Mclean vs. Vienna

[Anonymous]

FWIW, McLean also has a community park, a community center, a community library, and the same types of community fairs and parades as Vienna.

However, since there's no official "town of McLean," you don't have the sniping between town and county residents as to who lives in "real vs. faux" McLean the way that some town of Vienna residents sometimes go out of their way to exclude people who live outside the town limits but have Vienna mailing addresses. Apart from the traffic, that's probably the thing I miss the least about Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Mclean mostly borders tysons so there is no advantage to vienna. We looked at vienna but it is farther out and has less commuting options but is cheaper. It comes down to price, cut the bull shit.

I'll respond, but only if you tell me first whether you're really a jerk or just pretending for fun.

I am being honest, the farther you go outside the beltway the less the housing costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For some, it s not just price. Not every commutes in. If I lived in McLean, my commute would be worse and more expensive.

+1
In Northern Virginia, all bets are off. Yes, for lots of reasons, certain areas will have higher home prices but it isn't as clear cut as it was long ago when the majority of high paying jobs were in DC. The proximity to jobs argument doesn't work anymore because DC is not the only place to work--especially in Virginia. We could afford Mclean, Arlington, Bethesda, Falls Church, Alexandria and Great Falls. We chose Vienna because we found a house were my commute is 10 minutes. Kids walk to school and the pool. We have walking trails nearby and our Church is also walkable. If we decide to work in DC again, we are near to the new metro line and the old orange line. Wolf trap is in our back yard. Groceries, restaurants, shopping are all within 10-15 minutes. For us, the commute was the clincher but all the other stuff was a big deal too. Lots of McLean is really nice but our house was built by Yeonas in the late 60's as were many McLean houses and it is large colonial like many McLean houses. So I got the SAME house for about $250,000 less. Yes, we could have paid more for the McLean address and very slightly better school (we are Madison). But when the commute is worse, and shopping and restaurants are less in McLean than Vienna, we did not think forking over that much more money for McLean high school was worth it. For that amount, we could send both our kids to private high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, McLean also has a community park, a community center, a community library, and the same types of community fairs and parades as Vienna.

However, since there's no official "town of McLean," you don't have the sniping between town and county residents as to who lives in "real vs. faux" McLean the way that some town of Vienna residents sometimes go out of their way to exclude people who live outside the town limits but have Vienna mailing addresses. Apart from the traffic, that's probably the thing I miss the least about Vienna.

Don't kid yourself. There is a "real vs. faux" debate in mcLean. It's between the McLean folks and the 22043 (Falls Chruch part of McLean) folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Mclean mostly borders tysons so there is no advantage to vienna. We looked at vienna but it is farther out and has less commuting options but is cheaper. It comes down to price, cut the bull shit.

I'll respond, but only if you tell me first whether you're really a jerk or just pretending for fun.

I am being honest, the farther you go outside the beltway the less the housing costs.

I don't think it's that clear-cut in an area with both multiple job centers and a significant stock of aging, closer-in housing. And, even if it were, it doesn't mean some people might not choose the less expensive location (here, Vienna) for other reasons besides affordability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, McLean also has a community park, a community center, a community library, and the same types of community fairs and parades as Vienna.

However, since there's no official "town of McLean," you don't have the sniping between town and county residents as to who lives in "real vs. faux" McLean the way that some town of Vienna residents sometimes go out of their way to exclude people who live outside the town limits but have Vienna mailing addresses. Apart from the traffic, that's probably the thing I miss the least about Vienna.

Don't kid yourself. There is a "real vs. faux" debate in mcLean. It's between the McLean folks and the 22043 (Falls Chruch part of McLean) folks.

Interesting. I think it's more pronounced in Vienna, though, because people who live in 22180, 22181 and 22182 actually have Vienna mailing addresses, but sometimes get told by town residents that "they don't really live in Vienna." In comparison, the "Falls Church part of McLean" or "McLean part of Falls Church" is just a way to describe areas with a Falls Church/22043 mailing address that are part of the special tax assessment district that funds the McLean Community Center and/or are assigned to McLean HS. For the most part, people who live in 22043 can - and do - say they live in Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some, it s not just price. Not every commutes in. If I lived in McLean, my commute would be worse and more expensive.

