U.S. Cities  

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Virginia > Northern Virginia

Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 400,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 13,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. Within the last few months our forum was cited in an article in 15 newspaper and in a story on AOL's homepage.

Get a detailed profile of any city, county, or zip code:
      Search our forums (advanced):

Reply

 
Old 06-23-2007, 02:16 PM
Really???
Status: "N/A" (set 12 days ago)
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Sacramento
6,643 posts, read 1,588,212 times
Reputation: 1073
NewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud ofNewToCA has much to be proud of
Default Old Times Accurate???

I won't comment on the current state of NOVA, I haven't seen it since 2002. However, I did live in Fairfax County from 1979 through 1992, and visited frequently on work assignments (DoD) between 1992 and 2002.

Much of NOVA was not rural in 1979, 28 years ago. Development was extensive up through Herndon, Centreville and Dale City 28 years ago. You had gaps for Lorton and some vacant areas along Rt 29, but much of the area was being developed at that time. I know it is more solidly developed today, and further out, but Fairfax County was closing in on 1 million folks in the early 1980's.

Also, much of the area was fairly shabby, due to the high degree of townhomes and older single homes (like Kings Park or Greenbriar) that were rented out, frequently to two families sharing a home. The interest rates were high then, and homes were not selling easily in the 1979-1985 timeframe.

Regarding folks being friendlier, we left the area because we didn't want to raise our children in NOVA. Very high degree of organized activities, and very little letting the kids be.

The folks were very career centered and a very high degree of folks staying for 3-10 years for career ladder purposes. My wife was home with the kids, and very alone. All of the spouses were professional folks, and if you weren't one, you didn't participate much in discussions.

Just wanted to add my reality of that era, not disagreeing with any observations about the current environment.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 06-23-2007, 02:23 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
108 posts, read 78,937 times
Reputation: 36
Dorothy1960 is on a distinguished road
I moved here about 14 years ago, first to Fairfax County (I now live in Prince William). Never thought I would grow to hate it so much. Hubby and I were transferred to Europe in early 2002, came back in Aug 2005... I learned German and French and also a bit of Polish during my time in Europe, because I wanted to "fit in" with the Europeans. Too bad its not the same case here in the US. Our language is treated like S - - -. When we moved back here, and I went to Home Depot to buy some things, ALL the signs were in Spanish and only some were in English. Not too helpful for us Americans who speak English and no Spanish.

Also feel that folks are quite rude here. No so when I first arrived. I'm from the North, and used to rude people. Northern VA is feeling more and more like Northern NJ every single day. Not a pleasure to live here anymore. Ah well only a few more years for us and we're outta here.

I read something about "Smart Growth" in Nova... well I don't see any "smartness." Only stupdity and greed. Hmmmm lets build LOTS more houses NOW and lots more shopping centers... and oh wait, what about the roads? what about the electrical system? and the schools? The kids down where I am, some of the classes are being held in trailers. If I was a parent, I would be furious.. and as a homeowner, this is not great for resale. Well with the housing market slump, I can only hope some of the greedy builders will go OOB, and hopefully but a slow down to the madness.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 06-28-2007, 04:14 AM
Published Writer
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah now and Southern California in two years
2,910 posts, read 711,143 times
Blog Entries: 3
Reputation: 1195
cottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud ofcottonwood2420 has much to be proud of
Everybody seems to be complaining about these plastic shoeboxes on 2 inches of land with no trees that are awful, I agree that it is awful, if you hate the homes so much then don't buy one. If you do buy one then plant the trees yourself. That would be very easy to do.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 06-28-2007, 10:59 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Dayton Region
280 posts, read 167,117 times
Reputation: 42
wrightflyer is on a distinguished road
I just went past my parents first home (the R-streets section) in Dale City the other day. OMG, I'm sorry if I offend you but the place was awful! In the twenty years since they've lived there, the place certainly has changed for the worse. I guess that's what happens when the homes sell for 200K-400K and the market typically runs 400K+. I look at photos and then think of what I saw and can't believe it. We drove through my dad's old neighborhood in Bowie and this seemed worse. As much as I love DC and plan to attend school there, you couldn't pay me to live where we used to live.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-23-2007, 12:14 PM
Senior Member
Status: "Here" (set 12 days ago)
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: West Michigan
623 posts, read 163,047 times
Reputation: 153
mackinac81 has a spectacular aura aboutmackinac81 has a spectacular aura aboutmackinac81 has a spectacular aura aboutmackinac81 has a spectacular aura about
God what an awful place!

I'm a recent college graduate who is looking for a teaching job in NOVA (I'm from Michigan, where there are no teaching jobs). When I heard about NOVA I thought of rolling hills, old farms, small towns filled with good people, and a sense of community. I had no idea the DC sprawl extended halfway to W. Va! I may still move out there if I don't find anything anywhere else, but I'm not really looking forward to it.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-23-2007, 12:52 PM
HBIC
Status: "Old enough to know better - Young enough to do it again" (set 1 day ago)
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
768 posts, read 338,251 times
Reputation: 121
Fairfax Mom will become famous soon enoughFairfax Mom will become famous soon enoughFairfax Mom will become famous soon enough
If NOVA is so bad - why are so many people living here and clamoring to live here every day?

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-24-2007, 05:43 AM
KY dreaming while living in a NoVA nightmare
Status: "Tired and chillin" (set 5 days ago)
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA (Louisville bound)
2,521 posts, read 1,065,554 times
Blog Entries: 3
Reputation: 606
Alanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to all
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom View Post
If NOVA is so bad - why are so many people living here and clamoring to live here every day?
they haven't really experienced it yet. the schools and jobs are great but they don't what kind of stuff you have to deal with here. Now that i've lived here for 3 years, i want to leave very badly and get to NC. The beauty is i'll get DC area pay with my company even though i'll be in NC (most likely.) My mother is also sick of all the crap of NoVA and she is planning on moving to IL and she is looking forward to it and leaving this ^$%#&.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-24-2007, 04:00 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
398 posts, read 228,090 times
Reputation: 35
nitrovic is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom View Post
If NOVA is so bad - why are so many people living here and clamoring to live here every day?
A lot of people have no choice, this is where the jobs are. If they don't live in Northern Va they have to sit in traffic for two hours just to get to work.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-24-2007, 04:17 PM
KY dreaming while living in a NoVA nightmare
Status: "Tired and chillin" (set 5 days ago)
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA (Louisville bound)
2,521 posts, read 1,065,554 times
Blog Entries: 3
Reputation: 606
Alanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to allAlanboy395 is a name known to all
Quote:
Originally Posted by nitrovic View Post
A lot of people have no choice, this is where the jobs are. If they don't live in Northern Va they have to sit in traffic for two hours just to get to work.
some who do live in NoVA have to sit for 2 hours in traffic anyway.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
 
Old 11-24-2007, 04:52 PM
Not a member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
192 posts
Reputation: 21
El General is on a distinguished road
It's ironic that it was a much nicer place to raise a family, when homes were 35K. I left in 1989, came back a couple of years ago, and boy have things rally slipped. I have never witness such a rapid decline in real estate prices--for obvious reasons. If the Federal Government weren't here propping up the economy, I think many areas would be like a cold day in Rawanda; with much higher taxes. I know some retirees that still live here, and don't need to work. My thoughts are: you all must really have your heads up your arses if you think this is a good area to be retired.

[+] Rate this post positively
Reply With Quote
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It's free and quick.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.



Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Similar Threads

Forum Jump

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Virginia > Northern Virginia

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:11 AM.

Copyright © 2005-2008, Advameg, Inc.