Alexandria Stinks (Reston, Fairfax: square footage, prices, associations)

[brooklynborndad]

"This is related to something I was going to add on as to why people are more tolerable in DC (NW). It's a pedestrian environment (you park your car or metro for the day), has long setbacks from the street (unlike Alexandria) and monuments and green space that are good for the soul."

I find it as easy to park in old town Alex as in the pedestrian friendly parts of DC

I find the most attractive parts of DC are often the narrow side streets, not the avenues with long setbacks.

The parks on the alex riverfront are among the most spiritually refreshing green places in the region.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by normie

Glad to hear it. Don't get me wrong, if you do decide to move here I'm happy to welcome you. But it just sounds like DC would be a much, much better fit for you. I have a feeling Falls Church will not be urban enough for you, and they have traffic problems there, too.

Funny you should mention Falls Church. That's the NOVA location that seems to be attracting me the most after all this research. Eden Center is there, two subway stations, and while not an urban place...it has its advantages for family living. Was just thinking if I do move to DC, maybe head to Falls Church within 5 years for better schools, etc.

Takoma Park...also seems ideal. Silver Spring within the beltway seems similar...even some of the residential areas have sidewalks and nice density to them.

I adore the architecture in DC...those large bay windows, colorful rowhomes, etc. I've just been leery of the crime since I have a family. But I'm seeing that prices throughout NOVA aren't all that different from prices in DC...especially if you factor in gas/car maintenance/subway expenditures of NOVA living.

(I should probably start a new thread for this).

[FairfaxGuy73]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Funny you should mention Falls Church. That's the NOVA location that seems to be attracting me the most after all this research. Eden Center is there, two subway stations, and while not an urban place...it has its advantages for family living. Was just thinking if I do move to DC, maybe head to Falls Church within 5 years for better schools, etc.

The neighborhood tucked SE of Washington St. sort of near the EFC Metro station is kind of a best kept secret. Some older homes there don't seem tooo expensive, you can have an SFH with yard, be near the Metro, and near an area at least attempting to be urban.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by FairfaxGuy73

The neighborhood tucked SE of Washington St. sort of near the EFC Metro station is kind of a best kept secret. Some older homes there don't seem tooo expensive, you can have an SFH with yard, be near the Metro, and near an area at least attempting to be urban.

Looks real pretty in there as well - google mapping it. Sidewalks and a ton of beautiful foilage.

Okay, I opened a new thread:
Density/Walkability - MoCo (Takoma/SilverSpring) & NOVA (Alex/Arl/Falls)

Just so we won't detract from anyone wanting to talk about Alexandria Stinking

[Elizabethan1558]

I really like the Falls Church area over off of Hillside Dr.I drive through there alot on my way to Halalco meat company.Very sleepy little area,quite lovely.Only,most of those majestic houses are usually passed down through generations of family,i have not really seen any for sale.And forget about afordability,way too exspensive.

[FairfaxGuy73]

There are so many Alexandria gems, really. Another is the Mirant coal-fired plant where planning board wizards allowed tons of housing and business units to locate around. This includes a huge residential complex practically right next to the place. On crisp mornings, you can see the plant belching a huge plume of toxins into the air.

Complaints of health problems have been so bad that the plant is only kept open under an emergency order. I don't blame the plant, which provides electricity to half a million homes. It isn't their fault that Alexandrians were dense enough t move next to it, and besides, call it triage. Keep industrial plants in areas that are already a mess.

Check out how Alexandria has the distinction of making the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:

ATSDR - Mirant Potomac River Generating Station, Alexandria, Virginia - Home Page

[robbobobbo]

Originally Posted by FairfaxGuy73

There are so many Alexandria gems, really. Another is the Mirant coal-fired plant where planning board wizards allowed tons of housing and business units to locate around. This includes a huge residential complex practically right next to the place. On crisp mornings, you can see the plant belching a huge plume of toxins into the air.

Complaints of health problems have been so bad that the plant is only kept open under an emergency order. I don't blame the plant, which provides electricity to half a million homes. It isn't their fault that Alexandrians were dense enough t move next to it, and besides, call it triage. Keep industrial plants in areas that are already a mess.

Check out how Alexandria has the distinction of making the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:

ATSDR - Mirant Potomac River Generating Station, Alexandria, Virginia - Home Page

And Arlington has a waste treatment plant. As I drove past it yesterday I thought I should start a thread "Arlington Stinks" because it does, literally. And yet luxury condos are being built all over the empty lots across Rt 1 from it.

[FairfaxGuy73]

Originally Posted by robbobobbo

And Arlington has a waste treatment plant. As I drove past it yesterday I thought I should start a thread "Arlington Stinks" because it does, literally. And yet luxury condos are being built all over the empty lots across Rt 1 from it.

He, he. Funny. I'd still give Alexandria some stink credit points for that too, though. It's on Four Mile Run, which divides that two. I"m sure some of the fragrance wafts across the run there.

Of course, I wouldn't want to waste the opportunity to mention another major beef about Alexandria. In the '90's you would drive along the Beltway past Alexandria and would be surrounded by trees. It was truly amazing for an urban area. Very soothing.

Then, at some point, they added cramped condo housing and other junk on the Old Town side of the Beltway. Now, you just look over and see industrial jibberish and some of the tall YUPPIE filing cabinets. Very ugly.

I'm sure it's the same old story (like the Four Mile Run and Mirant examples) where money rules all and they develop every last inch whether it makes sense or not.

[brooklynborndad]

of course if you live in Alex, you dont have to drive past them. Seems thats more a disadvantage of living in Fairfax.

[Tiger Beer]

You know what, I'm thinking I might actually quite like Alexandria quite a bit. I actually like those little boxes that go as houses! I've ruled it out because assumed Old Town was too expensive, and from the sounds of it, a bit away from the subway.

BUT...how about that first station into Alexandria. What station is that...and how is that area? Hmm...it's got me thinking now...