Torn between two neighborhoods in/near Vienna (Oakton, Fairfax: homes, private school)

[EstudiantesLP]

I'm looking for advice/insights on two TH communities in/near Vienna: Tysons Station off of Gallows Road just south of Old Courthouse road and, obviously, very near Tysons Corner, and Virginia Center, wedged between Nottaway Park and the Vienna Metro. I am currently overseas so I can't go check them out for myself (my realtor stopped by and took pictures, but it is obviously not the same). I stopped by these two communities very briefly when I was last in the U.S. and I don't have a great sense of the two places and their surrounding environments.

Does anyone live (or has lived) in either community? I see some benefits to both. Tysons Station is closer to work for me. My wife, on the other hand, does not currently work but she will eventually want to get back to the workforce will mostly likely be in DC, so she would benefit from Virginia Center's proximity to the Vienna Metro. I don't see any parks within walking distance to the Tysons Station community, but Virginia Center has Nottaway Park. Virginia Center does not seem to have any shops or anything within walking distance, but Tysons Station has some restaurants, a Borders, and other places nearby.

As you can see, I'm torn. If someone has any insights into either of the communities (or even if you lived near, but not in the communities) beyond what I have outlined above. Obviously, I am not expecting people to compare the two communities for me, but if you have some knowledge of the surrounding area of one of the two, how you like living there, whether they have good HOAs, whether it is walkable/bykeable, how the schools are, etc, it would be a great help.

[michgc]

I'll tell you my opinion, but I may be biased. First I know nothing specifically about either development so I'll just give you my opinion on the surrounding areas. I live in the Town of Vienna about 1 mile or so from Vienna Metro. I personally would choose Virginia Center. Even though you may not be in walking distance to shops, you are very close to the Town of Vienna which has a great sense of community. Nottoway Park is very nice with basketball courts, volleyball, a tot lot, and other fields. There are free concerts there every Thursday night all summer long. It is a very short drive to the supermarkets (about 1 mile) into the Town and maybe even less to the Safeway in Pan Am shopping center. If you are near Virginia Center you may be in the Marshall Road (Elem), Thoreau (Middle), Madison (High) pyramid which is quite good. Some people bust on Marshall Road's test scores, but it's really a very nice school. If you feed into Mosby Woods, Jackson, Oakton, then I will say most people do not prefer that pyramid other than the Oakton High School part. Whether Mosby Woods and Jackson's repuations are deserved or not, I cannot say. I don't have first-hand experience with either. I do know that a lot of people who feed into Mosby Woods send their children to private school. On the other hand, I know someone there in the GT program who loves the school and the principal (who is rather new I believe and trying to turn around the school's repuation which used to be as one that has gangs. Whether that's true or not, I cannot say. This is just what I've heard). The area near Gallows Road is less of a community. There are some nice neighborhoods around there but for the most part, I think of it more as a business district if I am thinking of the right area. I think the schools are Freedom Hill, Kilmer, Marshall which as far as I know are fine. There's nothing wrong with that area, put personally I think the Virginia Center area is better because it's so close to Metro and to I-66 as well as the Town of Vienna. Again, I may be biased based on where I live.

[Beach-rat]

I'm a mile or so West of Virginia Center so my openion may be a bit biased.

Both locations are equal but very different.

The Tysons location is very convenient for shopping malls, good jumping off point (on major highways), good bus service (by Fairfax County standards). Tysons traffic is horrible most of the time.

Virginia Center Walking distance to Vienna Metro (can save big $$$ on parking) and major time commuting by walking to the subway. Big, huge grocery store (Safeway) at Nutley St & Lee Hwy, walking distance. good jumping off point (on major highways), good bus service (by Fairfax County standards).
I-66 traffic is bad half of the time and all day Sat & Sun, but the surface roads can get you around. Also there is a major development (new residential/commercial) due South of the Vienna Station (Maple Dr, Fairlee Dr & old surface parking lot) economy is holding up building, single family homes are already demolished.. see link..

New "Town Center" development, Good? Bad?

Welcome to the neighborhood..

[JD984]

Originally Posted by EstudiantesLP

I'm looking for advice/insights on two TH communities in/near Vienna: Tysons Station off of Gallows Road just south of Old Courthouse road and, obviously, very near Tysons Corner, and Virginia Center, wedged between Nottaway Park and the Vienna Metro. I am currently overseas so I can't go check them out for myself (my realtor stopped by and took pictures, but it is obviously not the same). I stopped by these two communities very briefly when I was last in the U.S. and I don't have a great sense of the two places and their surrounding environments.

Does anyone live (or has lived) in either community? I see some benefits to both. Tysons Station is closer to work for me. My wife, on the other hand, does not currently work but she will eventually want to get back to the workforce will mostly likely be in DC, so she would benefit from Virginia Center's proximity to the Vienna Metro. I don't see any parks within walking distance to the Tysons Station community, but Virginia Center has Nottaway Park. Virginia Center does not seem to have any shops or anything within walking distance, but Tysons Station has some restaurants, a Borders, and other places nearby.

As you can see, I'm torn. If someone has any insights into either of the communities (or even if you lived near, but not in the communities) beyond what I have outlined above. Obviously, I am not expecting people to compare the two communities for me, but if you have some knowledge of the surrounding area of one of the two, how you like living there, whether they have good HOAs, whether it is walkable/bykeable, how the schools are, etc, it would be a great help.

Based on your current situation, and your wife's situation, I would go with Virginia Center, because overall it has a more residential feel than Tysons Station. At the end of the day, I don't think the distinctions between the school pyramids (Marshall Road/Thoreau/Madison vs. Freedom Hill/Kilmer/Marshall) are particularly significant, but I think your wife would likely prefer the access to the town of Vienna, Metro and Nottaway Park if she's not currently working or sure where she might end up working later. If you were both working around Tysons, I might have a different view. Just my two cents.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by Beach-rat

I'm a mile or so West of Virginia Center so my openion may be a bit biased.

Both locations are equal but very different.

The Tysons location is very convenient for shopping malls, good jumping off point (on major highways), good bus service (by Fairfax County standards). Tysons traffic is horrible most of the time.

Virginia Center Walking distance to Vienna Metro (can save big $$$ on parking) and major time commuting by walking to the subway. Big, huge grocery store (Safeway) at Nutley St & Lee Hwy, walking distance. good jumping off point (on major highways), good bus service (by Fairfax County standards).
I-66 traffic is bad half of the time and all day Sat & Sun, but the surface roads can get you around. Also there is a major development (new residential/commercial) due South of the Vienna Station (Maple Dr, Fairlee Dr & old surface parking lot) economy is holding up building, single family homes are already demolished.. see link..

New "Town Center" development, Good? Bad?

Welcome to the neighborhood..

One small caveat, the Safeway is not walking distance. It's at least a couple of miles, down a very busy road (Nutley st, rt 243) that crosses Rt. 66. I can't imagine walking there and lugging back groceries. It would be a miserable walk. But Vienna has lots of good grocery stores, including my favorite, Whole Foods.

Having a family, you are better off in Vienna, in the development near Nottaway.