Do you think Annandale will ever take off?

[Anonymous]

It’s good for a rental

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in annandale outside the beltway and love it- towering trees, big yards, great schools, and access to extensive trails. My neighborhood is a gem.

Annandale outside the beltway is great. You're zoned for Woodson and are a completely separate neighborhood. Annandale inside the beltway zoned for Annandale HS is a different bag

The tale is a familiar one. Annandale HS gets neglected and all the focus is on the people in Annandale outside the Beltway making sure you know they go to Woodson.

[Anonymous]

Annandale will never, ever be desirable.

Resident since 1976.

[Anonymous]

Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

I would say that most of the families that lives in my neighborhood (inside the beltway) would disagree with you. We have a playground within walking distance that has access to a creek and some really nice trails which leads to other parks. The location is amazing, easy access to DC, tysons, Arlington, Mosaic And what dangers are you referring to? please don’t comment on anything that you know nothing about.

and for those commenting about housing values, our home value has gone way up and houses that go on the market barely sit before they are sold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

[Anonymous]

PBS’s “If you lived here” for all the annandale lovers and haters out there:

https://www.pbs.org/video/annandale-wwjpys/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PBS’s “If you lived here” for all the annandale lovers and haters out there:

https://www.pbs.org/video/annandale-wwjpys/

Can we get rid of "starter home." I'll be lucky to buy out in that area of NOVA for my permanent home.

[Anonymous]

No, too gerrymandered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

Dangerous in DC and "dangerous" in Annandale mean two very different things, although there was a report of gunshots being fired from a car on the Beltway near the Route 236 exit a few days ago. As far as I can tell it was a coincidence that it was near the Annandale exit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

No, these are exaggerations by racist people who can't handle the idea of convenient areas being non-white majority. I grew up and still live in a similar area in Falls Church (not City) and the only danger is that your neighbors may be a lower income and different skin color than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

Well people are willing to risk a lot to live in a city. But moving to a blah suburb with crime and terrible schools? What's the point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

Well people are willing to risk a lot to live in a city. But moving to a blah suburb with crime and terrible schools? What's the point?

There's a bit of a sliding scale at work here. What's considered a "terrible school" in a Fairfax suburb would be considered one of the best public schools in DC, what's considered "high crime" in a suburb might be considered a relative oasis of quiet in DC, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another family that completely skipped over Annandale when house hunting and looked in all surrounding areas (including some zoned to Falls Church HS). Annandale seemed incredibly dangerous and run down (looked into schools and could not even consider sending our kids there). We had a budget of a little over $1M (which I know doesn't go far in this area) and could have gotten a very nice house in Annandale, but couldn't get over the safety/school considerations even though our commutes would have been great.

I'm saying this to say this is a mentality of many I know and is why Annandale won't change.

Grew up in Falls Church close to inside-the-Beltway Annandale and don't even want to imagine who'd think Annandale was "incredibly dangerous and run down."

Some of the commercial areas are kind of tattered, but the same could be said of downtown McLean or many areas in Arlington (off Wilson Boulevard or Washington Boulevard, for example). The Korean community has largely moved further west but they continue to operate a lot of nice businesses and restaurants in Annandale.

I would avoid the garden apartment complexes off 236 at night, but otherwise it's safe and the single-family neighborhoods are fine and well-maintained. I suspect you're basing your claim on the congregation of day laborers along 236 looking for work. That's our economy these days. You'll find day laborers congregated in Vienna at the corner at Park and Cedar as well.

When the county releases its annual property assessments, there's always a chart that indicates how much assessments rose on average in different magisterial districts. In some years the assessments in Mason go up more than the assessments in other districts; in some years, they go up less. The latest assessments for 2023 indicate that values went up 6.34% on average, which was less than in most areas but more than in the Providence District, which includes areas in Falls Church, Fairfax, Oakton, and Tysons. In 2022, the prior year, the assessments in Mason went up by 10.24%, which was the second highest among the county's nine magisterial districts.

I do understand the concerns some have with the public schools, especially given how FCPS has concentrated poverty at Poe MS and Annandale HS. But "incredibly dangerous and run down"? Come on.

The posts saying it's dangerous and run down are.... interesting as someone living in DC where I too routinely hear gunshots from my home, have had people murdered within 1 block of my home, etc. Can I expect to hear gunshots in a SFH in Annandale? Carjacking 15 min after I was waiting at the same red light taking my kids to school? Lemme know.

Well people are willing to risk a lot to live in a city. But moving to a blah suburb with crime and terrible schools? What's the point?

There's a bit of a sliding scale at work here. What's considered a "terrible school" in a Fairfax suburb would be considered one of the best public schools in DC, what's considered "high crime" in a suburb might be considered a relative oasis of quiet in DC, etc.

I genuinely laughed at this comment. Annandale high school would not be considered one of the best, but rather it would join its friends in SE, SW, and NE DC. Only difference would be instead of high concentration of blacks, it would be ESOL hispanics. Annandale is sadly considered one of the more middle tier high schools in Fairfax, Justice, Hayfield, Edison, Falls Church etc are much worse.