Is McLean Really That Desirable?

[Anonymous]

McLean has the most high-end houses in the DC area, along with some of the top public schools in the region, an enviable location between DC and Tysons (the region's two biggest job centers), good access to DCA and IAD, and proximity to the only malls in the region that have weathered the trend towards online shopping.

Every discussion devolves into an attack on its central area and its food scene, because those are its weak spots, but the reality is that this keeps people who don't live there out, which is fine with most residents. Things might be different had the CIA allowed for more commercial development along the Route 123 (Dolley Madison) commuter route in McLean, but then the traffic would be worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean has the most high-end houses in the DC area, along with some of the top public schools in the region, an enviable location between DC and Tysons (the region's two biggest job centers), good access to DCA and IAD, and proximity to the only malls in the region that have weathered the trend towards online shopping.

Every discussion devolves into an attack on its central area and its food scene, because those are its weak spots, but the reality is that this keeps people who don't live there out, which is fine with most residents. Things might be different had the CIA allowed for more commercial development along the Route 123 (Dolley Madison) commuter route in McLean, but then the traffic would be worse.

Now that metro goes to IAD, what was once a hassle to get to from DC has become very easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean has the most high-end houses in the DC area, along with some of the top public schools in the region, an enviable location between DC and Tysons (the region's two biggest job centers), good access to DCA and IAD, and proximity to the only malls in the region that have weathered the trend towards online shopping.

Every discussion devolves into an attack on its central area and its food scene, because those are its weak spots, but the reality is that this keeps people who don't live there out, which is fine with most residents. Things might be different had the CIA allowed for more commercial development along the Route 123 (Dolley Madison) commuter route in McLean, but then the traffic would be worse.

Now that metro goes to IAD, what was once a hassle to get to from DC has become very easy.

+1. I took metro to Dulles from Eastern Market this past summer, and the whole ride cost $6.75.

[Anonymous]

Mclean is the best neighborhood in the DMV for good schools, easy commute, shopping, parks, and it's clean and safe (unlike Maryland).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

[Anonymous]

falls church city is way more desirable than mclean-mclean is a lady way past her prime, think mothy smelling closets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:falls church city is way more desirable than mclean-mclean is a lady way past her prime, think mothy smelling closets

Yeah, Falls Church City is good too and very pricey due to good schools, location. It's more of small town vibe than Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Different places are desirable to people with different preferences.

If you asked me, the answer is no, it’s not desirable to me— it’s too far outside the city and car-dependent. The thought of spending that much daily time driving is simply a nonstarter for me. But obviously it’s desirable to many who live and are hoping to live there, given the real estate values.

I went to high school in McLean and agree with this totally. I hate being car dependent.

Mclean downtown area is arguably walkable and has every amenity necessary for daily living, also has multifamily housing and more of it going up. While areas like Woodley park or Cleveland park are more charming they have a lot fewer amenities accessible on foot than Mclean DT. There is every essential need store, 3 grocery stores, 2 drug stores, lots of restaurants and ethnic food places, fancy bakeries and cafes, clothing, shoes, pet, etc. Not to mention every type of doctor's office and spa and tutoring center :lol: All accessible on foot.

I have lived in DC for 20 years and can’t figure out what anyone would define as “downtown McLean”? What are the cross streets?

They have to mean like Chain Bridge and Old Dominion? I think? I lived near there and shopped at that Giant and hung out at the Greenberry coffee place and whatnot. But yeah, "downtown Mclean" is a stretch, and I wouldn't call it walkable beyond the fact that you could walk around the area if you wanted to. No one does. It's easier to drive and not charmingly walkable at all. There is some good upscale retail/restaurants/etc around there -- for example The Organic Butcher is a fantastic amenity and I've always enjoyed brunch at J Gilbert's.

When was the last time you've been there? It's definitely seeing more foot traffic now with more multifamily buildings going up (that are quite $$$), rowhomes around there are over 1 mil and sell very fast. It's true that it's rather ugly and mainly consists of a bunch of strip mall with generous parking lots up front. But there are some side streets that look more urban and there are sidewalks and pedestrian intersections. It's not a promenade type of downtown cute main st that you want to visit, it serves practical purpose for people who live in the nearby areas by providing all necessary amenities and easy parking. There is a push to redevelop it into a more attractive pedestrian area, I suppose with more multifamily going up it might start taking shape. There are already new eateries with more attractive outside seating (reminds me of LA where strip mall restaurant patios used to local hang out places).

