Giving up on North Arligton... Is South Arlington going to improve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I lived in Parkway, which is between Glebe, I-395, and Four Mile Run.

If that family shares a duplex with you, hits you up for money every week for months, and has drunken fights between 11pm and 1am, then yeah, it's going to affect your life.

It wasn't just the immediate neighbors. There was a drug dealer complete with pit bulls across the street, two boarding houses within 6 houses on either side, and an extended family buying up every house on the block they could, whose only interaction with us was to yell at us to move our (legally parked on the street) cars whenever we parked in "their" parking spaces. I'm surprised you didn't remember those aspects of my story because I do mention them quite a bit.

I post my tale as a caution -- it's not always peaches and cream in (fill in emerging DC or close-in neighborhood here).

With that said, I'm honestly glad you won the neighbor lottery.

NP here. I've not heard of a Parkway neighborhood. It's not listed as a civic association on the county website. Were you in the Nauck neighborhood or Shirlington? I'm just curious.

Parkway is not a neighborhood in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

Ex-Parkway resident here, I actually liked my time on the Pike (2000-2002). We moved b/c my wife hated living right off of the Pike due to the noise of car crashes and general traffic. I didn't have a problem with it. But the neighbors were ok and I liked the things there.

I guess they've torn down Mom's Pizza and the Westmont Shopping Center to make room for those apartments? That was where the first ever Five Guys was, it was closed when we arrived. Brenner's was open for like a month after we moved in. I remember riding the 16 series buses (worked near Foggy Bottom) and being the only white person after S. Courthouse Road. Even then it was a great thing, I'd leave the car unused for days at a time.

[Anonymous]

it being the 16 series buses, I always wondered why white folks wouldn't ride the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

I have never been to the broiler! It's a got a little of that south Arlington sketch going on, but in a charming way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

I have never been to the broiler! It's a got a little of that south Arlington sketch going on, but in a charming way.

Oh, you should go. I mean if you want super really greasy food that will likely lead the demise of your heart

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

I have never been to the broiler! It's a got a little of that south Arlington sketch going on, but in a charming way.

i loved it, i think the guy that owned it owned a couple acres where they threw up THs along the pike and randolph. i'm guessing the hispanic iga near george mason and the pike has long gone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Patrick Henry is an 8 on great schools for those that live and die by Great Schools.

We make over 200k, chose S Arlington and LOVE it. We used to live in N Arlington. Most people denigrating it have never lived here.

I lived there for 6 years and hated it. Granted it was between 2002 and 2008 ...

Wait - let me guess... Your neighbor's asked you for money.

Yes, indeed. Let me guess, your neighbors in South Arlington are just FANTASTIC and it's somehow my fault I got terrible neighbors.

My south Arlington neighbors are in fact wonderful. I don't know you, so I can't presume to know why you had such a rough time living below 50. I have noticed that you pipe in with this particular tale of woe pretty often. I certainly wouldn't paint an entire neighborhood ( although I don't know which particular hood you lived in) in a certain light just because of one family. It's such a specific instance of dysfunction - I don't know why you persist on concluding the issue is south Arlington.

I lived in Parkway, which is between Glebe, I-395, and Four Mile Run.

If that family shares a duplex with you, hits you up for money every week for months, and has drunken fights between 11pm and 1am, then yeah, it's going to affect your life.

It wasn't just the immediate neighbors. There was a drug dealer complete with pit bulls across the street, two boarding houses within 6 houses on either side, and an extended family buying up every house on the block they could, whose only interaction with us was to yell at us to move our (legally parked on the street) cars whenever we parked in "their" parking spaces. I'm surprised you didn't remember those aspects of my story because I do mention them quite a bit.

I post my tale as a caution -- it's not always peaches and cream in (fill in emerging DC or close-in neighborhood here).

With that said, I'm honestly glad you won the neighbor lottery.

I think I kinda know where this is. I'm assuming it's the brick duplexes on the rightha daily side as you drive up Glebe approaching 395? Or very close to there.
I think that area has improved. I generally find the those sorts of arlingnton duplexes to be incredibly ugly, but I feel like that little section has gotten spruced up and is looking cute.

