What do you guys think of Annandale? (Arlington, Alexandria: apartment complex, jobs)

[drizzleton]

I've spent my whole life here and think it's a great place to live. but I often here people from other parts of Fairfax co. call it ghetto and trashy, or talk about the day laberors along rt. 236 and how they ruin the "downtown" area. Or they say that we're infested with gangs. Sure, A-town has some gang issues in certain apartment complexes (which make up a VERY small portion of the entire Annandale area) but it's no worse than Falls Church, Springfield, Arlington or Alexandria, and ESPECIALLY not as bad as the route 1 corridor. There are a ton of really nice, quiet, upscale neigborhoods here, especially west of 495 near NOVA, the houses off of Hummer road, or Braddock road between backlick and 236.

What do you folks think of Annandale?

[SaratL]

In my opinion, Annandale is just fine. I think most parents shy away because of middle school and High school or because the houses are not new and one can get a newer/bigger house out west where there are lots of kids etc. The apartments on 236 and the day laborer is definitely an issue (I think it is also an issue in Herndon etc) but there are many nice houses in Annadale on Hummer, behind Fairfax hospital etc. It is close to everything - beltway, Bike Trail, Dunn Loring metro, Hospital, Lot of Doctors offices, Tysons, Fairfax Trader Joes, Both airports, DC (I used to take kids to DC museums, Kennedy Center etc all the time which I doubt I could have done if I lived far west). We were never crazy about living in a community with tons of kids or living in crowded suburbia or commuting for hours so Annadale worked just fine for us.

[Tone509]

The retail area on and near 236 isn't real pretty but I agree that there are a lot of nice neighborhoods there, especially as one gets out to the NVCC campus.

[car54]

My parents moved to Annandale in 1949. Their friends in Arlington thought they were NUTS for leaving civilization to homestead in the wild frontier of Annandale! Back then NOVA consisted of Arlington and Alexandria. They built their house off Hummer Rd, just inside the Beltway. Oh wait, the Beltway wouldn't be built for another 12 years or so. Little River Turnpike and Columbia Pike were 2-lanes...one in each direction.

I've lived here my entire life (pushin' 60!) and it sure has changed. I don't begrudge the guys hanging out at 7-11 looking for work, they are just trying to survive. I blame the Federal Gov't for not enforcing immigration laws. I'm convinced that the powers that be want that cheap labor, and will never get serious about illegal immigration.

The apartments mentioned caused an uproar when they were built in the 60's. Especially Fairmont Gardens and Carl Freeman's Americana Fairfax on Heritage Drive. Folks said, "There goes the neighborhood!". They'd be spinning in their graves if they could see those complexes now!

The gang thing is overblown, in my opinion. They're mostly kids of immigrants that work numerous jobs to get by. The gang is these kids' "family". Plus, they mainly just mess with each other, not the public at large.

Despite it's flaws, I think Annandale is still a great place to live. (especially if you like Korean food!)