Why downtown Mclean is such a drab?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why are there no ice cream shops?? Seems like there should be some quaint homemade ice cream place.

Yes, there are. Starnut gourmet is one.

Curious do they make their own? I never know this... just looked on their site and no mention of ice cream. Thanks for the tip.

It's gelato.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s basically one developer that owns downtown McLean and until the County creates a plan that developer likes, nothing is going to happen. I don’t think it’s a matter of the County listening to old residents. Haggling over building heights in the plan may ultimately be moot when who knows what aspects of the plan the developer sees as dealbreakers. It could be any number of things and is a total mystery.

I’d love mixed use development there but I’m guessing the only thing that would be profitable is luxury apartments since that’s all that developers want to put anywhere. Density doesn’t bother me if here are actual amenities that come with it like parks/playgrounds, shops, and restaurants. But if it’s just cramming a bunch of people into tall buildings, ugh.

Who is the developer with so much clout in downtown McLean?

Someone earlier in the thread named the developer — the Montgomery family.

[Anonymous]

Isnt it the Montgomerys and the Smoots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry noob question here as I just moved. Isn’t Mclean supposed to be an ultra wealthy area?

They've been trying to redevelop downtown McLean for a couple of decades but the surrounding homeowners associations/residents have been aggressive about petitioning for limitations. Primarily around height restrictions for the new buildings, traffic/parking, density (impact on already crowded schools) and requirements for public space in the plan.

We moved here 5 years ago and while there are some nice aspects of downtown McLean, it is clearly in need of substantial revitalization. We can walk downtown and I for one would welcome many changes. It feels like the old (and well funded) guard, and I mean that literally as the majority we hear/see complaining are 70+, are doing what they can to control the terms of McLean's business development. The whole "McLean small not Tyson's Tall" brigade... While I agree with some of their arguments, it feels like they are just too much overall and discouraging potential developers from stepping into the mix. Its a generalization, but many of the older residents seem to like that its a small and sleepy downtown... which I might be ok with if it was at least modernized. The run down strip malls and vacant storefronts like the old burger joint next to the butchers, are just ugly and don't attract new and interesting businesses/restaurants.

FWIW, we briefly lived in FCC years ago and there were similar issues there... but they eventually worked through them. Just my opinion as a ~45 yo living within walking distance to downtown that is hopeful that there are some improvements in the next decade.

Bethesdan here who happened to be in McLean today. It strikes me as very car-centric, not very walkable.

Frankly, I’m surprised the older residents were listened to. People from Bethesda and Chevy Chase protested the redevelopment of Bethesda, but the County Council could care less.

I find it a bit hard to believe that a Bethesdan doesn't know the expression is "couldn't care less"....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry noob question here as I just moved. Isn’t Mclean supposed to be an ultra wealthy area?

They've been trying to redevelop downtown McLean for a couple of decades but the surrounding homeowners associations/residents have been aggressive about petitioning for limitations. Primarily around height restrictions for the new buildings, traffic/parking, density (impact on already crowded schools) and requirements for public space in the plan.

We moved here 5 years ago and while there are some nice aspects of downtown McLean, it is clearly in need of substantial revitalization. We can walk downtown and I for one would welcome many changes. It feels like the old (and well funded) guard, and I mean that literally as the majority we hear/see complaining are 70+, are doing what they can to control the terms of McLean's business development. The whole "McLean small not Tyson's Tall" brigade... While I agree with some of their arguments, it feels like they are just too much overall and discouraging potential developers from stepping into the mix. Its a generalization, but many of the older residents seem to like that its a small and sleepy downtown... which I might be ok with if it was at least modernized. The run down strip malls and vacant storefronts like the old burger joint next to the butchers, are just ugly and don't attract new and interesting businesses/restaurants.

FWIW, we briefly lived in FCC years ago and there were similar issues there... but they eventually worked through them. Just my opinion as a ~45 yo living within walking distance to downtown that is hopeful that there are some improvements in the next decade.

FCC is a terror now. It's gotten even uglier since being redeveloped in the last 15 years or so. Back then it was somewhat cute, in parts, but now ... yikes. The old Joe's Organic Burger is an eyesore, I'll give you that.

Yes, FCC is such a "terror" that every property is subject to a bidding war as soon as it hits the market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of 6 families who live in n Arlington and rent in McLean for the schools. We may do it for hs. No one actually lives there, just a mailing address.
I think McLean will have to invest in a more livable community or else the renters who do not spend money there will grow.

You could just send your kid to a top DC private for that. I’m happy with LHS but paying $3,000 a month for it? Why???

Not realistic. Top privates in dc are more like 60k per kid.
Also commute would suck daily and renting for McLean mailing address covers ALL our kids, not tuition for just one.
People do it in Arlington for preferred schools in the county and other counties like fairfax. It is rather common in n Arlington.

Sounds like fiction.

Clearly you have never been in Arlington (north).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of 6 families who live in n Arlington and rent in McLean for the schools. We may do it for hs. No one actually lives there, just a mailing address.
I think McLean will have to invest in a more livable community or else the renters who do not spend money there will grow.

You could just send your kid to a top DC private for that. I’m happy with LHS but paying $3,000 a month for it? Why???

Not realistic. Top privates in dc are more like 60k per kid.
Also commute would suck daily and renting for McLean mailing address covers ALL our kids, not tuition for just one.
People do it in Arlington for preferred schools in the county and other counties like fairfax. It is rather common in n Arlington.

Sounds like fiction.

Clearly you have never been in Arlington (north).

Why would these families go to such lengths to avoid Yorktown and W-L?

[Anonymous]

Lol.

McLean is BORING!!

Do your research before you move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know of 6 families who live in n Arlington and rent in McLean for the schools. We may do it for hs. No one actually lives there, just a mailing address.
I think McLean will have to invest in a more livable community or else the renters who do not spend money there will grow.

So 6 families you know are committing residency fraud?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of 6 families who live in n Arlington and rent in McLean for the schools. We may do it for hs. No one actually lives there, just a mailing address.
I think McLean will have to invest in a more livable community or else the renters who do not spend money there will grow.

You could just send your kid to a top DC private for that. I’m happy with LHS but paying $3,000 a month for it? Why???

Not realistic. Top privates in dc are more like 60k per kid.
Also commute would suck daily and renting for McLean mailing address covers ALL our kids, not tuition for just one.
People do it in Arlington for preferred schools in the county and other counties like fairfax. It is rather common in n Arlington.

Time for McLean to crack down in residency fraud.

[Anonymous]

It's a boring suburb, so it has a boring downtown. It has good schools and low crime though

[Anonymous]

I live in Mclean about a mile from the center and while I sometimes bemoan the lack of good restaurants, I prefer it in its current dowdy state. It makes it easier to run errands and park. I go elsewhere when I want a nice night out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it were redeveloped, there would be lots of mixed use. Which means apartments where poor people might live. And the poor people would send their kids to the local schools. The rich wealthy people do not want this.

Exactly This. Old rich people are generally boring and don't care about fun. A more fun and vibrant downtown will attract "bad people". That's why they picked Mclean over DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol.

McLean is BORING!!

Do your research before you move!

So? People would die to be able to afford a house there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol.

McLean is BORING!!

Do your research before you move!

So? People would die to be able to afford a house there.

Die of boredom.