NoVa Unfriendly? (Winchester, Warrenton: move to, transit, parks)

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by Pub-911

This ain't Podunk, but people tend to exaggerate the cost-of-living here. And they tend to under-value the services and amenities that are available.

We pay less in real estate taxes than they do in, for example, Nassau County in NYC. We also get less in "services and amenities" than they do.

When my family from LI came to visit us, they commented on how we had no streetlights and hardly any sidewalks. Once our daughter looked at her cousin's school cafeteria's menu---what they were served looked like gourmet meals compared to what she got. Of course, kids being kids, her cousin thought the school food he got was "gross" They also have far better public transportation systems than we do.

You get what you pay for.

[Pub-911]

Another example of how people tend to under-value the services and amenities that are available here.

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

We pay less in real estate taxes than they do in, for example, Nassau County in NYC. We also get less in "services and amenities" than they do.

When my family from LI came to visit us, they commented on how we had no streetlights and hardly any sidewalks. Once our daughter looked at her cousin's school cafeteria's menu---what they were served looked like gourmet meals compared to what she got. Of course, kids being kids, her cousin thought the school food he got was "gross" They also have far better public transportation systems than we do.

You get what you pay for.

Sidewalks and streetlights are often up to the HOA of a particular community. Lake Barcroft, for example, has neither. It has nothing to do with lack of investment on the part of the state.

I'm honestly not sure what the point of this post is. We have more parks within walking distance than any place I've ever lived. More walking trails and public transportation stops too. More rec centers. More county and city-run classes and events.

For every Federal tax dollar Virginia pays, we get $1.75 back. Seems like pretty good ROI to me. Certainly better than comparing lunches.

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

Sidewalks and streetlights are often up to the HOA of a particular community. Lake Barcroft, for example, has neither. It has nothing to do with lack of investment on the part of the state.

I'm honestly not sure what the point of this post is. We have more parks within walking distance than any place I've ever lived. More walking trails and public transportation stops too. More rec centers. More county and city-run classes and events.

For every Federal tax dollar Virginia pays, we get $1.75 back. Seems like pretty good ROI to me. Certainly better than comparing lunches.

Maybe where you live.

Sidewalks and streetlights are not always "up to the HOA". On main streets, HOAs has nothing to do with it. Some places don't even have HOAs.

You have "more parks within walking distance"? You can't assume that everybody in NoVA has that. Any parks I want to go to involve taking the car.

As for public transportation, you can't make the claim that all of NoVA has great public transportation. Things are very slowly improving in some areas. In 3 or so years, the silver line will open up more stations.

You need to explore NoVA outside your area before making assumptions.

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by Pub-911

Another example of how people tend to under-value the services and amenities that are available here.

Was that aimed at me? Perhaps, you, too, need to explore outside your corner of NoVA instead of making assumptions.

[Ffxdata]

Originally Posted by BOS2IAD

Maybe where you live.

Sidewalks and streetlights are not always "up to the HOA". On main streets, HOAs has nothing to do with it. Some places don't even have HOAs.

You have "more parks within walking distance"? You can't assume that everybody in NoVA has that. Any parks I want to go to involve taking the car.

As for public transportation, you can't make the claim that all of NoVA has great public transportation. Things are very slowly improving in some areas. In 3 or so years, the silver line will open up more stations.

You need to explore NoVA outside your area before making assumptions.

What a weird post...

Why be cryptic? Why not state where you are instead of alluding to everyone having no idea what they are talking about.

I specifically bought a house where beneficial infrastructure was established. Parks, sidewalks, trails, and access to public transit are important to us and we bought accordingly. I did move to London and then complain about lack of this and that. Or Warrenton. Or Winchester. NoVa is a huge area. Of course everywhere doesn't have everything. What's your point really?

[leighland]

I will say Town of Herndon has really great amenities. I only miss Mary Riley Styles Library

And in Merrifield I had a lot of places to walk and pretty easy access to WMATA

There's a farmhouse on a massive lot across from the diesel pump next to Palm Tree School on Lee Hwy.

You can get it all in Nova

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

What a weird post...

Why be cryptic? Why not state where you are instead of alluding to everyone having no idea what they are talking about.

I specifically bought a house where beneficial infrastructure was established. Parks, sidewalks, trails, and access to public transit are important to us and we bought accordingly. I did move to London and then complain about lack of this and that. Or Warrenton. Or Winchester. NoVa is a huge area. Of course everywhere doesn't have everything. What's your point really?

How was my post "weird"? What's "weird" about stating facts? I'm not complaining. We knew what were were buying into. That said, at the time we didn't know how good a choice it was since in about 3 years Metrorail won't be too far away.

Many times in this forum I've mentioned that I live in LoCo. Never have I been "cryptic" about my location.

Lucky you that you could afford to buy into such a place. Not everybody could do so. Sure it would have been nice to move to Arlington or Falls Church and be within walking distance of a Metro station but not everybody's budget can handle that.

You moved to "London" and then complained about lack of this and that? Huh?

You can't assume that everybody in NoVA has all the amenities that you do. What's your point really?

[Pub-911]

Individual issues are more a reflection on the individual than on NoVa. The area scores well on nearly every standard, but for whatever reason, some still find it difficult to live here.

[Ffxdata]

My English teachers always told me I was bad at proofreading. Loudon (which we all know Apple believes doesn't exist re:autocorrect). I didn't* move their and complain about lack of amenities.