than WFC.

The lot fills up much faster because it's the end of the line.

[Anonymous]

If you live in the Town of Vienna, you will get a nice small-town feel. It's especially evident during Memorial Day Weekend for Viva Vienna (fair) or during July 4 for the fireworks. It can be totally walkable if you live a few blocks off Maple Avenue within the town limits.

The community center has great classes and sits next to the baseball/football/soccer fields. There are always games going on. The library is a real community library. Meadow Lane Park is a great park for kids. It's not "the city" but it is a nice, walkable town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I work from home so commute is not an issue.

So go hang out for a while at one or more of:

- Amma Vegetarian
- Nielsen's Frozen Custard
- Vienna Inn
- Caffe Amouri
- Cenan's Bakery
- Patrick Henry Library
- Whole Foods
- Vienna Community Center

If you do that, and like it, great. If you think it's too suburban, stay put. No one will put a gun to your head.

Can't spend too much time in Nielsens frozen custard without going deaf. I feel for those poor teenagers working in that shop without any hearing protection!

[Anonymous]

Falls Church.city's cheaper and more rural cousin

[Anonymous]

I would live there if not for the commute, and that doesn't sound like an issue for you. I was just driving up Beulah today after spending some time in the downtown area, and there were some amazing houses there that I could never afford closer in. (though to be fair, I probably can't afford them there either.)

It's a nice town - why don't you spend a little time there. Drive around, eat at some of the restaurants, go to a holiday celebration, walk on the trail. See what you think. You could also look closer in, at Falls church and north Arlington and see what's there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maple ave is always a parking lot , I think there is a stranded island effect which causes the community feel.

OP here - I think you captured my worry well: it's a nice area but its far from DC (in terms of "popping over for lunch") and other than Tyson's, heading east gets you little in terms of options.

That said, its hard to deny the appeal of a new construction home which would cost $2.5M in DC - or more.

Appreciate the insights. I think I'm going to try and get a hotel out there and spend a week or two in the area.

You can definitely find some very nice homes (4000 sq.ft.+ not new but recently constructed or renovated) for 1.1 or 1.2 m in McLean, north Arlington - tradeoff is land - if it's important to be close to DC. Though there are pockets in both McLean and north Arlingotn where you can get large homes and decent lots (half acre more or less) - tradeoff is that you won't get new construction.

[Anonymous]

I guess the question is what you would do with the extra space. If you have five kids, that's one thing. Many of my colleagues have ridiculous commutes that they hate, and they admit that they have rooms in their houses that no one goes into from one day to the next.

I think part of it stems from the fact that many are from rural or Midwestern areas where housing is inexpensive, and they just think they are supposed to have a house of that size. It's nice that this area has a lot of different neighborhoods with different characteristics, but that's all the more reason to live in a place that matches your true preferences. Whatever you do, don't live your life according to a script someone else wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all the complaining about the Vienna commute. Drive to the Metro, always get a seat, read the paper all the way to work. It's only two stops further than WFC.

Metro makes me motion sick. I can barely ride it without getting sick, muchless read.