S/O: Most overrated neighborhood in the area?

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing---there are 'city/urban' people and there are 'country/suburban' people. There are people where the size of the house and yard trumps everything else. Then there are people where it is the physical location of the house in relation to walkable amenities that matters and they would rather sacrifice on size and/or prefer a smaller house anyways. These people have fundamentally different views on housing. They have fundamentally different views on lifestyle as well. Neither will ever understand the other side. It's okay. They don't have to. Live where you want to live. Real estate is 'supply and demand' anyways. What some may think is 'over-rated' is higher per square footage or low inventory because there is more demand for it. If an area is not your cup of tea- who cares. Guess what? You don't have to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

except that they aren't considered the best public schools in the DMV - or even in NOVA - there's Falls Church City public schools and a few in Arlington that are considered better than the McLean public school system

You can tell yourself that while you are remodeling your 1m+ fixer upper starter home in N.Arlington or NWDC. Maybe you should put that money to better use, like private high-school for your kids, because, you know, one day they will be out of elementary.

McLean Lady, you are batsh*t crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

Umm, I did say I grew up there, didn't I, so you don't have to sell me on its merits. LOL. But, hmm, thanks, I guess (?) for your thoroughness?

The thought of getting on a bus in McLean to head to "Ballston, Rosslyn and Tyson's" sounds so appealing

The demographics have totally changed all along the route 7, McLean and great falls corridor. Many multi-family households all swished in.

Oh, I see... I got it now, time to crawl your snobby asses out of there! Multi-families are arriving! There are people living in apartments and more than one family to the 4000 sq.ft in the burbs, what horror! So what IS the last standing "only 'old money' need apply", enclave out there in DC area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

except that they aren't considered the best public schools in the DMV - or even in NOVA - there's Falls Church City public schools and a few in Arlington that are considered better than the McLean public school system

You can tell yourself that while you are remodeling your 1m+ fixer upper starter home in N.Arlington or NWDC. Maybe you should put that money to better use, like private high-school for your kids, because, you know, one day they will be out of elementary.

McLean Lady, you are batsh*t crazy.

Yes, I am bath*t crazy because I don't want to pay 1 mil+ for a crappy house to send my kid to Washington Lee, or keep my fingers crossed that one day they'd get into TJ.

[Anonymous]

Yawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

except that they aren't considered the best public schools in the DMV - or even in NOVA - there's Falls Church City public schools and a few in Arlington that are considered better than the McLean public school system

You can tell yourself that while you are remodeling your 1m+ fixer upper starter home in N.Arlington or NWDC. Maybe you should put that money to better use, like private high-school for your kids, because, you know, one day they will be out of elementary.

McLean Lady, you are batsh*t crazy.

Yes, I am bath*t crazy because I don't want to pay 1 mil+ for a crappy house to send my kid to Washington Lee, or keep my fingers crossed that one day they'd get into TJ.

Why are you so angry? Nobody gives a crap where you send your kids to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think McLean is overrated, and I even grew up there! There's no discernable cute "downtown," everything is sort of a mish-mash, it's basically a bedroom community that sort of grew in fits and starts. . .I honesty have no idea why it developed the cache it did. Shrug.

It is a centrally located safe suburb with great schools, that are considered best public schools in the entire DC metro area. It is convenient for commutes to about anywhere where the jobs are in DC area VA, DC, and even some parts of MD. And it IS cheaper than NWDC, and Arlington. It's not just the land of $1m fixer uppers. If you are a family with two working parents who must commute to opposite sides of the DC metro area, who cannot afford private schools and want to be able to drive into the city on the weekends under 20 min along a pleasant scenic road (vs. all time congested 66 and the beltway), who wants a detached home with minimum 4 bedr 3 baths, a normal size basement and a yard and easy parking and be short distance to most of the amenities for everyday life. And at the same time some of us can walk to our respective elementary schools, parks, and downtown area, which may not be "cute" but certainly is not useless and contains most of the shopping/errand options we need day to day, including groceries, bakeries, dry-cleaners, banks, doctor's offices, etc. Although I personally don't understand why anyone would want to walk to buy a week-load of groceries for the family and cart it or carry it home, when you can use your car. I've done enough of this living in the city with the stroller and it was a PITA.

There are also buses for those commuting to Balston, Rosslyn and Tysons, so there is some public transport option, whether we use it or not. Later on, there will be a metro stop about 2 miles away from us, which will certainly be biking distance away or maybe there even will be a new metro service bus at some point. The demographics are changing, many families are moving in replacing elderly residents, so it is not entirely impossible that in the near future the downtown may get a little more pedestrian friendly and cute. The infrastructure is already there, it's designed as city blocks with sidewalks. The restaurants are changing already starting to cater to the younger crowd. Most major roads like Chain Bridge rd that can take us all the way to the new Tysons East metro already have sidewalks too. Reading DCUM you may think Mclean is a dying out exurb, it's so not true.

Mclean still has its appeal for the families who are not looking to be walking distance to trendy bars as much as to be close to great quality public schools for their kids and at the same time have easy access to the city amenities when needed.

except that they aren't considered the best public schools in the DMV - or even in NOVA - there's Falls Church City public schools and a few in Arlington that are considered better than the McLean public school system

You can tell yourself that while you are remodeling your 1m+ fixer upper starter home in N.Arlington or NWDC. Maybe you should put that money to better use, like private high-school for your kids, because, you know, one day they will be out of elementary.

