Northern Virginia has gone downhill in the last 20 years (Arlington: new house, established neighborhood)

[FK04]

Oh men... I imagine that most of this forum posters are very old people... I cannot imagine myself living in that kind of rural environment that you guys describe and miss. Thanks God NOVA has changed and we can enjoy the benefits of modernity and prosperity. I live in Arlington and go to DC every day and most of the weekends, lots of restaurants, clubs, pubs, museums, and especially very diverse and international people, which I love. Welcome to the 21st century, we live in a global world with people moving from one to another country, and we can practice several languages (I speak four, and is a pleasure to be in such a cosmopolitan area)

Regarding the driving situation, it's not a problem in my area. I take Metro every day and is a breeze to get to DC. Of course, getting to Southern VA is a pain, but anyway, why to go there? it's so provincial, full of rural kind of people with a very narrow mindset, with some exceptions of course. Anyway, life is great in this part of town, and I would not change it back to pre-civilization era.

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by FK04

Oh men... I imagine that most of this forum posters are very old people... I cannot imagine myself living in that kind of rural environment that you guys describe and miss. Thanks God NOVA has changed and we can enjoy the benefits of modernity and prosperity. I live in Arlington and go to DC every day and most of the weekends, lots of restaurants, clubs, pubs, museums, and especially very diverse and international people, which I love. Welcome to the 21st century, we live in a global world with people moving from one to another country, and we can practice several languages (I speak four, and is a pleasure to be in such a cosmopolitan area)

Regarding the driving situation, it's not a problem in my area. I take Metro every day and is a breeze to get to DC. Of course, getting to Southern VA is a pain, but anyway, why to go there? it's so provincial, full of rural kind of people with a very narrow mindset, with some exceptions of course. Anyway, life is great in this part of town, and I would not change it back to pre-civilization era.

Ironically- NOVA is much more narrow minded today. People are very materialistic there. The attitudes are conforming and conventional. Its the land of SUVs and houses with vinyl siding. 50 years ago, the area had a lot more charm and character- plus that genteel southern hospitality you can't find these days.

[vasinger]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

Cheer up all NOVA's!! At least there is a bright spot. You guys make the big money and keep the state of Virginia out of the red. The people in the rest of Virginia(the poor folks) marvel at your super duper highways, the METRO and
lack of potholes and your top rated public schools. From the looks of things, I think you guys have it pretty darn good up there. You can hop on the METRO and land in DC and enjoy all of the free museums, monuments and attractions of a world-class city has to offer. Of course, living in such a nice place as NOVA requires lots and lots of money. Also, since NOVA is quite cosmopolitan and not "southern" anymore, there may be some culture shock among many of the folks who grew up there. We can see the world and the U.S. is changing, whether we like it or not.

NOVA is anything but Cosmopolitan. At least it used to have charm and character. And your implication that southernness is based on being countrified, thats simply not true. You can find plenty of country bumpkins in rural Mass or Upstate New York.

People in NOVA today are just plain rude.

[daaaaave]

I agree with this thread completely. We moved here 20 years ago and I grew up here, but now my parents sold the house and we are leaving soon. I live in Chantilly and can't even get around my own town anymore without hitting ridiculous traffic...who woulda thought it could take an hour to go from Greenbriar to South Riding? Everybody is plain rude here too, moreso than anywhere I have been. It's way too materialistic too.

[dottieG]

You said it Dingler. I'm with you. I'm from D.C. and moved out to Manassas 7 years ago. Thought I was moving to the country. Well I was until Wal Mart came in! Should have stayed in D.C.

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by Dingler

When I came to Northern Virginia 20 years ago it was so nice. In fact it reminded me of many Cities I use to live in the Midwest. Move ahead to the year 2007 and it is not so nice anymore.

Here are my complaints:

They cut down thousands of trees all over Fairfax County for cookie cutter development. I am shocked every time I drive around how ugly everything is getting. It use to be somewhat rural and wooded here. The most successful job in Northern VA is clearing forests for subdivisions and strip malls.