+1
In Northern Virginia, all bets are off. Yes, for lots of reasons, certain areas will have higher home prices but it isn't as clear cut as it was long ago when the majority of high paying jobs were in DC. The proximity to jobs argument doesn't work anymore because DC is not the only place to work--especially in Virginia. We could afford Mclean, Arlington, Bethesda, Falls Church, Alexandria and Great Falls. We chose Vienna because we found a house were my commute is 10 minutes. Kids walk to school and the pool. We have walking trails nearby and our Church is also walkable. If we decide to work in DC again, we are near to the new metro line and the old orange line. Wolf trap is in our back yard. Groceries, restaurants, shopping are all within 10-15 minutes. For us, the commute was the clincher but all the other stuff was a big deal too. Lots of McLean is really nice but our house was built by Yeonas in the late 60's as were many McLean houses and it is large colonial like many McLean houses. So I got the SAME house for about $250,000 less. Yes, we could have paid more for the McLean address and very slightly better school (we are Madison). But when the commute is worse, and shopping and restaurants are less in McLean than Vienna, we did not think forking over that much more money for McLean high school was worth it. For that amount, we could send both our kids to private high school.

Are you talking about Wolftrap ES rather than the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center? No one zoned for Madison has Wolf Trap (the Arts Center) in their back yard. The area around Wolf Trap is primarily zoned for McLean HS, with the areas south of the Toll Road near Wolf Trap zoned for Marshall HS.

[Anonymous]

I don't get why this is a problem. People outside of the Town of Vienna may have a Vienna mailing address but don't live inside the town limits. They are all allowed to sign up for classes and such, but have to sign up a couple of days later. It isn't a big deal. And, yes as a taxpayer to the town I want to have the services catered to the in town residents first. People living outside the town also typically don't come before the Town boards but they do on occasion and aren't turned away. Our local school has in town and out of town residents and this discussion never comes up at school. Typically the Town does focus on the schools that are actually within town limits, especially Madison and Vienna, but they do follow schools just outside the boundary as well where Town of Vienna residents reside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some, it s not just price. Not every commutes in. If I lived in McLean, my commute would be worse and more expensive.

+1
In Northern Virginia, all bets are off. Yes, for lots of reasons, certain areas will have higher home prices but it isn't as clear cut as it was long ago when the majority of high paying jobs were in DC. The proximity to jobs argument doesn't work anymore because DC is not the only place to work--especially in Virginia. We could afford Mclean, Arlington, Bethesda, Falls Church, Alexandria and Great Falls. We chose Vienna because we found a house were my commute is 10 minutes. Kids walk to school and the pool. We have walking trails nearby and our Church is also walkable. If we decide to work in DC again, we are near to the new metro line and the old orange line. Wolf trap is in our back yard. Groceries, restaurants, shopping are all within 10-15 minutes. For us, the commute was the clincher but all the other stuff was a big deal too. Lots of McLean is really nice but our house was built by Yeonas in the late 60's as were many McLean houses and it is large colonial like many McLean houses. So I got the SAME house for about $250,000 less. Yes, we could have paid more for the McLean address and very slightly better school (we are Madison). But when the commute is worse, and shopping and restaurants are less in McLean than Vienna, we did not think forking over that much more money for McLean high school was worth it. For that amount, we could send both our kids to private high school.

Are you talking about Wolftrap ES rather than the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center? No one zoned for Madison has Wolf Trap (the Arts Center) in their back yard. The area around Wolf Trap is primarily zoned for McLean HS, with the areas south of the Toll Road near Wolf Trap zoned for Marshall HS.

I was unclear. I am walking distance to Wolftrap ES. However, I did mean that Wolftrap is in my backyard. In reality, Wolftrap creek is in my back yard --actually my yard abuts the park that has the creek and trails and basketball and a playground. I can walk to the creek directly from my yard. I feel completely secluded and have deer, fox, woodpeckers, and many other birds in view all the time. The Wolftrap performing arts park is very close--1.5 miles or maybe 2--so not in my backyard but really close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why this is a problem. People outside of the Town of Vienna may have a Vienna mailing address but don't live inside the town limits. They are all allowed to sign up for classes and such, but have to sign up a couple of days later. It isn't a big deal. And, yes as a taxpayer to the town I want to have the services catered to the in town residents first. People living outside the town also typically don't come before the Town boards but they do on occasion and aren't turned away. Our local school has in town and out of town residents and this discussion never comes up at school. Typically the Town does focus on the schools that are actually within town limits, especially Madison and Vienna, but they do follow schools just outside the boundary as well where Town of Vienna residents reside.

