How did McLean get such a Sterling Reputation?

[buildinginva]

I'll see what I can do about the photos when it gets warmer.

[loveautumn]

Interesting...I know when I was going to move to that area back in the late 90's, my coworker who lived in Virginia for many years, insisted that I only live in McLean. He said it was very safe and a decent commute to where our offices were. Wasn't McLean one of the first planned communities in NoVa?

[Blanca29]

Originally Posted by normie

I like McLean. I like it a lot, especially when I drive downhill on Kirby Road. McLean is great--but, IMO, no nicer than Great Falls. Or most of Falls Church. Or Vienna. Or Wolftrap. Or any number of other nice neighborhoods.

So here's a mystery....

I know many people moving here from my old neighborhood in southern California. I can't tell you how many of them tell me they want to find a house in "either Georgetown or McLean." I ask them why, and they say "everyone knows those are the two best neighborhoods" but they rarely know reasons beyond that.

I'm intrigued--how did McLean get such a sterling reputation? I don't begrudge the reputation, just wondering how it came to be. Is it because people hear it mentioned in the news (movie stars and politicians live there). Or are the schools really that much better that people in California know about it? Or... maybe some other reason altogether?

What do you guys think?

1) shorter commute to DC
2) best schools
3) safe

[saganista]

Originally Posted by loveautumn

Wasn't McLean one of the first planned communities in NoVa?

I don't think "planned" is one of the words that most people would associate readily with McLean. Reston was one of the first planned communities in NoVa. McLean by comparison is about as well organized as spilt milk...but it works once you get used to it....

[loveautumn]

Oh, yes...it was Reston. Thanks!

[Caladium]

I wonder what it's like to live in McLean with all that construction work at Tyson's. Has it affected the traffic in McLean (or, just in the immediate Tyson's area). The reason I'm wondering is, traffic was one big reason McLean had such a great rep. People moving here liked that it was so convenient to the Tysons, office buildings (in particular the CIA) and shopping. If traffic is now really bad in McLean then that could hurt it's "sterling" reputation with people moving in these days.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I wonder what it's like to live in McLean with all that construction work at Tyson's. Has it affected the traffic in McLean (or, just in the immediate Tyson's area). The reason I'm wondering is, traffic was one big reason McLean had such a great rep. People moving here liked that it was so convenient to the Tysons, office buildings (in particular the CIA) and shopping. If traffic is now really bad in McLean then that could hurt it's "sterling" reputation with people moving in these days.

Part of Tysons has a McLean address, and part of it has a Vienna address, so the construction surely impacts those traveling to the McLean part of Tysons, whether from McLean or other areas. Otherwise, I don't think the construction work in Tysons is having a great deal of impact on those living in the residential areas of McLean or those commuting between McLean and Arlington or DC.

Overall, given the continued population growth in the region and the construction in areas like Tysons, the inner suburbs like Arlington and McLean arguably are even more attractive to a lot of people. I know that some of the real estate statistics that I've seen have suggested that Alexandria, Arlington and McLean have fared better during the downturn than Great Falls, which is further out.

[michgc]

I agree with JEB77. While part of Tysons has a McLean address, I don't really consider that "McLean." In fact, I mostly think of McLean as the part inside the beltway where the downtown area is. McLean has some of the area's wealthiest residents, along with a decent commute to the city, and schools with the highest test scores. I don't see that changing anytime soon.

If anything, the improvement in the Tysons area will only increase the value of McLean.