The point is not that Mclean DT aspires to be Georgetown or 14th st or a destination area. The point is that it is indeed a "town" with all the amenities of a small town (groceries, drug store, medical offices, banks, clothing and shoe boutiques, restaurants and bakeries, pet stores and veterinarian clinics, some commercial offices, medspas, beauty salons, tutoring centers, some specialized retail (ethnic food stores, music/toys, etc). If you can walk there and there are sidewalks, then it's not as car dependent as people say. It's just logic. If you need to commute to work or need big box shopping, movie theaters, etc, then, yes, it's car dependent

[Anonymous]

If you look at who buys in McLean you see a lot of rich 1st generation immigrants (Indians love McLean). DC has no appeal to them, they are not white Gen X or Millennial hipsters. They do not care about the hottest new restaurants or anything DC has to offer, plus all the Asian grocery stores are in VA or MD and they tend to cook at home or have multigenerational households so they need more space. Asian immigrants also want the best school pyramid with access to advanced academic programs plus they want to apply to TJ and top VA colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McLean has the most high-end houses in the DC area, along with some of the top public schools in the region, an enviable location between DC and Tysons (the region's two biggest job centers), good access to DCA and IAD, and proximity to the only malls in the region that have weathered the trend towards online shopping.

Every discussion devolves into an attack on its central area and its food scene, because those are its weak spots, but the reality is that this keeps people who don't live there out, which is fine with most residents. Things might be different had the CIA allowed for more commercial development along the Route 123 (Dolley Madison) commuter route in McLean, but then the traffic would be worse.

Now that metro goes to IAD, what was once a hassle to get to from DC has become very easy.

+1. I took metro to Dulles from Eastern Market this past summer, and the whole ride cost $6.75.

And only took one hour and 45 minutes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We lived in North Arlington just off of the Chesterbrook neighborhood for many years and it served its purpose then. As young empty nesters, though, we fled to the city the minute we could and haven’t looked back. I cannot imagine anyone without children wanting to live in a place like that. It is boring as hell.

We like McLean but I’m sorry you found North Arlington so boring. There are probably more amenities in both areas than when you lived there.

No they’re aren’t. Just fewer older homes and more McMansions. The fundamentals haven’t changed one bit.

WTF are you talking about? Chesterbrook shopping plaza was completely revamped and 'downtown' Mclean got a new grocery store and a dozen restaurants.

Lol yea I’ve seen the new Chesterbrook and sure it’s nicer than it was but it’s not exactly National Harbor or Navy Yard. No one is moving to Chesterbrook for the shopping plaza.

Thank God.

This. For many people, noisy, crowded environments which are sometimes overrun by unsupervised and undisciplined urban youth are not appealing in the slightest.

[Anonymous]

I’d argue that Yorktown zoned Arlington is much better than McLean because schools are as good, just as safe, better housing stock and much closer to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For DH and I, McLean offers the perfect commute options, I can work in D.C, Arlington, Bethesda, Alexandria, Tysons, Dulles Tech Corridor, all of these are within 20-45 mins of my home. I currently work in Alexandria, right off of GW pkwy and my commute in the mornings is 25 mins, 35 mins in the evening. We moved here for the commute and a strong peer group in schools, we are satisfied with both.

McLean isn't Pacific Palisades where you have the views of the ocean or beautiful homes like the ones in New England, it's a regular suburb with outstanding location. On another note, the housing stock in most of DMV is quite terrible.

This is the truest post on this thread. We live in a supposedly really nice neighborhood in NOVA, but the truth is, the DMV just isn't that nice compared to a lot of other places. I am always surprised at the threads arguing over what neighborhood is the "the best" when all of them are rather mediocre. I like living here but I won't mind leaving when it's time to retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d argue that Yorktown zoned Arlington is much better than McLean because schools are as good, just as safe, better housing stock and much closer to DC.

When considering housing prices, walkability, good schools, good restaurants, proximity to DC, it is

Falls Church City > North Arlington > McClean