[Anonymous]

" right hand side"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

I have never been to the broiler! It's a got a little of that south Arlington sketch going on, but in a charming way.

i loved it, i think the guy that owned it owned a couple acres where they threw up THs along the pike and randolph. i'm guessing the hispanic iga near george mason and the pike has long gone

I think what you are referring to ( hispanic IGA) is the Food Star. It is still there, and terrible. I would really appreciate a nice grocery store there. The parking at the shirlington harris teeter can get a little hairy at certain hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think I kinda know where this is. I'm assuming it's the brick duplexes on the rightha daily side as you drive up Glebe approaching 395? Or very close to there.
I think that area has improved. I generally find the those sorts of arlingnton duplexes to be incredibly ugly, but I feel like that little section has gotten spruced up and is looking cute.

Those are the ones practically right next to the four mile run trail, right? I see them from the trail, and they look okay. No particular nefarious behavior, but then I have never ridden the trail after 10pm

[Anonymous]

I think what you are referring to ( hispanic IGA) is the Food Star. It is still there, and terrible. I would really appreciate a nice grocery store there. The parking at the shirlington harris teeter can get a little hairy at certain hours.


I really think that will be replaced soon. With the success ( although tricky parking ) of the the Giant near Menchies someone has to see the value of a great grocery store there. Harris Teeter or WF is needed.

[Anonymous]

My hope for the pike in the next 5 years....

In addition to Chipotle - I would love a Pilates/barre Studio at the corner of Glebe/Columbia Pike as well as a few more small cafes with (outdoor?) seating.

A Whole Foods or HT where the food star is in addition to a few different options there in terms of restaurants or even kids classes. (Expand Evolve? or a JW tumbles type place?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

I have never been to the broiler! It's a got a little of that south Arlington sketch going on, but in a charming way.

i loved it, i think the guy that owned it owned a couple acres where they threw up THs along the pike and randolph. i'm guessing the hispanic iga near george mason and the pike has long gone

I think what you are referring to ( hispanic IGA) is the Food Star. It is still there, and terrible. I would really appreciate a nice grocery store there. The parking at the shirlington harris teeter can get a little hairy at certain hours.

Was it still the IGA? Yeah it was terrible but it was close and I loved the Jamaican beef/chicken patties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My hope for the pike in the next 5 years....

In addition to Chipotle - I would love a Pilates/barre Studio at the corner of Glebe/Columbia Pike as well as a few more small cafes with (outdoor?) seating.

A Whole Foods or HT where the food star is in addition to a few different options there in terms of restaurants or even kids classes. (Expand Evolve? or a JW tumbles type place?)

Add a spin class to the above!
The Pike gets worse as you move west, which I don't think is a secret. It used to be Glebe was a border of sorts, but now that pike 3400 has gone up, it appears the line has moved back again. It's now George Mason. Turning that Food Star into a descent grocery would do a lot to improve things.
Of course now there have been increased rumblings to put Metro under the Pike. It would take decades, but would be the best solution for transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think I kinda know where this is. I'm assuming it's the brick duplexes on the rightha daily side as you drive up Glebe approaching 395? Or very close to there.
I think that area has improved. I generally find the those sorts of arlingnton duplexes to be incredibly ugly, but I feel like that little section has gotten spruced up and is looking cute.

Those are the ones practically right next to the four mile run trail, right? I see them from the trail, and they look okay. No particular nefarious behavior, but then I have never ridden the trail after 10pm

They're right after 395, there used to be Slavin's and there's probably still an Exxon station on Glebe, and the duplexes I lived in are behind them. Glad to know it's gotten somewhat better. Sure they might be ugly, but where else will you get access to the "sacred DCUM soil" of Arlington for under $400k and get at least enough yard to put in a sandbox and a swingset? I'd rather live there than in a terrible part of DC that isn't close to Metro/shopping/etc., at least Oakridge/Gunston/Wakefield are OK if not optimal.

Yeah they built the connector between the W&OD and the Four Mile Run trail alongside that neighborhood. That would help matters I think for people moving in, at least now you've got access to some urban-like amenities -- when I was there, I had all the social ills/bad neighbors of poor urban precincts combined with the car-dependence of random cul-de-sacs in Centreville, but with worse schools than Centreville.