Recommendations for Moving to Chantilly Area - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

vermonter16 · 01-20-2011, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newgatedenizen

I stroll through Centreville every day on my way to Manassas.

I find a LOT of people have negative feelings about Centreville because their only experience is being stuck in traffic while passing through (I66, 29, 28). And if that's all I saw I'd probably feel the same way...

I did live in Centreville for 15 years

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wsamon - hahaha, yes, I DO NEED Wegmans and am not sure what I would do without it. I literally did no cooking until Wegmans came around. I liked the store so I needed to have a reason to shop in it....so I had to learn to cook

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wsamon · 01-20-2011, 06:44 AM

@bmwguydc - Those are good areas and points as well, though the commute may be right at his 30 minute limit, and the rents are a couple hundred dollars a month more expensive. Also, keep in mind that compared to most places in the country (I don't know where in CO he's from) even Centreville, Chantilly, and Manassas have lots of options for shopping, food, and nearby things to do, and Fairfax would be just a short drive away outside of rush hour. If possible, I really think it's best that the OP visit these places and see what works best.

@vermonter16 - to each his own

I honestly just don't understand what makes one grocery store so much better than any other that it's the one that you absolutely have to shop at though. Unless you're buying in-store prepared foods all the time, or you only eat organic food, any super-market will have all the ingredients you need to make everyday meals. Heck, I'm not a big fan, but even Shoppers is perfectly functional...

jillabean · 01-20-2011, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsamon

Unless you're buying in-store prepared foods all the time, or you only eat organic food, any super-market will have all the ingredients you need to make everyday meals. Heck, I'm not a big fan, but even Shoppers is perfectly functional...

This is true. I buy mostly organic and I can get everything I need at Giant. They have organics thought the store and a whole section (4 mini aisles) of organic-type food. It's a lot cheaper than Wegmans. I think Shoppers is even less expensive.

When I was thinking of shopping, I wasn't really thinking of groceries so much as clothing, household supplies, K-mart, that sort of thing (big box stores and malls I guess). Centreville has 4 groceries stores and lots of little shops, restaurants, bars, and a Sears appliance store, etc. The movie theatre is okay--it's older and doesn't have stadium seating, but the company that bought it keeps it clean and maintains it well. By the way, technically one of the grocery stores is in Chantilly, but it's the one I shop at--you can throw a stone and hit Centreville from it.

wsamon · 01-20-2011, 08:46 AM

True. But as I mentioned, big box stores are only a 15 minute drive away in the Fair Lakes shopping center (at least from where I lived). Everyone's shopping habits are different, but I don't go to them more than once, maybe twice a month, so a 15 minute drive is nothing. I suppose if I were to go to big box stores every day that would be different, but who does that?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Nissan Pavilion (I refuse to call it Jiffy Lube Live!) is only about 20 minutes away or so to. It's a great spot to catch a lot of good concerts and music festivals!

vermonter16 · 01-20-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsamon

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the Nissan Pavilion (I refuse to call it Jiffy Lube Live!) is only about 20 minutes away or so to. It's a great spot to catch a lot of good concerts and music festivals!

That is true....as long as it isn't a popular concert

. I left at 4pm for a Jimmy Buffet concert and it took almost 2 hours and I live in Manassas. On a normal day it would take about 15 minutes to get there!

wsamon · 01-20-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermonter16

That is true....as long as it isn't a popular concert

. I left at 4pm for a Jimmy Buffet concert and it took almost 2 hours and I live in Manassas. On a normal day it would take about 15 minutes to get there!

I've gone to some pretty popular concerts and had no problems. Getting back was a little rougher, but getting there wasn't so bad. Jimmy Buffet may be an exception due to the demographics of NoVA. Also, what route did you take? I've rarely had 29 get backed up on me until I got in close. 66 often seems to be worse because everyone knows about it.

jdm09 · 01-22-2011, 09:09 AM

About how long is the reverse commute to Chantilly from Fairfax/Fair Oaks or Arlington? My wife is trying to find a position in politics or law, so I could see being closer to Arlington, Alexandria, or DC beneficial to provide more options for her.

Again, thank you for everyone's responses.

finini01 · 01-22-2011, 09:33 AM

JDM, my wife and I just moved to Chantilly (about 1/2 mile east of the 28/50 interchange). We have driven around the area quite a bit. Route 50 from fairfax/fair oaks to Chantilly really isn't that bad if you don't mind traffic lights. You could probably do it in 20-25 minutes. Arlington, however, would be bad for the commute out to Chantilly. You'd have to get on 66, which backs up in both directions at both rush periods at: the interchange with 267, the beltway, nutley street, 123, rte 50, and 7100. It takes my bus (with a few 30 second stops) about 25-35 minutes to get from the parking lot of the vienna metro out to where I live in Chantilly (going 66 west to 50 west) in the evening rush. Traffic in the opposite direction isn't QUITE as bad, but I see backups at all the same interchanges on 66 in both directions when I am headed out on the orange line or on the bus.

vermonter16 · 01-22-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsamon

I've gone to some pretty popular concerts and had no problems. Getting back was a little rougher, but getting there wasn't so bad. Jimmy Buffet may be an exception due to the demographics of NoVA. Also, what route did you take? I've rarely had 29 get backed up on me until I got in close. 66 often seems to be worse because everyone knows about it.

I've been to concerts with no problem as well but when the place is sold out and it is on a weeknight...combine rush hour with concert traffic and it is terrible. I know every back way in the book since I live in Manassas. I don't go near 29 or 66 anymore.

vermonter16 · 01-22-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdm09

About how long is the reverse commute to Chantilly from Fairfax/Fair Oaks or Arlington? My wife is trying to find a position in politics or law, so I could see being closer to Arlington, Alexandria, or DC beneficial to provide more options for her.

Again, thank you for everyone's responses.

I commute to and from Arlington every day. It really depends on the time of day that you leave. And depending on where your wife might be working in Arlington - she may find it beneficial to just go back roads and forget 66 all together. I don't find 66 horrible but I am usually leaving Arlington between 2:30pm and 3:00.... Yeah, it might get backed up some but it isn't too bad. They are doing construction on a portion of 66 which causes a back up but depending on where you are coming from that can be avoided for the most part.