Advice on Mantua vs. Burke (Arlington, McLean: real estate, for rent, houses)

[regandare1217]

We have found a very nice property for rent in Mantua for our family (of soon to be 5 children). Can anyone tell me anything about this development? Here is the link for the property.
9337 Tovito Dr, Fairfax, VA
We have also heard very good things about Burke and especially this property.
MilitarybyOwner.com - Real Estate near U.S. Military Bases

Which area would have a "better" commute to the Federal Triangle area? Are there advantages to one area over the other?

Thanks so much!

[saganista]

Mantua is very nice...one of the first upscale comunities. Quiet, wooded, secure. This particular house is toward the back of the community, very near Pickett Road and 236. You'll be sort of across the street from the Fair City Mall, and behind the Chuck E. Cheese Mall (I forget the actual name of it at the moment...maybe calling it the Trader Joe's Mall would make it sound better) and just down the block from the tank farm, so there will be oil trucks rolling in and out on Pickett most of the day. The strip between Mantua and Pickett Road includes the Fairfax Ice Arena, an Aamco, a vet, and similar smallish commercial and office properties. The house would be reasonably convenient to the Metro Orange Line from either Vienna or Dunn Loring which would have you at Federal Triangle in 30-35 minutes. You'd want to get to Route-50 then take Nutley Street up to Vienna, or probably easier, cut through Mantua to Prosperity Avenue and just follow that up to Dunn Loring. The trip would take maybe 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic which can get crowded. Otherwise, easy access to Fairfax City and Fair Oaks Mall. Also to Annadale.

I'm not as familiar with the Burke address, but the area is similar. Built out about the same time (early to mid-70's) and more or less to the same standards. Lots of trees, mostly residential area. You'd have the VRE station in Burke which could get you into DC, or you might prefer to drive to the Franconia/Spingfield Metro station, where the Blue Line would take you to Federal Triangle also in about 35 minutes. I think others should tell you about access to amenities, as I haven't spent enough time there to say things with certainty, and surely others have...

[Fairfax Mom]

Was Mantua the site of an oil spill that leaked into the neighborhood? The area is beautiful but the chemical spill would worry me for long term affects -
Or am I thinking of another neighborhood....

[car54]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Was Mantua the site of an oil spill that leaked into the neighborhood? The area is beautiful but the chemical spill would worry me for long term affects -
Or am I thinking of another neighborhood....

You got the right 'hood.

My memory is a bit fuzzy, but the nearby tank farm on Pickett Rd was leaking under Mantua. Texaco bought the whole neighborhood for premium prices.
They cleaned the place up and resold the houses.

Early 90's I think....wouldn't worry about it.

[Fairfax Mom]

I wouldnt trust Texaco -that for sure!
I would never feel safe there - I dont think they rarely ever clean up those types of sites correctly.

[springfieldva]

Both the Mantua neighborhood (I would not worry about the oil leak that has long since been cleaned up) and the one in Burke are good locations. If I had to choose one, I would probably go with the one in Burke. But, I'm sure there are lots of people who would choose the Mantua house over the one in Burke.

I would suggest visiting the area. See which one you like best. Good luck!

[fairfaxmom1212]

Mantua is in a much better location than Burke. It is also close to the Metro and major roads including I66 and 495. You have the VRE in Burke, but it is unreliable and expensive. The schools in Mantua are better and shopping and restaurants are MUCH better in the Fairfax area near Mantua.

[Denton56]

The Mantua problem was 18 years ago. I remember it well, about 3 hours were actually effected, but Texaco bought lots of other houses too. Nothing bad happened and it was all cleaned up. I love Mantua and would definitely prefer it over Burke which is much further out and much harder to get to. Mantua is so much more convenient and good schools too.

[CaseyMac]

I'm going with Mantua for a few reasons:

1) Much easier to get to many more inside and outside the Beltway locations (Arlington, Falls Church, and further out areas of Fairfax)

2) Burke has an issue, like many Nova communities, of having 15 unrelated people in one dwelling. There are areas of Burke that look like McLean so the neighborhood you are talking about may not fit my description, but it's something to watch out for.

Reason 1 is really however, what is making me say Mantua all the way, especially since you work downtown.

[barryhussein]

Mantua is more upscale. Some famous people live there. Burke is OK, but can be a bit rough on the edges.