NoVa area prestige ranking

[Anonymous]

You all should start a thread about the top “up and coming” neighborhoods instead of prestige.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Del Ray used to be cool and arty and then it sold out. Now it is a wanna-be old town and as boring as a suburb but with poorer schools.

Is there a grand conspiracy going on where every thread about NoVA somehow turns into a Del Ray hate fest?

It's part of the broader conspiracy to denigrate all neighborhoods South of Rte 50 which was historically the dividing line between white and black areas. This idiotic exercise is a dog whistle for whites-only neighborhoods.

Del ray and route 50 have little to no connection.

Also, most of Del ray is a historically white area.

Interestingly, a lot of what is regarded as old town now was historically black and very poor. Old timers in Alexandria took a LONG time, maybe the 80s before warming up to the idea that old town had changed.

Del Ray is South of Rte 50 last time I checked.

So is Florida, what’s your f’ing point?

My point is that you obviously don't understand the effect historic segregation lines continue to have on Northern VA real estate dynamics. Del Ray will never be valued the way communities north of Rte 50 are because regardless of county, neighborhoods South of 50 are more heavily populated with minorities--initially blacks and later other immigrant groups. This has always makes the schools less desirable to white buyers. Del Ray can't escape its poor geographic position.

You obviously know nothing about the history of the area.

North/south of 50 is irrelevant.

Del Ray is no where close to route 50.

All of Alexandria is south of Route 50.

And so on.

You're the one who doesn't understand the history of this area. The area South of Rte 50 was historically more populated with African Americans. There's a whole PBS or NPR special about that road being a dividing line of segregation. Alexandria was a slave market. You can't escape that history, even if modern-day Del Ray may be considered a charming enclave by a certain segment of the Nova population. But it's hardly prestigious. Honestly, the entire DMV suffers from a bit of a second class reputation vs. historically wealthier industrial and commercial cities around the nation.

You can’t remember if you were listening to the radio or watching TV and your account of this program is supposed to be taken seriously?

Del Ray is no where near 50 and all of Alexandria is south of 50. 50 is a meaningless boundary in an Alexandria context. Perhaps you’re thinking of Arlington?

Del Ray was historically white. Primarily working class and middle class. As you move up toward Rosemont, the residents got more well-heeled. Del Ray was so white that it was actually a redline area and there were restrictive covenants in place.

George Washington Middle School was the white high school and its near del ray.

Hammond middle school was the black one and it’s over on the west end.

Don’t come at me with your idiotic accounts of Alexandria history. You have no clue.

NP with an addendum, though. Del Ray (and much of Old Town) later had some white flight and predominantly AA residents. It was very much not “so white” when I moved to Old Town circa 1990–people warned us about going there after dark. I therefore find these ridiculous “prestige” debates entertaining!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Del Ray used to be cool and arty and then it sold out. Now it is a wanna-be old town and as boring as a suburb but with poorer schools.

Is there a grand conspiracy going on where every thread about NoVA somehow turns into a Del Ray hate fest?

It's part of the broader conspiracy to denigrate all neighborhoods South of Rte 50 which was historically the dividing line between white and black areas. This idiotic exercise is a dog whistle for whites-only neighborhoods.

Del ray and route 50 have little to no connection.

Also, most of Del ray is a historically white area.

Interestingly, a lot of what is regarded as old town now was historically black and very poor. Old timers in Alexandria took a LONG time, maybe the 80s before warming up to the idea that old town had changed.

Del Ray is South of Rte 50 last time I checked.

So is Florida, what’s your f’ing point?

My point is that you obviously don't understand the effect historic segregation lines continue to have on Northern VA real estate dynamics. Del Ray will never be valued the way communities north of Rte 50 are because regardless of county, neighborhoods South of 50 are more heavily populated with minorities--initially blacks and later other immigrant groups. This has always makes the schools less desirable to white buyers. Del Ray can't escape its poor geographic position.

You obviously know nothing about the history of the area.

North/south of 50 is irrelevant.

Del Ray is no where close to route 50.

All of Alexandria is south of Route 50.

And so on.

You're the one who doesn't understand the history of this area. The area South of Rte 50 was historically more populated with African Americans. There's a whole PBS or NPR special about that road being a dividing line of segregation. Alexandria was a slave market. You can't escape that history, even if modern-day Del Ray may be considered a charming enclave by a certain segment of the Nova population. But it's hardly prestigious. Honestly, the entire DMV suffers from a bit of a second class reputation vs. historically wealthier industrial and commercial cities around the nation.

You can’t remember if you were listening to the radio or watching TV and your account of this program is supposed to be taken seriously?

Del Ray is no where near 50 and all of Alexandria is south of 50. 50 is a meaningless boundary in an Alexandria context. Perhaps you’re thinking of Arlington?

Del Ray was historically white. Primarily working class and middle class. As you move up toward Rosemont, the residents got more well-heeled. Del Ray was so white that it was actually a redline area and there were restrictive covenants in place.

George Washington Middle School was the white high school and its near del ray.

Hammond middle school was the black one and it’s over on the west end.

