Walkable towns in NOVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Technically, you could walk to a lot of stuff if you live near a decent strip mall anywhere in the suburbs. But I assume you're looking for an area that has a wide variety of amenities that's linked in one area. Since you're commuting to Tysons and Springfield, I would limit it to Falls Church City, Mosaic, Vienna, and Old town Fairfax.

I think you would get the best bang for your buck in Old Town FFX. If you can afford what you're looking for in Falls Church City or Vienna, then that's great. But you're paying a premium for those areas because it's more convenient for people who commute to DC or want to be close to the orange line. If you're not going to do either of those, it might not be worth it for you.

Old Town FFX has a good library, a wide variety of restaurants that are both local as well as chains, a few bars, some local coffee/dessert places , a small town square with a splash park that hosts summer concerts, a farmers' market, and parks nearby. You can still buy smaller, older SFHs from the 500s or you can buy newer nicer ones for $1 million. There's also a wide range of townhomes from the $600s to $800k.

Thank you! This is very helpful!

[Anonymous]

I really like Old Town Fairfax.

I like Vienna too, but it's all bland strip malls for the most part and the old school residents don't want to develop anything other than more strip malls to house more mattress stores and eye doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Technically, you could walk to a lot of stuff if you live near a decent strip mall anywhere in the suburbs. But I assume you're looking for an area that has a wide variety of amenities that's linked in one area. Since you're commuting to Tysons and Springfield, I would limit it to Falls Church City, Mosaic, Vienna, and Old town Fairfax.

I think you would get the best bang for your buck in Old Town FFX. If you can afford what you're looking for in Falls Church City or Vienna, then that's great. But you're paying a premium for those areas because it's more convenient for people who commute to DC or want to be close to the orange line. If you're not going to do either of those, it might not be worth it for you.

Old Town FFX has a good library, a wide variety of restaurants that are both local as well as chains, a few bars, some local coffee/dessert places , a small town square with a splash park that hosts summer concerts, a farmers' market, and parks nearby. You can still buy smaller, older SFHs from the 500s or you can buy newer nicer ones for $1 million. There's also a wide range of townhomes from the $600s to $800k.

Thank you! This is very helpful!

Sure, no problem. I saw your reply after I posted. At your budget, I would consider the Farrcroft development in FFX. It's walking distance to Old Town and most homes there are between 800 and 900, although some will be a bit more. It's a planned community with a pool, playground, etc. and within walking distance to Van Dyke Park, which is a really nice park with sand volleyball courts, skate ramps, lots of playgrounds, etc. I believe it's zoned for Daniels Run elementary school, which is located within walking distance of the development and is considered a good school despite only being rated as above average by the greatschools/goodschools type of sites. Most people will tell you that in FFX county, unless the school is rated really low, the reason for "lower" scores is due to greater diversity in the zoned area, not because the schools or teachers are bad. For Daniels Run, the vast majority of kids will do well and go to good colleges, etc. The average test scores are sometimes lower because there are some kids whose parents came from another country and might not have learned English as a first language, etc.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray. We can walk everywhere we need to go on the weekend as far as the basics: grocery, gym, playground, restaurants etc. Where we are in Del Ray, we can also walk to the bus which goes to the metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Del Ray is a very walk-able neighborhood, with a farmers market, butcher, restaurants, and coffee shops, and SFHs and townhouses on either side of main street (Mount Vernon Ave.) It's a 20 min. train ride from Braddock Road metro to Metro Center. It's easy to get to larger super markets, Old Town, and into the city for events.

But the rats also love Del Ray and Old Town.
Perhaps too many composts and restaurants, and not enough trash collections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really like Old Town Fairfax.

I like Vienna too, but it's all bland strip malls for the most part and the old school residents don't want to develop anything other than more strip malls to house more mattress stores and eye doctors.

This is not correct. The town of Vienna has a plan to allow 4 story mixed use along Rte 123 - IE where all those strip malls are (it already has a very lovely walkable section on Church Street, but I am sure PP will point out how small that is)

That said, Old Town Fairfax is likely a better deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Del Ray is a very walk-able neighborhood, with a farmers market, butcher, restaurants, and coffee shops, and SFHs and townhouses on either side of main street (Mount Vernon Ave.) It's a 20 min. train ride from Braddock Road metro to Metro Center. It's easy to get to larger super markets, Old Town, and into the city for events.

But the rats also love Del Ray and Old Town.
Perhaps too many composts and restaurants, and not enough trash collections.

Not true in general, pp. A small problem in Old Town new construction areas that is being actively addressed.

You must be jealous of how our area is growing. Afraid of the competition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really like Old Town Fairfax.

I like Vienna too, but it's all bland strip malls for the most part and the old school residents don't want to develop anything other than more strip malls to house more mattress stores and eye doctors.

I completely disagree and am not sure if we are talking about the same Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really like Old Town Fairfax.

I like Vienna too, but it's all bland strip malls for the most part and the old school residents don't want to develop anything other than more strip malls to house more mattress stores and eye doctors.

I completely disagree and am not sure if we are talking about the same Vienna

There is one or more people who post here (someone from either McLean or Pimmit Hills, I think) who vociferously deny the walkable small town qualities of Vienna by focusing on the more strip shopping center parts of Maple, rather than the blocks on Church Street, the small more "urbanist" parts of Maple, or the walk along the W&OD. In fairness there ARE some ugly parts along Maple - but it is not true that the Town insists on keeping them that way.

[Anonymous]

I can't stand 123 in Vienna, so much traffic.
Love Del Ray (schools not too good though). Falls Church City is cute

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't stand 123 in Vienna, so much traffic.
Love Del Ray (schools not too good though). Falls Church City is cute

Del Ray is fine. Good main street with local small businesses. It's a shame that you only need to go a few blocks before you're back in suburban hell (potomac yard center).

[Anonymous]

Del Ray. Also Aurora Highlands/Aurora Hills/Arlington Ridge?

[Anonymous]

I live in Del Ray and am a generally a big cheerleader for the neighborhood, but it's not a great commute to Tyson's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Del Ray and am a generally a big cheerleader for the neighborhood, but it's not a great commute to Tyson's.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Del Ray and am a generally a big cheerleader for the neighborhood, but it's not a great commute to Tyson's.

+1

Yeah, Del Ray has a lot of nice features, but OP said their main concern is distance to Tysons and Springfield. Plus, schools would be a big concern for their young kids.