Pros and Cons of City of Falls Church

[Anonymous]

Wife and I and our two children (3 and 1) considering moving to City of Falls Church from Cleveland Park. We have a coop now, and feel like we might be priced out of DC, plus the schools bit is nerve wracking. What are the plus and minuses of living in the City of Falls Church?

[Anonymous]

Pro: Good schools, small town feel yet walkable, well situated so easy to get everywhere

Con: You pay a lot for what you get. Small town politics. Since it's a small school district, don't expect as many options if your kids fall outside the norm. If your kids do sports in school - expect to travel longer distances than if you were in Arlington or Fairfax.

My 2 cents: I like FCC, but cast a wider net to see if there area others you'll like just as well.

[Anonymous]

We were in Cleveland Park and had to decide between Arlington and Falls Church.

We didn't choose Falls Church b/c we had a high risk pregnancy and APS has great services for kids with disabilities.

Things are better now and I wish we had made an offer on the Falls Church house we considered because we would have had more space and we wind up going places like Victory Comic, NoVA Pediatrics, the State Theater, CD Cellar & 4Ps all the time.

Huge fan of that area and there are lots of things to do with kids that are not tough on parents.

[Anonymous]

PP mentioned small town politics, which is true but not always in a negative way. It is easy to be a participant and have your voice heard in FCC. We are very happy here. Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

For nearby comparable schools in Fairfax, you can get a much larger house for the same price or less than FCC. I know people who like it and others who say it feels very insular, seeing the same people when they go out, etc.

[Anonymous]

Moved to FCC earlier this year and live it so far. Love the community feeling.

[Anonymous]

I didn't want to rely on the metro to get to downtown every day so I ruled it out.

for commuting, it's a longer drive than you think depending on time of day and where you are coming from and going. It's worth you giving it a trial run before committing to purchasing there.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but I've heard Falls Church City has a lot of turnover because many residents work at the State Department or international organizatons so they're always moving away. Is that true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP mentioned small town politics, which is true but not always in a negative way. It is easy to be a participant and have your voice heard in FCC. We are very happy here. Good luck OP!

I loved living in FCC for over 10 years, but must agree on small town politics (eg, approving high rises will be the rare exception not the rule, and then it becomes another NoVA canyon; selling park land, etc.). Walk ability is good, proximity to metro is good, events at cherry hill park good too. Over the years though I felt that the place was becoming colder. Despite that I'd move back -- though it would be hard to find a house that wasn't overshadowed by a high rise or mc mansion. There are some nice condos "in the canyon." I'd be concerned about imminent domain with a SFH though I don't think it has been an issue yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were in Cleveland Park and had to decide between Arlington and Falls Church.

We didn't choose Falls Church b/c we had a high risk pregnancy and APS has great services for kids with disabilities.

Things are better now and I wish we had made an offer on the Falls Church house we considered because we would have had more space and we wind up going places like Victory Comic, NoVA Pediatrics, the State Theater, CD Cellar & 4Ps all the time.

Huge fan of that area and there are lots of things to do with kids that are not tough on parents.

Big fan of those places too -- though do you think victory comics will survive? I fear it will be forced out. Ditto cd cellar.

[Anonymous]

The commute. Yes, it is not that far out, but you're pretty much stuck with sitting on 66 every day.

[Anonymous]

We found a place last year that is walkable to all the FCC amenties but feeds into FCPS (McLean pyramid). It's suiting us well - all the benefits of being close to the Little City with slightly lower taxes, less of the politics, and we still have excellent schools. I am ever so slightly jealous of the FCC folks as it seems like the sense of community there is a little better but DS just started school so we'll meet more folks for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but I've heard Falls Church City has a lot of turnover because many residents work at the State Department or international organizatons so they're always moving away. Is that true?

Yes and no. There is some corporate housing on the edge of FCC that houses many State Dept families that are back for training or finding out their new assignments. Many have kids that attend FCC public schools, so you certainly run into kids that are just around for a few months or the school year. However, having lived in FCC for a few years, I'd say that the vast majority of families are there full time.

[Anonymous]

Pros: Commute, Schools, neighbors, central location to amenities.

Cons: Expensive small houses, high taxes, schools aren't as good as comparably priced McLean, N. Arlington or Vienna, ugly main street, high traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pros: Commute, Schools, neighbors, central location to amenities.

Cons: Expensive small houses, high taxes, schools aren't as good as comparably priced McLean, N. Arlington or Vienna, ugly main street, high traffic.

I would certainly disagree with your statement about the schools. It is a wonderful, intimate district. Also, when you talk about the main street, you do understand the difference between FCC and Fairfax Falls Church, correct? The main part of Broad has some beautiful older homes and some nice, new mixed use buildings with more on the way.