Anonymous wrote:

Few people care about walkability. It matters to some, but it doesn't command a premium.

It may command a premium, but it's far from the only consideration and people need to stay within their budgets. If you paid a lot of money for a small, old house in a walkable area, you're more likely to hop on DCUM and try to persuade others it should be of paramount importance. Hence all the "we walk everywhere with my 1-year-old, 3-year-old and Portuguese Water Dog,, get ice cream every day, see every clown at the library, and now I'm a size 4 again" posts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You haven't spent much time in CC Hills or north of Old Dominion, I take it.

People live in Arlington for the convenience and the schools, though. The schools in Arlington are perceived to be far superior to what you'll find in Sleepy Hollow. Which doesn't make Sleepy Hollow school's BAD, just inferior to Arlington. As far as perception goes.

That small part of Arlington is no more walkable than Sleepy Hollow, and certainly no more attractive. The schools for CCH may be perceived as superior to those for Sleepy Hollow, but the Sleepy Hollow schools are perceived as better than those in South Arlington.

If the OP ends up in Sleepy Hollow, I think her family will be very happy. Why people from Arlington have to weigh in on every thread with snippy little comments is a mystery.

No one would've mentioned Arlington if someone hadn't written that Arlington and Falls Church were unattractive compared with Sleepy Hollow (to paraphrase). I think most people that know the area would agree that Sleepy Hollow, Arlington and Falls Church City all have beautiful neighborhoods.

The OP did not mention walkability, and the above Arlington poster said nothing about walkability in CCH. Anyway, I doubt the OP has the budget for a house in CCH or Lyon Village or whatever. Not many do. Sleepy Hollow seems to meet her needs very well.

Few people care about walkability. It matters to some, but it doesn't command a premium.

OP here and thanks so much to everyone who has weighed in on our move. We plan to put in a contract and we agree that it seems like it will meet our needs well. It will be an adjustment that there are no sidewalks, but ours and the streets around it are pretty quiet and the shoulders are wide so I think we'll be fine there. I'll continue checking this thread in case anyone has more to add...thanks again!!

Anonymous wrote:
No one would've mentioned Arlington if someone hadn't written that Arlington and Falls Church were unattractive compared with Sleepy Hollow (to paraphrase). I think most people that know the area would agree that Sleepy Hollow, Arlington and Falls Church City all have beautiful neighborhoods.

The OP did not mention walkability, and the above Arlington poster said nothing about walkability in CCH. Anyway, I doubt the OP has the budget for a house in CCH or Lyon Village or whatever. Not many do. Sleepy Hollow seems to meet her needs very well.

The OP is asking about Sleepy Hollow, and some jerk from Arlington started putting it down by saying it wasn't walkable like North Arlington. Arlington posters are the biggest twits on DCUM, bar none. If someone asks about the City of Alexandria, they put down ACPS and TC Williams. If someone asks about Fairfax, they start posting about its purported lack of walkability compared to Arlington, as was the case earlier in this thread. If someone asks about Loudoun, they call it cookie-cutter and too far away. Half the time they try and steer people to neighborhoods in Arlington posters can't afford. If they aren't doing that, they offer faint praise about other areas. If someone expresses a preference for some place other than Arlington, the immediate response is that the poster must not be able to afford Arlington. It happens on virtually every thread.

Personally, I find most of Arlington very unattractive, and will never live there again, but I don't jump on threads to share my personal opinion when people specifically ask for information about Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You haven't spent much time in CC Hills or north of Old Dominion, I take it.

People live in Arlington for the convenience and the schools, though. The schools in Arlington are perceived to be far superior to what you'll find in Sleepy Hollow. Which doesn't make Sleepy Hollow school's BAD, just inferior to Arlington. As far as perception goes.

That small part of Arlington is no more walkable than Sleepy Hollow, and certainly no more attractive. The schools for CCH may be perceived as superior to those for Sleepy Hollow, but the Sleepy Hollow schools are perceived as better than those in South Arlington.

If the OP ends up in Sleepy Hollow, I think her family will be very happy. Why people from Arlington have to weigh in on every thread with snippy little comments is a mystery.

No one would've mentioned Arlington if someone hadn't written that Arlington and Falls Church were unattractive compared with Sleepy Hollow (to paraphrase). I think most people that know the area would agree that Sleepy Hollow, Arlington and Falls Church City all have beautiful neighborhoods.

