Triangle, VA... What's it like? (Manassas, Woodbridge: rental homes, high crime, affordable houses) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - City-Data Forum

chrysta · 06-06-2011, 05:22 PM

Hi! New here... We are an Army officer's family relocating from Fort Gordon in Augusta, GA to Fort Belvoir. Looking at rental homes on various websites, including www.militarybyowner.com. Found a GORGEOUS house on half an acre in Stonewall Manor subdivision in Triangle, VA. Just wondering what anyone can tell me about the elementary school that serves Stonewall Manor, what the commute to Ft. Belvoir would be like, the community of Stonewall Manor, and any other info you could share about Triangle, such as shopping, restaurants, crime, yada yada. I've seen threads where Triangle is mentioned as a high crime, high drugs area, but they date back to 2007, so I'm looking for more recent info. Also, we are LDS, so if any of you out there are LDS too and could tell us something about the local ward, that would be great! Thanks!!!

snatale1 · 06-06-2011, 05:47 PM

I don't live there but up until a couple months ago worked in that general area all the time, basically everywhere around Quantico is crap. I'm sure there is a nice area hidden somewhere but I've never found it. I do service work so I'm kinda all over the areas I work. For crime stats etc check Prince William County, as Triangle is not it's own town it's only a neighborhood in PW County.

mshan242709 · 06-06-2011, 05:52 PM

From what I've read, you might want to research Lake Ridge.

There are a few neighborhoods there that I've seen other posters recommend.

http://www.militarybyowner.com

elias9193 · 06-06-2011, 06:04 PM

If you go west on route 234 pass I 95 there are some very nice neighborhoods with decent schools, one that comes to mind is Mountclair which has a lot of military families. There are all kinds of neighborhoods with affordable houses as well as higher end ones, its worth checking out .

smagid · 06-06-2011, 06:20 PM

Triangle is the furthest south city in Prince William County. It is just outside of the gates of Quantico. It will definitely take you longer to go from this area up 95 than one of the further North neighborhoods in Prince William County. Stonewall Manor has very high end homes and there are also a few other neighborhoods with higher price point homes in the area. There is very little in terms of shopping centers and restuarants in this area due to the result of the Re-vitalization of the Route 1 corridor in Triangle. All of the businesses along the Route 1 corridor have been demolished and the plan is to rebuild and widen Route 1. It's a long term project.

chrysta · 06-06-2011, 07:21 PM

We are looking at homes in various areas, such as Lake Ridge, Montclair, the Ashland area of Manassas, and several different areas of Woodbridge. Trying to keep the commute from getting too long or too convoluted. We have enough of a BAH available to us that we can afford a newer or renovated home in those areas (and I'm spoiled - I don't want to live in an old split level), but we could potentially save some $$$ by renting in an area like Triangle. I've seen several brand-new homes up for rent in neighborhoods like Garrison Woods and Stonewall Manor, but like I said, I haven't been able to find much info on Triangle unless it's several years out of date.

oneasterisk · 06-06-2011, 08:10 PM

I'm sure you've seen that the recommendation is to live as close to work as possible because traffic is awful in this area. If you're in Ft. Belvoir, I'd live further north personally so as to save your significant other some aggravation to/from work.

I used to live off Fuller Heights road from 1995 - 2003 and it's changed dramatically. Like others have mentioned there isn't much great shopping or restaurants near Triangle or even the old town of Dumfries. You'll either have to go further north or south for those kind of options. I can't comment on Elementary schools as I was in High School when we moved to Triangle from Dumfries.

I had a classmate that used to live in the area you're looking. Great looking homes on larger lots. Too bad you have to drive through Williamstown and Port of Dumfries to get to them. Those two areas are pretty high crime.

I don't think you mentioned your housing budget. If you're willing to disclose, I think it'd give the other members a better idea of where to recommend. If I were to work in Ft. Belvoir, I think the southernmost area I'd want to live is off 234. Check out Montclair and the other neighborhoods off 234. Others have mentioned Lake Ridge and check out Belmont Bay if your budget allows. Some others to consider are Soutbridge and River Oaks. Unfortunately with River Oaks, it's adjacent to Georgetown Village and Village Gate. Another set of TH that are older and crime prone. I used to live in GV so I have first hand knowledge. There are also some great communities off of Cardinal Drive and Spriggs. Sorry I'm all over the place, but I'm buzzed on coffee from studying - lol

chrysta · 06-06-2011, 09:06 PM

Since our BAH is publicly posted and easy to Google, I don't mind disclosing.

It's $2739/mo. We *could* probably go as high as $2900/mo. for rent, but we'd rather not, of course. I've got a rental application in for a home in the Brook Farm subdivision, which is north Woodbridge, kind of sandwiched between Lake Ridge and Lorton off of Old Bridge Road. There's more than one applicant for the home, though, and we might not get it because the home is available July 1st and we can't move up there till August 1st.

I'm looking at homes in Port Potomac, Eagles Pointe, and Powell's Landing, and there are a couple that are slightly north of that area, but I don't know what the name of the neighborhood is. I have also seen a couple of homes listed that are off Cardinal Drive, like you mentioned.

Any other specific neighborhoods that you can think of?

Bigfoot424 · 06-07-2011, 01:10 AM

Triangle has some nice communities and some very old neighborhoods with some not in very good shape. I would not send my kids to the schools in this district. BTW. It is not a city as someone else said but a large neighborhood within Prince William Co.

ChristineVA · 06-07-2011, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrysta

Since our BAH is publicly posted and easy to Google, I don't mind disclosing.

It's $2739/mo. We *could* probably go as high as $2900/mo. for rent, but we'd rather not, of course. I've got a rental application in for a home in the Brook Farm subdivision, which is north Woodbridge, kind of sandwiched between Lake Ridge and Lorton off of Old Bridge Road. There's more than one applicant for the home, though, and we might not get it because the home is available July 1st and we can't move up there till August 1st.

I'm looking at homes in Port Potomac, Eagles Pointe, and Powell's Landing, and there are a couple that are slightly north of that area, but I don't know what the name of the neighborhood is. I have also seen a couple of homes listed that are off Cardinal Drive, like you mentioned.

Any other specific neighborhoods that you can think of?

I live off Cardinal Drive and most of the neighborhoods are pretty good there. The schools you might be zoned for, eh, not so much. If I were going to work in Ft. Belvoir, I would go more north. Look up in Belmont Bay and see what you can find there. Lorton is good too.

Getting up Rt. 1 from places like Dumfries, et al., is going to STINK. The traffic around Belvoir itself is bad enough that you don't need to deal with it in two places.