FYI - Madison HS is not in the town of Vienna. It's a FCPS high school located in Fairfax County and FCPS, not the town of Vienna government, decides who goes there. It's not like the City of Fairfax, where every City of Fairfax student is required by law to attend Fairfax HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, McLean also has a community park, a community center, a community library, and the same types of community fairs and parades as Vienna.

However, since there's no official "town of McLean," you don't have the sniping between town and county residents as to who lives in "real vs. faux" McLean the way that some town of Vienna residents sometimes go out of their way to exclude people who live outside the town limits but have Vienna mailing addresses. Apart from the traffic, that's probably the thing I miss the least about Vienna.

Don't kid yourself. There is a "real vs. faux" debate in mcLean. It's between the McLean folks and the 22043 (Falls Chruch part of McLean) folks.

Interesting. I think it's more pronounced in Vienna, though, because people who live in 22180, 22181 and 22182 actually have Vienna mailing addresses, but sometimes get told by town residents that "they don't really live in Vienna." In comparison, the "Falls Church part of McLean" or "McLean part of Falls Church" is just a way to describe areas with a Falls Church/22043 mailing address that are part of the special tax assessment district that funds the McLean Community Center and/or are assigned to McLean HS. For the most part, people who live in 22043 can - and do - say they live in Falls Church.

lol. I live in 22182, have never been told I do not live in Vienna, and would not take offense if they did. Why would I possibly care??? that is too funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

...left hand turns during rush hour on Electric Ave. (and only on Electric Ave.)

Actually, the road is named Follin Lane from Maple to the top of the hill in front of NFCU where the old trolley right-of way cuts toward the W&OD Trail (that's why the part to Gallows is called Electric Avenue).


Also to the poster that thinks that FFX Country property tax pays for snow removal on roads in the county. NO not true. Virtually all roads in the county outside of incorporated towns are maintained by Virginia DOT down to the local cul-de-sac. That includes snow removal unless your in an HOA that pays for its own.

The person who lives in the town of Vienna said the town pays for snow removal also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And route 7 in Falls Church is just as bad during commuting hours.

Not at all.

Vienna is so bad that the town ridiculously imposes restrictions on drivers from making left hand turns during rush hour times on certain streets like Electric Ave. That is drastic.

Please do not comment on something you obviously know nothing about. Yes, there are restrictions on drivers making left hand turns during rush hour on Electric Ave. (and only on Electric Ave.) but that is because the Navy Federal Credit Union is located up the way and the restriction is due to the large number that work there. But even more, that area you are talking about is way off in the back area of Vienna closest to Tysons. It is not even close to the center of town so your comment is not relevant to the discussion. What is "drastic" is when people generalize about things that are not accurate.

Thanks for agreeing that I'm right even though you said I don't know anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:let's cut the bull shit. If you have more money you would live in McLean over Vienna. Vienna is a nice place to live but not as good as McLean.

You're not cutting the BS, just spreading it.

I've lived in both places. Personally, I think McLean is better if you work in DC, but if I worked in Tysons I'd prefer Vienna. Others may share that view or prefer Vienna outright.

This is BS. Tysons is much more accessible from McLean than Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
That being said, I still think it is astonishing for all the alleged wealth in McLean that we have so few restaurants. Someone said to put them side-by-side and that would add up. But they really don't. And those that have tried to open got clobbered by the recession and have closed. I would love to see more healthy take-out opportunities here.

I still think that, if you either lined up the restaurants in McLean along one or two streets, as in Vienna, or concentrated them in a dense, walkable area, as in Takoma Park, the number and variety (Thai, Italian, French, Chinese, American, Persian, Indian, Turkish, Greek and Japanese, for example) would surprise most people. As it stands, they are currently dispersed on a number of streets in an area that is "walkable" in the Walk Score sense (i.e., things are physically close to one another), but that is neither visually attractive nor pedestrian-friendly. To me, it's a design issue; because McLean restaurants are spread out in an area that is not very easy to navigate (try explaining to someone that there are two Chain Bridge Roads in McLean, and that neither is Dolley Madison/Route 123), they end up being places that don't draw a lot of outsiders and that local residents often patronize for convenience, rather than for the quality. Even so, we have some favorites like Kazan's and Absolute Thai that we return to often.

But, I'm definitely with you on the wish for more healthy take-outs. Balducci's, Chesapeake Bagel and Sweetleaf are definitely not enough! I do wonder if the rents are so high that they discourage people from opening businesses that otherwise would seem like natural candidates for the area.

What kind of healthy takeouts does Vienna have that McLean doesn't? KFC? Popeyes? Vienna Inn? Outback? Foster's Grille? Anita's?