Northern Virginia has gone downhill in the last 20 years (Richmond: apartments, to rent)

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by NVAGIRL

Wow, talk about judgemental and cynical...none of you know me but just because I love living in NOVA you assume I am a rich, arrogrant jerk. I am a transplant from a small town in upstate NY and have lived in NOVA for 8 years. I came with $750 in my pocket and stuggled to make a living here by working in retail. I quit my full time job to go back to school at GMU to finish my BA and racked up $35K in debt while working a part-time job and working as a live-in nanny all while attending school full-time. I am very blessed to be working as a defense contractor and live in a 2 bed condo with my husband of one year. I travelled a lot at my previous job and came to really appreciate where I live. But, I guess I am a spoiled NOVA brat...go figure

I don't believe anybody called you a rich arrogant jerk. I think most people on here (in this discussion anyway) have lived in NOVA for A LONG time (i've been here almost thirty years). We have seen a BIG change and some don't like it. I can see good and bad with that change, but in my personal opinion it is mostly bad. That is why i left the area rather than just complaining about it. The point of this board IS to be judgmental, i.e. give your opinion and personal experience with certain places. You do live in a nice area that is no indicative of all NOVA. That is great for you, but all of NOVA is not like that.

[stacylee926]

Originally Posted by mookshow

Why would anyone want easy access to Northeast cities?

LOL - so they can get out of town!!!!! Notice she said NoVa is close to the mountains, beaches, vineyards..... Gotta get out of dodge to do all the fun things!

I'm sort of kidding! One little tiny thing I miss about the area is going out to Linden Winery on a Sunday afternoon. In Centreville I could see the mountains every day from my doorstep. I moved to the beach so I can go anytime I want (IF I wanted to).

My original opinions still stand. It took me 41 years to be able to leave. It wasn't until I was in my mid 30's that I knew I had had enough of it - but then another 6 years before I could make my exit. I only stayed that long because my mother had a long term illness and the doctors were fabulous.

[Novamom06]

Originally Posted by mookshow

Why would anyone want easy access to Northeast cities?

Because that is where many of us are from...we like to visit our families every now and then.

[Novamom06]

Originally Posted by mookshow

I see. Wouldn't it be easier just to live up there in the Northeast?

Would love to...but this is where the jobs were 15 years ago when I graduated college, and this is where they still are...it is kind of nice living in an area with almost no unemployment. I call it peace of mind. Its great to have options.

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by mookshow

News for you- NC is getting as bad as NOVA. The area of Raleigh-Durham/Triangle is full of subdivisions. Charlotte reminded me of NOVA too.

Um did i say that i was going to Raleigh or Charlotte? i'm going to either Winston-Salem or greensboro. I could give a %^$# less about subdivisions, at least down there i wont have to break my neck to pay my bills and put up with as much as i have to in Northern VA.

[NVAGIRL]

[quote=stacylee926;2121781]LOL - so they can get out of town!!!!! Notice she said NoVa is close to the mountains, beaches, vineyards..... Gotta get out of dodge to do all the fun things!

My husband and I love to travel so it is great we can feel like we are on vacation and only be an hour or so from home...love being close to NY and other NE cities b/c it is close to my family and friends that live there.

I'm sorry some of you have had bad experiences. Every time I leave NOVA, I get so excited when I come back b/c I know I am "home". Hope all you can find that feeling as well.

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

Um did i say that i was going to Raleigh or Charlotte? i'm going to either Winston-Salem or greensboro. I could give a %^$# less about subdivisions, at least down there i wont have to break my neck to pay my bills and put up with as much as i have to in Northern VA.

I'm trying to eventually move to Charlotte (Huntersville) in the next couple years. I loved that area and also liked Raleigh. It's NOTHING like NOVA, the prices are about half off. I don't know what that other poster was talking about.

[StoneCold_Calvin_Austin]

Isn't NoVa all Yankee-land these days?

[stacylee926]

Originally Posted by StoneCold_Calvin_Austin

Isn't NoVa all Yankee-land these days?

Not even close - NoVa has got to be the biggest mixing bowl of different cultures I have ever seen (haven't been to NY lately though). Whites are probably the minority now.

[tarp]

I was born and raised in Fairfax County and I must say that it has changed for the better. Sure, traffic has gotten worse but the number of amenities and things to do has increased in the past 20 years. Yes, Pleasant Valley Road was repaved with a shoulder, and straightened. Yes, there are no longer sheep on the farm at dead man's curve on Braddock Road. It's now a county park with soccer fields. Yes, the county has not always had the best or the most consistent policies with regard to development. But the area has gotten more diverse, more employers have moved in bringing new jobs and businesses to the area, and more parks and facilities have been created.

I agree that the development in Eastern Loudoun is ugly and I cannot stand Ashburn, but it is a pure function of capitalism and those houses seem to sell and deliver great profits to developers. If Fairfax allowed higher density in areas like the Oakton/Fox Mill Road area and the Clifton areas, then perhaps development wouldn't have leapfrogged to Loudoun as much.

The area has a lot of problems such as traffic, extremely high property taxes, increasing illegal immigrant populations, and more. I don't like the fact that immigrant communities isolate themselves into their own groups and avoid mingling with other groups, but remember that first generation immigrants often have language issues, and their children will integrate better thanks to the public schools.

NoVA is a great place to live in, we are close to D.C., close to the mountains, beach, etc., and have great restaurants, colleges, etc. Just avoid commuting in this area!