Metrowest - Vienna metro

[Anonymous]

Apartments or condos? Just daycare or other retail too?

[Anonymous]

I considered moving there back in 08, 09, but even back then it seemed like they were backtracking on their plans bit by bit. Went to an open house where people were debating whether they would rather have a Whole Foods v wegmans, how they hoped there would be local coffee shops instead of another Starbucks, etc. Seems laughable now.

I think the problem is that the area just gives off the vibe of a place where people are rushing to get in and out to beat traffic home or rush into work on metro. Half the people going to and from the parking garage to the metro are basically jogging back and forth in a rush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I considered moving there back in 08, 09, but even back then it seemed like they were backtracking on their plans bit by bit. Went to an open house where people were debating whether they would rather have a Whole Foods v wegmans, how they hoped there would be local coffee shops instead of another Starbucks, etc. Seems laughable now.

I think the problem is that the area just gives off the vibe of a place where people are rushing to get in and out to beat traffic home or rush into work on metro. Half the people going to and from the parking garage to the metro are basically jogging back and forth in a rush.

If you only hang out by the metro garage, sure, you are going to see commuters. But there are family townhouses a couple blocks away in all directions. I used to live on the north side in a community of 300 townhouses, we would all have walked down Vaden to eat, shop, etc.

I don't live quite as nearby anymore, but still walkable to it and I think the county should hold the developers to their promises. Developers got to build dense housing because they said there would be retail and amenities. If they need to offer a sweeter deal to entice a tenant and make it happen, then that's what they should do.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it, can’t Vienna (or Fairfax) just copy what Falls Church is doing? They are able to attract high end retail developments like the Whole Foods and theatre development, the massive city center retail development and the even bigger west end development with minimal pressure on schools (mostly apartments) near their metro stations while we are building more high rises with no retail.

Isn’t Vienna’s buying power similar to Falls Church or Arlington? Developers don’t think we’ll visit restaurants or retail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it, can’t Vienna (or Fairfax) just copy what Falls Church is doing? They are able to attract high end retail developments like the Whole Foods and theatre development, the massive city center retail development and the even bigger west end development with minimal pressure on schools (mostly apartments) near their metro stations while we are building more high rises with no retail.

Isn’t Vienna’s buying power similar to Falls Church or Arlington? Developers don’t think we’ll visit restaurants or retail?

Agreed. That spot is convenient to a lot of homes in southern Vienna and northern Fairfax, not to mention commuters. Put a big gym, coffee shop, restaurant with a bar, and a Trader Joe's in - tons of people would use it. If the commercial space in the plan is just offices, that would be a waste.