The people are kind of unfriendly. I use to think of this area as a Southern place. People use to be nice and friendly. Now, it is more like being in suburban New York. It is harsh with alot of rude people and neighbors that no longer seem to give a dam about each other. (of course with exceptions) We gave up on the block parties five years ago when they could not get anyone to show up. Even a wave between neighbors is uncommon now days. I talk to many people around here with the same observation.

To much ethic diversity. (I know I am not being PC) The schools have gone down hill fast due to so many students who do not speak English. Everyone seems to break into their own little ethnic groups and ignore everyone else. There seems to be little mixing of people and the White people are now a minority in my town. I would welcome the ethnic diversity-- if people mixed regardless of their ethnic background.

Traffic is incredible and cost of living sky high. I want out!

Oh man, I live in Fairfax County now.
Dude I remember thinking it was weird how West Fairfax and Loudon, even the eastern half, was rural.

I remember driving on braddock road into Loudon, dirt road, or Poland Road with the Ostrichs, or Rt 659, Gum Spring Road.

It was all rural, yet SOOO close to suburbia.

This all has changed within the last five years.
It saddens me, I used to drive just down Braddock to see the country, and now, the ostrich farms on Poland road were all gone three years later, a new development in.

Braddock is actually wider, and more paved once you cross over to Loudon all the way to 659.

It's sad because I remember going Rt 50, once you passed South Riding, it was rural.
Then Stone Ridge got built, then more land cleared on 659.
It's sad, I just remember how cool it was to see what the area used to be, and now it's sad it was all destroyed in 5 years, JUST FIVE.

I now don't even bother with rural drives, I got to go 20 plus miles and deal with traffic...and for what...I'm sure they'll level that area or the light pollution is already made it non rural.

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by ssdei38

I remember seeing Buffalo driving around the area with my dad...maybe...I don't know!!!! God, I remember ostrich, chickens, sheep...all kinds of stuff everywhere...the sheep used to be on dead mans curve on Braddock Rd...looking at us as we made that s curve....but specifically on 659 I only know of Chuck Mundy...He owned (or may still own) a truck repair shop on 659....

Dad's sleeping right now, but I am asking him tomorrow morning, because he typically knows everything!!!. He more than likely knows your place at Thistlewood....does Shultzaberger mean anything to you??

I remember I saw a sign saying they sold Buffalo in that area, meat, weird and sad.
They actually had Buffalo?

[beth ann]

I have lived in Northern Virginia for the last 20 years (my entire adult life) and I really love it here....yes, there's been perpetual road construction and new developments...but, living first in Alexandria for 6 years, then moving to Fairfax County for the rest...we have really loved raising a family here.

We are close to DC, the museums and culture, a few hours to the beach and mountains and great day-trips like Baltimore, Annapolis, Willimasburg, Harpers Ferry, etc.

The schools are top-notch and the people are diverse. I live in Burke (total suburbia) and have 2 Asain families, one Pakistanis family, a family from Uganda, the new neighbors are Scottish and the family across the street where the husband is from France and the mom Cuban.

We came from Pittsburgh and would never go back to the "provencial, narrow-minded, predjudice, stagnant" viewpoints there.

[claremarie]

We came from Pittsburgh and would never go back to the "provencial, narrow-minded, predjudice, stagnant" viewpoints there.

Same here. I don't understand the perpetual whining about development. These folks who are waxing nostalgia about the woods or farms that used to be -- what do you suppose was on YOUR property before the developers came along in the 1950s, or 60s, or 70s?

[conversationist]

I don't understand the perpetual whining about development. These folks who are waxing nostalgia about the woods or farms that used to be -- what do you suppose was on YOUR property before the developers came along in the 1950s, or 60s, or 70s?
---------------------------------
Good question, here is my answer.

The development in Northern VA was much more environmentally enlightened back in the 1950s and 60s. They kept many of the trees and people lived in neighborhoods that showed charactor and charm. Now they clear-cut the entire site and people live packed into homes with no yards and no trees. Every house looks the same. The quality of the developments to day are poor.