The growth of Purcellville? (Centreville, Leesburg: townhouse, employment, buying)

[endersshadow]

Based on what I've read, Purcellville seems like an area that I'd like to end up in about 5 years or so. My question is how fast does it seem to be growing? I've read that it still has a rural kinda feel to it while only being 10 minutes away from Leesburg. Has there been much of a change in the last 5 or so years? Any indication that it's becoming more of a suburb kind of place any time soon? (personally, I like the rural kinda feel)

Germantown, MD was pretty rural about 20 years ago. 10 years ago, you wouldn't recognize the same place. 5 years ago, it's as modern as it gets.

[Denton56]

Most of the area that is called Purcellville is still very rural. The town itself has grown, it even has a Giant Food now and a coffee shop, but not alot more. The big talk of the town is the possibility of a Taco Bell. Growth in Purcellville came to a screeching halt a couple of years ago. It will be quite a while before it picks up again, even in the town. The area around the town is still very rural, lots of cattle farms, several vineyards, and many, many, horse farms.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by endersshadow

Based on what I've read, Purcellville seems like an area that I'd like to end up in about 5 years or so. My question is how fast does it seem to be growing? I've read that it still has a rural kinda feel to it while only being 10 minutes away from Leesburg. Has there been much of a change in the last 5 or so years? Any indication that it's becoming more of a suburb kind of place any time soon? (personally, I like the rural kinda feel)

Germantown, MD was pretty rural about 20 years ago. 10 years ago, you wouldn't recognize the same place. 5 years ago, it's as modern as it gets.

I went up there a few weeks ago. It looks like it has grown since I lived there last (late 90s), but not as bad as I thought it would be. Mostly they just have a new shopping center like the other poster said- a coffee shop (more Yuppyfied), and a GIANT. It seems like the old IGA grocery store closed down.

It still has that laid back feel for the most part. But get to Leesburg and East and its just unbearable!

[Pike]

Isn't Purceville protected AND NOT going to be the next Germantown?

[endersshadow]

Thanks for the information. The bit about how the "big talk" of the town is the possibility of a Taco Bell being built made me laugh. That's the place I would love to experience. I love driving and seeing horses. It's just much more peaceful than being surrounded by cars and buildings.

Is there a reason why Purcellville's growth came to a screeching halt a couple of years ago? Was anything else growing aside from the shopping center with Giant and all?

[Denton56]

Purcellville stopped growing when the housing market collapsed. It still hasn't hit bottom in Loudoun, so there is very, very, little building. Purcellville has a few new housing developments, new being prior to the collapse. In town are a couple of nice townhouse developments and a new high school is to be built north of the town, but that's been talked about for years. The schools got so crowded during the housing boom that they really do need a second high school.

Loudoun has more horses than any other county in Virginia, about 20,000, with the majority being in the western part of the county, Purcellville, Round Hill, Hillsboro, Waterford, Middleburg, Leesburg, and Lovettsville. It's definitely horse country around Purcellville, cattle too. The last dairy farm in Loudoun county is in Purcellville. It's owned by the Potts family, a family that has been farming in Loudoun since 1748. I've heard that they sell excellent cattle sperm at the Purcellville Southern States store, but the store appears to be dominated by horse stuff.

Like I said, it's a rural area.

[ScranBarre]

I just wanted to add that until Leesburg emerges as more of a major concentrated employment center it will be unlikely that Purcellville will hit another growth spurt in the coming years as gas prices start to edge back upwards, and prospective newcomers decide against power-commuting into DC (or even the Dulles Tech Corridor, which, while not far away mileage-wise still seems "far" due to the congestion). If and when major employers start setting down roots in Leesburg, Purcellville is likely going to take off in growth very quickly.

[CaseyMac]

I think someone who wanted to live in rural horse country could rest assured that Purcellville will not turn into like a Centreville or even a Gainesville. Purcellville is kinda out there and I think (and hope) that it will stay the same as it is.

I believe that Maryland has more rules on rapid growth and I believe that's why there are still some semi-rural areas of Montgomery County and none in Fairfax.

[NOVAmtneer82]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I just wanted to add that until Leesburg emerges as more of a major concentrated employment center it will be unlikely that Purcellville will hit another growth spurt in the coming years as gas prices start to edge back upwards, and prospective newcomers decide against power-commuting into DC (or even the Dulles Tech Corridor, which, while not far away mileage-wise still seems "far" due to the congestion). If and when major employers start setting down roots in Leesburg, Purcellville is likely going to take off in growth very quickly.

Purcellville and points surrounding can't grow insanely fast because of zoning restrictions in that part of Loudoun County. Although it seems to change all the time I think as of now you can only build one home every 5 to 15 acres. The big growth has pushed further out towards Winchester and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia...or at least it had until gas prices shot up.

[tamitrail]

LOVE Purcellville. If I could sell my house, that's the first place I would be buying.