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Dunn Loring-Merrifield Area
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Anonymous
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In Feb. 2008, someone asked about this area and posters responded that there was some gang-related crime in the area. Does anyone know whether gangs are a serious problem in this area? For instance, are we talking about petty-teenager-punk gangs or are we talking about MS-13?
My family is interested in possibly moving near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield metro. We've seen some nice townhomes across from the Merrifield Garden Center. Any info about the safety of the area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! |
Anonymous
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Honestly I think this is everywhere now. Nothing special about Dunn Loring Merrifield.
I don't live over there ( live nearby) but it's always struck me as a lovely area. If you truly are concerned perhaps you should consider Oakton, Vienna or Fairfax, although again, I don't think you can escape this in the metro area. |
Anonymous
It's a lovely area. Like many other areas, Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Clarendon come to mind, the fact that the Metro is there means that there is much development sprouting up all over the place. The aforementioned areas are pretty much done, so other places are being sought out. Dunn Loring-Merrifield is one such area. Already, there are new hotels, homes, and shopping areas springing up. It's still relatively affordable, for now. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| We live near there (more towards Vienna Metro) and love it. We work in Tysons and its 10 minute down Gallows to work. Great preschool my son loves nearby. Merrifield is really improving--new restaurants, shops, and its near metro. I walk around all the time and feel very safe. There has been alot of crime closer to Falls Church. The Video Warehouse (now closed) and the market on Lee Highway near Jefferson Park have had armed robberies. You have to decide for yourself if you like the area. I t, I love the mix of old and new and the proximity to 66 and metro. I do think the townhouses off of Lee near the firestation are nicer and offer more space for families and kids (Parks, green space). |
Anonymous
| I'm in real estate. Mark my words, while the real estate market has tanked, in 5 years things will be back the way they were. Buy now in Dunn Loring-Merrifield. In 5 years, that investment will prove better than any stock. But you won't want to sell. Very much like the experience who bought in downtown Bethesda and the Clarendon areas; Dunn Loring-Merrifield is just about a decade behind. |
Anonymous
| I teach at Marshall which is the high school that most of Merrifield feeds into. I have been there about 10 years and there have been some gang issues in the past, but in the past 3-4 years I haven't really seen anything. The school is safe and the students are for the most part harmless. We have the usual discipline issues that most schools have, but nothing major Merrifield is definitely changing a lot and with the metro right there and all the new restaurants and shops, I think it would be a good place to buy. |
Anonymous
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I live there now (more towards Nutley St./Lee Hwy), but the Merrifield area is going under a HUGE re-beautification area.
In fact, there is going to be a new movie theater (the old one will stay there until the new one is build...according to the owner). There is already a small "glimpse" of the "towncenter -esque" that is approaching with a fitness center (X treme Sports), Panera, Hair Cuttery, Sea Pearl, FedEx Kinkos, etc. Linda Smith came to speak at our homeowners meeting about this project since our association was very concerned about all the development and the potential traffic problems. She assures us the new beautification project will be pedestrian-friendly to discouraging driving (we've all heard that before). Anyway, the area did have some trouble spots and issues. Haven't heard anything recently though. You may want to consider looking into Metro West. The same concept as Dunn Loring metro - but in the Vienna metro station area. |
Anonymous
| I live closer to Nutley off of Lee too and I agree, it's a nice place to live. I can walk to three tot lots from my house, I have great neighbors and love my 15 minute commute to Tyson's Corner. I am so excited about the town center, already, some great new things. My only concern is that we aren't too crazy about the schools after elementary, but I'm in the Luther Jackson/Falls Church High district. |
Anonymous
What's the elementary school right near the Metro called? What's it reputation? |
Anonymous
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I lived there 3 years ago for one year and couldn't wait to get out fast enough. I loved how central it was to everything and the major roads, and of course, I lived across the metro, so that was GREAT. But the place where I lived itself was not that great - it was a rental, and I am not sure how usually rentals are in this country, but there were some pretty strange people living around us. Not BAD people, mostly working families/singles...but with some annoying habits (like putting towels to dry on the balcony).
Also, it didn't have that "family oriented" feel - not pedestrian friendly at all. That said, now we pass through it almost everyday as we go to Shady Grove and my husband is always commenting on all the constructions/demolitions/renovations they are making. He loves to slow down to see better and keep wondering what they will/are building. |
Anonymous
| I hate to generalize, but I learned quickly that big rental communities are not for me. I would always look for condo owners and rent from them before I bought my first home. The older garden apartments off gallows are not so good, alot of petty crime and I wouldn't live there. But there are many nice townhome/condo and SFH communities nearby. Sounds like OP is thinking of buying a townhouse nearby. |
Anonymous
Gentrification doesn't just happen in Washington, D.C. I know the garden apartments of which you speak. Even as we speak, the yuppies and their spawn are taking over, starting at those converted to condo apartments, creeping over to the townhouses, and now waiting for that big Brookfield project filled with McMansions at the foot of the Metro. |
Anonymous
| I have to admit, I drive by those brookfield homes everyday and wonder who would buy so close to the road? I would feel like I lived in a fishbool. |
Anonymous
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I've lived in that area since 1999, though I'm off of 29, midway between Dunn Loring and Vienna metro stations.
As the police told us at our annual HOA meeting, crime is a big problem all over Fairfax County, but for the most part, I've only heard about burglaries from cars. obviously, you'd want to use common sense - don't have valuables visible in your car. (I've never had an issue.) I've never felt unsafe living there. My one issue with the area (besides the fact that it isn't Arlington) is the traffic. Traffic around Gallows Road is HORRENDOUS almost any time of day, and it's only going to get worse for the next few months. My daycare is only 3 miles from Dunn Loring metro, South down Gallows Road, and there have been times that it's taken 30-40 minutes to get there. They're planning to improve the Gallows/29 intersection but it won't happen overnight. Also, Lee Highway can get pretty gridlocked during rush hour. Also, there aren't many fast food places left in the area anymore because they've all been torn down, and the Safeway on Nutley is typically understaffed. Otherwise, it's great - it's nice to have the metro within walking distance! |
Anonymous
There is Fairhill Elem. school (also a voting station each Nov.) on Chichester Road. PP- we must practically be neighbors since we can walk to a few tot lots too (and the Safeway shopping center). 
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