McLean Lady, you are batsh*t crazy.

Yes, I am bath*t crazy because I don't want to pay 1 mil+ for a crappy house to send my kid to Washington Lee, or keep my fingers crossed that one day they'd get into TJ.

As of 2011, the school had over 2,000 students and 120 teachers. In 2010, W-L was listed at # 63 in Newsweek's listing of "America's Best High Schools," and # 3 in the state of Virginia.[1]

From 2006-2009, Washington-Lee underwent a complete reconstruction, costing Arlington County nearly $100 million and making it one of the most expensive high school construction projects in the United States.[2]

[Anonymous]

I think every expensive area in DC metro have been mentioned here. What about up and coming places? Which one is the most overrated?

I have a friend who bought in the H-street corridor, one side of it was already out of her price range, so she bought on the other side and is afraid to leave her house at night after the shooting under her windows. I drove around a few times and don't see the appeal of that area at all, sure, there are some new places opening up catering to the yuppsters, but I think it still has a long way to go.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, this is a fun topic too. I concur with the H-Street Corridor vote, and I'll add: whatever the area is that is north of Brookland. People who live there like to call it Brookland, but it is not, and it is DODGY with a capital "D."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, I am bath*t crazy because I don't want to pay 1 mil+ for a crappy house to send my kid to Washington Lee, or keep my fingers crossed that one day they'd get into TJ.

You go, girl! MacTown can always use a few more street fighters.

When the North Arlington crowd runs into you on their dense, oh-so-"walkable" streets, maybe they'll think twice about whether their sidewalks were such a good idea.

Rock on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
As of 2011, the school had over 2,000 students and 120 teachers. In 2010, W-L was listed at # 63 in Newsweek's listing of "America's Best High Schools," and # 3 in the state of Virginia.[1]

From 2006-2009, Washington-Lee underwent a complete reconstruction, costing Arlington County nearly $100 million and making it one of the most expensive high school construction projects in the United States.[2]

Funny, according to US News, W-L is an also-ran.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/washington-lee-high-20364

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As of 2011, the school had over 2,000 students and 120 teachers. In 2010, W-L was listed at # 63 in Newsweek's listing of "America's Best High Schools," and # 3 in the state of Virginia.[1]

From 2006-2009, Washington-Lee underwent a complete reconstruction, costing Arlington County nearly $100 million and making it one of the most expensive high school construction projects in the United States.[2]

Funny, according to US News, W-L is an also-ran.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/virginia/districts/arlington-county-public-schools/washington-lee-high-20364

so is yorktown, apparently. these lists are BS. It is so obvious the "top schools" are all magnet schools, yet somehow they aren't split out as such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spring Valley, Foxhall and other deeply residential areas of DC. It's like super overpriced car-oriented suburbs without good schools.

Actually there are a ton of good schools: St Pat's, Georgetown Day, NCS/STA, Sidwell. Stop hating.

sure, there are good schools if you can pay for them. I think most people define neighborhoods with good schools as neighborhoods with good PUBLIC schools - the ones you don't have to shell out more of your take home pay to.

Middle class people do. THe people that live in Spring Valley and Foxhall want to be far away from small time low man on the totem pole types like you.

well, I guess I know which neighborhoods to torch when the 99% finally rise up and go after those assholes.

20016 has the most number of legal guns in the District. They're waiting for you...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020706450.html

When the mob rises, sure, keep thinking these guns are going to save you.

Those guns and our Israeli mercenaries should be sufficient. Worked in New Orleans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing---there are 'city/urban' people and there are 'country/suburban' people. There are people where the size of the house and yard trumps everything else. Then there are people where it is the physical location of the house in relation to walkable amenities that matters and they would rather sacrifice on size and/or prefer a smaller house anyways. These people have fundamentally different views on housing. They have fundamentally different views on lifestyle as well. Neither will ever understand the other side. It's okay. They don't have to. Live where you want to live. Real estate is 'supply and demand' anyways. What some may think is 'over-rated' is higher per square footage or low inventory because there is more demand for it. If an area is not your cup of tea- who cares. Guess what? You don't have to live there.

You are far to rational for DCUM. Please exit the premises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spring Valley, Foxhall and other deeply residential areas of DC. It's like super overpriced car-oriented suburbs without good schools.

Actually there are a ton of good schools: St Pat's, Georgetown Day, NCS/STA, Sidwell. Stop hating.

sure, there are good schools if you can pay for them. I think most people define neighborhoods with good schools as neighborhoods with good PUBLIC schools - the ones you don't have to shell out more of your take home pay to.

Middle class people do. THe people that live in Spring Valley and Foxhall want to be far away from small time low man on the totem pole types like you.

well, I guess I know which neighborhoods to torch when the 99% finally rise up and go after those assholes.

20016 has the most number of legal guns in the District. They're waiting for you...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020706450.html

When the mob rises, sure, keep thinking these guns are going to save you.

Those guns and our Israeli mercenaries should be sufficient. Worked in New Orleans.

When the 99% rise, it won't work. do the numbers. why would you stick around anyway, unless you are dumb, just go to your summer home or something.