Don’t come at me with your idiotic accounts of Alexandria history. You have no clue.

NP with an addendum, though. Del Ray (and much of Old Town) later had some white flight and predominantly AA residents. It was very much not “so white” when I moved to Old Town circa 1990–people warned us about going there after dark. I therefore find these ridiculous “prestige” debates entertaining!

That image wasn’t particularly fair though. Del ray was closer to “block by block” in those days. It wasn’t the neighborhood of million dollar homes it is now (though there are pockets of Del ray that haven’t been fixed up as much even now). But in the 90s, there were plenty of stable parts of Del Ray occupied by both black and white families. The gritty reputation came from the public housing that wasn’t technically in Del ray but was adjacent on 2-3 sides. And the rail yard, which was considered for the football stadium and and a theme park, was a huge physical barrier. It remained a largely middle class neighborhood but mostly of government workers and new families…

What might shock a lot of people is that in the 60s King Street in old town was regarded as a bad part of town - it wasn’t particularly bad and there was a movie theater but there was a bit of pearl clutching about going there. In those days Mt Vernon Ave was the “main drag”.

My source of this information originally was based on family/family friend stories and later verified by my own reading.

[Anonymous]

This is all very funny. My husband and I just bought a home in Potomac Yard as empty nesters. We went to Art on the Avenue yesterday because Del Ray is a 5 minute walk. It was wonderful. We’re close to the metro. We’re close to Old Town. It’s a great area.

My mom grew up in Alexandria and doesn’t even know what Del Ray is. I remember Okd Town being kind of sketchy? We never went there when we visited my grandparents. I grew up in Richmond on River Road, which if you’re from there, you know is very FFV and snooty. It is a pretty area, though.

I have been to a lot of the areas people are describing as prestigious, and they are all ugly! Certainly compared to the really nice areas of Richmond. I guess if I had no choice and had a kid who had to be in public school I would live in McLean, but I don’t. So no thanks! I will stay in the area with fun things to do and good transportation for when I want to go into the city and not drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In what world is Old Town below Mclean???

Other than Old Town and Middleburg, the rest are just suburban sprawl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all very funny. My husband and I just bought a home in Potomac Yard as empty nesters. We went to Art on the Avenue yesterday because Del Ray is a 5 minute walk. It was wonderful. We’re close to the metro. We’re close to Old Town. It’s a great area.

My mom grew up in Alexandria and doesn’t even know what Del Ray is. I remember Okd Town being kind of sketchy? We never went there when we visited my grandparents. I grew up in Richmond on River Road, which if you’re from there, you know is very FFV and snooty. It is a pretty area, though.

I have been to a lot of the areas people are describing as prestigious, and they are all ugly! Certainly compared to the really nice areas of Richmond. I guess if I had no choice and had a kid who had to be in public school I would live in McLean, but I don’t. So no thanks! I will stay in the area with fun things to do and good transportation for when I want to go into the city and not drive.

Thank you Lindsay!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Old Town is such a joke. Chain stores and tourists punctuated by flooding and pro-life demonstrators. Del Ray is flanked by housing projects and really has nothing charming to offer beyond a vibe that appeals to a very small group of people. Snoozfest.

[Anonymous]

Prestige is a very simple criteria, it's about where most expensive properties are located that are out of reach for ordinary people. Not to say ordinary people cannot live in these areas, but there has to be critical mass of wealthy and/or well appointed. People specifically seeking "prestige" almost always want to be around this critical mass of people who have already "arrived". Not every well to do person is focused on prestige though, many would choose an area that's lacking this "feature", but better satisfies their other criteria for QOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Prestige is a very simple criteria, it's about where most expensive properties are located that are out of reach for ordinary people. Not to say ordinary people cannot live in these areas, but there has to be critical mass of wealthy and/or well appointed. People specifically seeking "prestige" almost always want to be around this critical mass of people who have already "arrived". Not every well to do person is focused on prestige though, many would choose an area that's lacking this "feature", but better satisfies their other criteria for QOL

Hence, no va to NoVa!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Old Town is such a joke. Chain stores and tourists punctuated by flooding and pro-life demonstrators. Del Ray is flanked by housing projects and really has nothing charming to offer beyond a vibe that appeals to a very small group of people. Snoozfest.

I knew the flood lady would show up!!!! Now we just need the 'ACPS is a disgrace' lady to get here!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what world is Old Town below Mclean???

Other than Old Town and Middleburg, the rest are just suburban sprawl.

This. This thread is spiritually fresh off the boat immigrant striver mentality. Your 1950s built subdivision is not prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what world is Old Town below Mclean???

Other than Old Town and Middleburg, the rest are just suburban sprawl.

This. This thread is spiritually fresh off the boat immigrant striver mentality. Your 1950s built subdivision is not prestigious.

If someone rich, famous, powerful or all 3 never lived in your house, then no prestige, regardless of geography.

[Anonymous]

This list makes people want to move to Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This list makes people want to move to Maryland.

Uhhhhhh, no.

[Anonymous]

Still being entertained by these hilarious responses!