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Different people have different definition of "elite".
I lived in Northern Virginia (Fairfax County). If by "elite" one just means affluent, then, yes, it's a very elite area. If by "elite" one means that it has a denser concentration of residents with graduate degrees and/or a denser concentration of residents who are upwardly-mobile in their vocations, then, yes NoVA is elite.
If by "elite" one means "extremely desirable" then that opens up a whole other can of worms.
For me most of NoVA seemed poorly-planned, sprawling, generic, and soulless. It was very car-dependent. I couldn't understand why I was paying so much in rent to live in "Anywhere, USA" in terms of urban planning. If I was an elite (as in affluent) I'd rather live in Manhattan or San Francisco or Chicago ANYDAY over a cul-de-sac lined with beige vinyl siding and SUV's that you could see ringing any other major metropolitan area at a less expensive price point.
Oh, you again...You could've lived in Arlington or DC proper and reverse commuted to wherever you worked in Fairfax County so you could live in the urban environment you craved so much. Lots of people choose that option.
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,552,695 times
Reputation: 5785
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turnerbro
Yeah people always bring up Alexandria and Arlington's urban cores when discussing NOVA. They seem to forget they where original part of D.C, and effectively still are. Real suburban NOVA starts at Falls Church. Arlington compares to Buckhead if anything. Though I think Bethesda MD is more like Buckhead.
You're actually helping make the point of what separates NOVA, even if it's only by a tad bit. Because regardless of how you slice it, today and for the past couple of hundred years, Arlington and Alexandria are still NOVA/ suburban DC. They are not the District proper, regardless of what they originated as. The same can't be said for Alpharetta etc.
Anyone with two eyes can see some physical similarities in the two areas, but if the comparison is NOVA as a whole, which has 3 million people. Then you have a lot more diversity to choose from if limiting to only "North Atlanta" suburbs. NOVA starts at the Potomac River and runs at least out to Woodbridge, Stafford, Manassas, and Leesburg, in between there's a large variety in what you will find. Virginia wine country is right on the edge of the metro area, VRE extends to Fredericksburg, and for goodness sake NOVA has a navigable river and closer proximity to beaches.
Yeah people always bring up Alexandria and Arlington's urban cores when discussing NOVA. They seem to forget they where original part of D.C, and effectively still are. Real suburban NOVA starts at Falls Church. Arlington compares to Buckhead if anything. Though I think Bethesda MD is more like Buckhead.
Closest thing to Arlington in Atlanta is Midtown. Buckhead is more like Tysons Corner.
You're actually helping make the point of what separates NOVA, even if it's only by a tad bit. Because regardless of how you slice it, today and for the past couple of hundred years, Arlington and Alexandria are still NOVA/ suburban DC. They are not the District proper, regardless of what they originated as. The same can't be said for Alpharetta etc.
Anyone with two eyes can see some physical similarities in the two areas, but if the comparison is NOVA as a whole, which has 3 million people. Then you have a lot more diversity to choose from if limiting to only "North Atlanta" suburbs. NOVA starts at the Potomac River and runs at least out to Woodbridge, Stafford, Manassas, and Leesburg, in between there's a large variety in what you will find. Virginia wine country is right on the edge of the metro area, VRE extends to Fredericksburg, and for goodness sake NOVA has a navigable river and closer proximity to beaches.
Comparing Alpharetta to Alexandria is like comparing Chantilly to Buckhead. I.E it's not a fair comparison. I didn't think the purpose of this thread was a "which one do you like more" thread. You listed reasons as to why people might prefer NOVA. I just think if we're ranking them on tiers they are on the same tier and have been for a while. Before soon. Williamson county TN will be in the same tier as well. I think NOVA is good at what it does people just need to stop pretending it's miles ahead of everything else.
Yeah people always bring up Alexandria and Arlington's urban cores when discussing NOVA. They seem to forget they where original part of D.C, and effectively still are. Real suburban NOVA starts at Falls Church. Arlington compares to Buckhead if anything. Though I think Bethesda MD is more like Buckhead.
Meh, don't get it twisted. Alexandria (and Georgetown) predate DC by a century. And if it weren't for the presence of either, Mt. Vernon would likely never have been expanded, and hence, the capital would never have been located along the Potomac. It just irks me when people act like Maryland and Virginia didn't exist before DC. There would be historic towns and cities there even if DC weren't.
In that respect, DC is unique as a major city because it kind of owes a bit of its own existence to the fact that its present-day burbs (or a resident thereof) called it into being.
Meh, don't get it twisted. Alexandria (and Georgetown) predate DC by a century. And if it weren't for the presence of either, Mt. Vernon would likely never have been expanded, and hence, the capital would never have been located along the Potomac. It just irks me when people act like Maryland and Virginia didn't exist before DC. There would be historic towns and cities there even if DC weren't.
In that respect, DC is unique as a major city because it kind of owes a bit of its own existence to the fact that its present-day burbs (or a resident thereof) called it into being.
Yes the plan was to incorporate Alexandria as a large neighborhood of D.C. Much like what happened with Georgetown.
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,552,695 times
Reputation: 5785
Quote:
Originally Posted by Turnerbro
Comparing Alpharetta to Alexandria is like comparing Chantilly to Buckhead. I.E it's not a fair comparison. I didn't think the purpose of this thread was a "which one do you like more" thread. You listed reasons as to why people might prefer NOVA. I just think if we're ranking them on tiers they are on the same tier and have been for a while. Before soon. Williamson county TN will be in the same tier as well. I think NOVA is good at what it does people just need to stop pretending it's miles ahead of everything else.
Not really basing it on what I like at all. I see suburbs like NOVA and OC a level higher, because I see their respective cities or overall metros DC and LA on a higher tier, that's the only bias I may have in this. NOVA as a whole is the size of a mid size metropolitan area.
Within NOVA alone you get urban city, high rise satellite suburb, suburban sprawl McMansions, real actual multi million dollar mansions, and country/ rural. Not to mention two major airports and public transit greater than pretty much all of the Sunbelt's PT. You also get some of the best K-12 schools in the country, and higher levels of diversity. While still having more scenic and historic landmarks/ sights IMO and places like wine country, and a navigable river. These are small factors that add up.
The two things that have thrown this thread off are using the word "elite" and only subjecting this to "North Atlanta" which in effect cuts off about half it's suburbs from this discussion...There is not some wide gap I'm suggesting at all, but I think N. ATL suburbs would still come next in line or after NOVA/OC if ranking them.
Closest thing to Arlington in Atlanta is Midtown. Buckhead is more like Tysons Corner.
We've covered this before, and no it isn't at all like Tysons. Perimeter Center is Atlanta's version of Tysons, Buckhead has no equivalent in the D.C. area.
When I think of "elite", Atlanta never comes to mind.
You've obviously never been then.
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