Tell me about Centreville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Vienna and didn't find it very different. I suppose the Town of Vienna or Vienna near Tysons might be. We lived near the Vienna metro and it was just as boring as all suburbs are.

We both work in Fairfax though so Centreville made sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Centreville, right in the line between FFX/Clifton/Chantilly. We like the location, and our ES is very good. But I know that other Elementary Schools deeper in Centreville have very poor ratings. We can walk to Fair Lakes, We have Rt. 29, Rt. 50, the FFX Co. Pkwy, and Rt. 66 right there. We are close to shopping in FFX and Chantilly. I think it is a great location, good schools and a price cheaper than FFX which begins a block across the street. If you are moving to Centreville try to find something in this area, if you are going deeper, it's not really worth it. In that case I would just go into the part of Chantilly that is in FFX county, which feeds to Rocky Run MS and Chantilly High School. All the schools are fantastic there.

OP here. Can you tell me what zip code it is?
We were looking mostly at the neighborhoods near New Braddock Rd and also Sulley Station, mostly because commuting will be better. We don't mind diversity per say, but we do want good schools, commnity feeling and friendly neighbors.

You can search in Redfin by elementary schools-try Colin Powell, eagle view, union mill, willow springs.

Eagle View and Willow Springs aren't Centreville. WS isn't that far from Clifton, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Vienna and didn't find it very different. I suppose the Town of Vienna or Vienna near Tysons might be. We lived near the Vienna metro and it was just as boring as all suburbs are.

We both work in Fairfax though so Centreville made sense.

Yes, sorry I meant Town of Vienna as a comparison. I get confused by how there are City/Town of Falls Church and Vienna and then areas outside called Vienna and Falls Church, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Vienna and didn't find it very different. I suppose the Town of Vienna or Vienna near Tysons might be. We lived near the Vienna metro and it was just as boring as all suburbs are.

We both work in Fairfax though so Centreville made sense.

Yes, sorry I meant Town of Vienna as a comparison. I get confused by how there are City/Town of Falls Church and Vienna and then areas outside called Vienna and Falls Church, etc.

Lol. Former Vienna (not the Town) resident, you're not the only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

I live close to you and have friends that live off Northbourn. It's really nice where you live. My parent's live in Vienna. It's nice because they have lots of parks, but unless you live in the town center, off 123, there is not much at walking distance. The more residential areas (like my parent's) look a lot like where you live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Centreville, right in the line between FFX/Clifton/Chantilly. We like the location, and our ES is very good. But I know that other Elementary Schools deeper in Centreville have very poor ratings. We can walk to Fair Lakes, We have Rt. 29, Rt. 50, the FFX Co. Pkwy, and Rt. 66 right there. We are close to shopping in FFX and Chantilly. I think it is a great location, good schools and a price cheaper than FFX which begins a block across the street. If you are moving to Centreville try to find something in this area, if you are going deeper, it's not really worth it. In that case I would just go into the part of Chantilly that is in FFX county, which feeds to Rocky Run MS and Chantilly High School. All the schools are fantastic there.

OP here. Can you tell me what zip code it is?
We were looking mostly at the neighborhoods near New Braddock Rd and also Sulley Station, mostly because commuting will be better. We don't mind diversity per say, but we do want good schools, commnity feeling and friendly neighbors.

You can search in Redfin by elementary schools-try Colin Powell, eagle view, union mill, willow springs.

Eagle View and Willow Springs aren't Centreville. WS isn't that far from Clifton, though.

Yes, we have friends zoned to WS and they shop at the Clifton Giant off Union Mill and their kids do sports through the SYA (Serving mostly Centreville and Clifton) because the kids practice closer to their homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

Why can't you walk around Fairfax City or Fairfax Corner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Centreville, right in the line between FFX/Clifton/Chantilly. We like the location, and our ES is very good. But I know that other Elementary Schools deeper in Centreville have very poor ratings. We can walk to Fair Lakes, We have Rt. 29, Rt. 50, the FFX Co. Pkwy, and Rt. 66 right there. We are close to shopping in FFX and Chantilly. I think it is a great location, good schools and a price cheaper than FFX which begins a block across the street. If you are moving to Centreville try to find something in this area, if you are going deeper, it's not really worth it. In that case I would just go into the part of Chantilly that is in FFX county, which feeds to Rocky Run MS and Chantilly High School. All the schools are fantastic there.

OP here. Can you tell me what zip code it is?
We were looking mostly at the neighborhoods near New Braddock Rd and also Sulley Station, mostly because commuting will be better. We don't mind diversity per say, but we do want good schools, commnity feeling and friendly neighbors.

You can search in Redfin by elementary schools-try Colin Powell, eagle view, union mill, willow springs.