The OP did not mention walkability, and the above Arlington poster said nothing about walkability in CCH. Anyway, I doubt the OP has the budget for a house in CCH or Lyon Village or whatever. Not many do. Sleepy Hollow seems to meet her needs very well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

It's MUCH prettier than Arlington or City of Falls Church. I can give up a bit of walkable - as you likely define it - to live in an area that I find far more attractive, relaxed and affordable.

I disagree with the comparison. You are comparing an entire county to a small residential neighborhood. Arlington has many neighborhoods that are similarly attractive to Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy Hollow is not a small residential neighborhood. It is much of the 22044 zip code, and it is prettier than most of Arlington. People live in Arlington for the convenience, not because it's attractive.

For that quiet suburban feel, in terms of looks alone, I'd take the Arlington neighborhoods along Lorcom Lane, Military Road, Nelly Custis Drive, and Washington Boulevard east of Westover over anything in Sleepy Hollow. Also there is a better variety of housing styles in Arlington.

That said, Sleepy Hollow is a pretty neighborhood with decent Fairfax County public schools. The commute to DC is good. I think the OP's family will love it there.

Anonymous wrote:

You haven't spent much time in CC Hills or north of Old Dominion, I take it.

People live in Arlington for the convenience and the schools, though. The schools in Arlington are perceived to be far superior to what you'll find in Sleepy Hollow. Which doesn't make Sleepy Hollow school's BAD, just inferior to Arlington. As far as perception goes.

That small part of Arlington is no more walkable than Sleepy Hollow, and certainly no more attractive. The schools for CCH may be perceived as superior to those for Sleepy Hollow, but the Sleepy Hollow schools are perceived as better than those in South Arlington.

If the OP ends up in Sleepy Hollow, I think her family will be very happy. Why people from Arlington have to weigh in on every thread with snippy little comments is a mystery.

Anonymous wrote:Sleepy hollow preschool nearby is fabulous.

Isn't that in Annandale?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

It's MUCH prettier than Arlington or City of Falls Church. I can give up a bit of walkable - as you likely define it - to live in an area that I find far more attractive, relaxed and affordable.

I disagree with the comparison. You are comparing an entire county to a small residential neighborhood. Arlington has many neighborhoods that are similarly attractive to Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy Hollow is not a small residential neighborhood. It is much of the 22044 zip code, and it is prettier than most of Arlington. People live in Arlington for the convenience, not because it's attractive.

You haven't spent much time in CC Hills or north of Old Dominion, I take it.

People live in Arlington for the convenience and the schools, though. The schools in Arlington are perceived to be far superior to what you'll find in Sleepy Hollow. Which doesn't make Sleepy Hollow school's BAD, just inferior to Arlington. As far as perception goes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

It's MUCH prettier than Arlington or City of Falls Church. I can give up a bit of walkable - as you likely define it - to live in an area that I find far more attractive, relaxed and affordable.

I disagree with the comparison. You are comparing an entire county to a small residential neighborhood. Arlington has many neighborhoods that are similarly attractive to Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy Hollow is not a small residential neighborhood. It is much of the 22044 zip code, and it is prettier than most of Arlington. People live in Arlington for the convenience, not because it's attractive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

It's MUCH prettier than Arlington or City of Falls Church. I can give up a bit of walkable - as you likely define it - to live in an area that I find far more attractive, relaxed and affordable.

I disagree with the comparison. You are comparing an entire county to a small residential neighborhood. Arlington has many neighborhoods that are similarly attractive to Sleepy Hollow.

Sleepy hollow preschool nearby is fabulous.

Anonymous wrote:I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

It's MUCH prettier than Arlington or City of Falls Church. I can give up a bit of walkable - as you likely define it - to live in an area that I find far more attractive, relaxed and affordable.

I have had several friends live there (and some who still do). The reason I don't like it is the general lack of sidewalks and narrow windy streets. It is not very walkable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The neighborhood has a private community pool. Check this out.

http://www.shrasharks.org/index.asp

There is another community pool down the street as well:

http://www.shbr.org/

It's a very nice area. It's not chock full of young families, but more of a mix of old time residents and newcomers. You may have to make more of an effort to find younger moms than in some places, but they are there.

I'd be remiss if I didn't share that generations of pre-teens have called Sleepy Hollow Bath & Raquet "Bathroom Racket."

lol! TFS. Fortunately I have a while before my boys will be pre-teens.

Actually, it happens quicker than you think! Best of luck to you!