Is McLean Really That Desirable?

[Anonymous]

We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the thread about scummy realtors, OP claimed it was the most sought after neighborhood in the region. Would residents of Spring Valley, Kalorama, Georgetown and Somerset disagree? What other neighborhoods would you put above McLean, or are the old split levels and white modern farm houses that have replaced them the best thing going in the region?

Gtown and Kalorama are urban and don't have SFH living (very rare to find a truly detached house). Why would anyone with a brain compare this to an area where people go to live in a large SFH with a yard? People who seek Gtown aren't looking in Mclean, and vice versa. If you want a suburban home and good public schools through HS you aren't going to be looking for $$$$ rowhouses in Gtown. Even if you don't mind a TH you won't be looking in Gtown unless you have millions. Many TH communities in Mclean and around commerce and transit in the suburbs for much more reasonable prices. Price per sq.ft. in DC premium urban neighborhoods will always be more than anywhere suburban, it's meaningless to compare.

+1

Apples and oranges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it’s super popular, even with young grads.

You mean young grads moving back home to mom and dad’s huge house? (which I don’t blame them for, that would be great for a year or two post graduation)

Because hardly any 21 year old grads are moving to McLean to live on their own.

They are if you count Tysons. Which some people do. Which I wouldn't. But that was such a big thing back in the day ... the folks developing Tysons lobbying for "McLean" on the mailing address of the area...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different places are desirable to people with different preferences.

If you asked me, the answer is no, it’s not desirable to me— it’s too far outside the city and car-dependent. The thought of spending that much daily time driving is simply a nonstarter for me. But obviously it’s desirable to many who live and are hoping to live there, given the real estate values.

I went to high school in McLean and agree with this totally. I hate being car dependent.

Mclean downtown area is arguably walkable and has every amenity necessary for daily living, also has multifamily housing and more of it going up. While areas like Woodley park or Cleveland park are more charming they have a lot fewer amenities accessible on foot than Mclean DT. There is every essential need store, 3 grocery stores, 2 drug stores, lots of restaurants and ethnic food places, fancy bakeries and cafes, clothing, shoes, pet, etc. Not to mention every type of doctor's office and spa and tutoring center :lol: All accessible on foot.

I have lived in DC for 20 years and can’t figure out what anyone would define as “downtown McLean”? What are the cross streets?

They have to mean like Chain Bridge and Old Dominion? I think? I lived near there and shopped at that Giant and hung out at the Greenberry coffee place and whatnot. But yeah, "downtown Mclean" is a stretch, and I wouldn't call it walkable beyond the fact that you could walk around the area if you wanted to. No one does. It's easier to drive and not charmingly walkable at all. There is some good upscale retail/restaurants/etc around there -- for example The Organic Butcher is a fantastic amenity and I've always enjoyed brunch at J Gilbert's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

Bored is from the neck up.

But pretentious is full body, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s for the pretentious, mostly. Most of the people I know living in McLean DO NOT benefit from the location nor schools. Their work location is elsewhere and kids either in private or in college. It’s mostly for status.

Exact opposite for us. We wanted to be between DC and Tysons for work and the strong public schools and variety of nice homes were a big plus.

This is us as well. I work in DC, DW works in Herndon. Good schools, decent enough shopping/groceries, easy access to GWP, 66, 267, 495. The restaurant situation is a bit tough (though it is improving), but there is a ton around in Arlington, Falls Church, Tysons, Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s for the pretentious, mostly. Most of the people I know living in McLean DO NOT benefit from the location nor schools. Their work location is elsewhere and kids either in private or in college. It’s mostly for status.

Exact opposite for us. We wanted to be between DC and Tysons for work and the strong public schools and variety of nice homes were a big plus.

This is us as well. I work in DC, DW works in Herndon. Good schools, decent enough shopping/groceries, easy access to GWP, 66, 267, 495. The restaurant situation is a bit tough (though it is improving), but there is a ton around in Arlington, Falls Church, Tysons, Vienna.

Appreciate what you have, lol. We moved from your area fairly recently to a gorgeous property on the Occoquan River. The address is Woodbridge. Nearby restaurant choices include Texas Roadhouse, a particularly bad Ruby Tuesday, and Subway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

Bored is from the neck up.

But pretentious is full body, lol.

What’s exciting about it then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purcellville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different places are desirable to people with different preferences.

If you asked me, the answer is no, it’s not desirable to me— it’s too far outside the city and car-dependent. The thought of spending that much daily time driving is simply a nonstarter for me. But obviously it’s desirable to many who live and are hoping to live there, given the real estate values.

This is absurd and must have been written by someone not from here.. Parts of Mclean (huge parts actually) are waaaaay closer to DC than there are parts of DC. For instance, if you are a physician at Georgetown, Mclean is so much closer to work than Navy Yard is. And on and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dont move there if you like to eat out. Worst restaurants- it makes no sense!

Truly awful restaurants. With all the money there, you think we could get better restaurants.

I like Peter Chang’s!

Masala is some of the best Indian in the entire DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the thread about scummy realtors, OP claimed it was the most sought after neighborhood in the region. Would residents of Spring Valley, Kalorama, Georgetown and Somerset disagree? What other neighborhoods would you put above McLean, or are the old split levels and white modern farm houses that have replaced them the best thing going in the region?

It is a commuting thing. Easy to commute to most of the DMV. So, dual working couples can work is fairly desperate areas and each have a commute that is 20-50 minutes.