Eagle View and Willow Springs aren't Centreville. WS isn't that far from Clifton, though.

Are they zoned for willow springs, or are they placed there for aap? There are a ton of kids from Little Rocky Run and nearby hoods that are in aap. Us upper middle class Fairfax county parents do love our aap!

Yes, we have friends zoned to WS and they shop at the Clifton Giant off Union Mill and their kids do sports through the SYA (Serving mostly Centreville and Clifton) because the kids practice closer to their homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

I live close to you and have friends that live off Northbourn. It's really nice where you live. My parent's live in Vienna. It's nice because they have lots of parks, but unless you live in the town center, off 123, there is not much at walking distance. The more residential areas (like my parent's) look a lot like where you live!

The Cabells Mill community off Northbourne is nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

Why can't you walk around Fairfax City or Fairfax Corner?

I guess I meant walking from my house.

[Anonymous]

Centreville and the rest of the greater Fairfaxland area (can't tell where any portion begins or ends) are indeed boring and ugly. It's endless generic, ugly suburban sprawl, disorientingly the same for miles. I drive around Centreville, Chantilly, and general "Fairfax" daily. It feels like those old cartoons, where the background runs in a short, repeating loop.

You have to drive (in perpetually heavy traffic) to do anything. People go shopping at big box chain stores as the main entertainment. You can also drive to a park to walk around.

There are a lot of people who live in Centreville and the rest of Fairfaxland because cookie cutter vinyl developments and chain restaurants really appeal to them. If these are your people, you will like it here very much. It's safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Centreville and the rest of the greater Fairfaxland area (can't tell where any portion begins or ends) are indeed boring and ugly. It's endless generic, ugly suburban sprawl, disorientingly the same for miles. I drive around Centreville, Chantilly, and general "Fairfax" daily. It feels like those old cartoons, where the background runs in a short, repeating loop.

You have to drive (in perpetually heavy traffic) to do anything. People go shopping at big box chain stores as the main entertainment. You can also drive to a park to walk around.

There are a lot of people who live in Centreville and the rest of Fairfaxland because cookie cutter vinyl developments and chain restaurants really appeal to them. If these are your people, you will like it here very much. It's safe.

Oh please. This is such bullshit. Its dripping with disdain for the vast majority of your countrymen who probably have a shitload in common with you, should you stoop off your high horse to actually talk to them. I live in suburbia land, you know what? Target doesn't hold the same value to me as the Smithsonian and I highly doubt any of my neighbors would disagree but go ahead and keep on with those narrow boxes you want to put people into.

OP, let's be real, most people are just living their life, grinding out the tough parts and trying to enjoy the good parts. They aren't worried about their vinyl siding curb appeal, they might prefer to live someplace cooler, or maybe like me they have in the past and know they may in the future, or they may like sitting in their yard listening to music and reading more than anything else.

I'll give you one thing, traffic sucks. It does in most all suburban areas here and certainly in much of the city too. Its the price you pay for wanting to live near a major city. And yes, it helps to remember that if you are 20 miles away, you are near a major city, you don't have to be 100 yards from a border to be "close"

[Anonymous]

Clearly, you work out here, so there is something to be said for that.

Pick the right neighborhood out here in "fairfaxland" and these things are not true. I can walk to schools, library, parks and shopping. There are days I don't get in my car. And even when I get in my car, I drive very short distances to go anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live there. Good schools, shopping nearby, easy to get on 66, Fairfax County Parkway, and not too bad to the toll road and Dulles airport is close. Great Korean BBQ places, movie theatre, parks, winery nearby.

+2.

You'll get a lot of people on this board hating on it because it's so "far" but it's perfectly nice if you don't have to commute to DC.

We moved here because our commutes are to Manassas are and Fairfax City. We used to do the "reverse commute" (which PS, no longer exists) and lived close to the city. We didn't see the kids, so we moved.

Its boring. I literally fantasize about living in Vienna as if it were living in Paris or something by comparison because there is at least a center area you can walk around. There is none of that here.

That said, our sub division is about 30ish years old and has gorgeous trees and we connect to a bunch of park trails for walking, running, biking right out the back of the neighborhing cul de sac. So that part is nice. Our neighbors are nice. We also live on the west side of 28 and North of 66, so we are right near Chantilly HS (zoned for it) and our babysitter is on the other side of 28 and south and says we don't "really" live in Centreville. But its our address and I don't know what else you would call it! We can't say we live in "Fair Lakes Shopping Center", although basically we do.

Why can't you walk around Fairfax City or Fairfax Corner?

I guess I meant walking from my house.

Fair Lakes is the ultimate big box strip mall. No one would ever build something like that again, aesthetically speaking. But they left some tree presence and hey, it was the 80s.