South Reston v.s North Reston (Chantilly, Oakton: real estate, apartment complexes, renting)

[shunza]

Hi everyone, I've been reading through the Virginia forum trying to dig out more information about south reston v.s north reston. I am a potential home buyer looking at the Reston area. From my understanding and my own research online, mid and north Reston seems to be more desirable to live, and higher property values too.

I am getting married and looking into having kids. So a nice elementary school and a family friendly neighborhood is important to me. From my research it seems like Hunters Woods is the best elementary school in the Reston area, however, the school is in south Reston, so...I need some help from any current residents in the area!! Could you give me a general idea about the Hunders Woods neighborhood or south Reston? Which area should I avoid? I am mostly concerned about safety issues after reading the fairfax county crime reports. There seems to have burglaries and robberies in the neighborhood from time to time. Do you guys feel safe and happy living in the neighborhood? Do you know the general demographics in the neighborhood? How are your neighbors?

I found a nice townhome in the area and I am considering about putting down an offer. But these unknown information is making me a little uncertain and nervous. So, any information or suggestion is greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

[jb124]

I lived in South Reston (specifically Hunters Woods Village condominium) from like 2001 until 2004. It was pretty clean and pretty safe. I liked being able to walk to the Hunters Woods Shopping Center and Reston Community Center. There are some apartment complexes in South Reston that I would shy away from if possible, but unfortunately I don't know the names of them anymore. Basically the ones on the west side of Reston Parkway around where it intersects with Glade Drive, I think. The ones on the east side of Reston Pkwy & Glade (around the HW shopping center) were better, in my opinion.

I felt safe when I lived there. I had no problems with burglaries, gangs, or anything like that. The townhouse developments along Glade Drive and Colt's Neck Rd looked fine. I used to walk my dog and/or ride my bike through them often. The townhouses and condos over by South Lakes Shopping Center (far end of Glade) were very nice from what I could tell.

The only real way I know how to judge demographics would be to use the Safeway (grocery store) in the HWVSC as an example, which had a very nicely mixed clientele, both along racial and economic lines. Reston is a planned community, so they purposely mixed in a wide range of housing options (from affordable to luxury) in any given area.

I liked living in (south) Reston a lot. The main reason I moved to Ballston was to be closer to 'the action' and I wanted to live within walking distance of a Metro station.

[shunza]

Thanks for the info! That was helpful. So do you agree that Hunters Woods neighborhood is family friendly? Do you see children and family playing in the neighborhood? I was also told that I should try to stay away from the area that's west of Reston Parkway, but by looking at the map, HW neighborwood is adjacent to Reston Parkway, that sort of made me wonder if the two neighborhoods are too close....

Do you know the reviews for the public elementary schools by any chance?

[mlv311]

You can read school reviews at: GreatSchools.net or you can check their profiles at the Fairfax County website: Fairfax County Public Schools - Schools and Centers Directory

[coolcats]

I made the mistake of renting an apartment in South Reston on Glade Drive back in 2001. I think the complex is called Reston Glen these days. Huge mistake -- the apartment was roach-infested. My neighbors were alcoholics that I could hear wretching in the toilet in the middle of the night. There were some ok people too, but lots of sketchy people. I lasted 6 months before buying a house in Chantilly. I do think the areas east of Reston Parkway are better.

[jb124]

Originally Posted by shunza

Thanks for the info! That was helpful. So do you agree that Hunters Woods neighborhood is family friendly? Do you see children and family playing in the neighborhood? I was also told that I should try to stay away from the area that's west of Reston Parkway, but by looking at the map, HW neighborwood is adjacent to Reston Parkway, that sort of made me wonder if the two neighborhoods are too close....

Do you know the reviews for the public elementary schools by any chance?

A few of the friends I made while living there and my neighbor across the hall all had children and I never heard them complaining about anything in particular regarding family friendliness. We had little playgrounds and parks scattered around the neighborhoods which seemed pretty safe to me and I saw kids playing at them often (dern them for waking me up early on a Saturday mornig though, heh). There's even the nature center on Glade that has little festivals and programs at various times of the year. I volunteered a couple of times for the Halloween Walk even. The Community Center in the shopping center has a year-round indoor pool (I think) as well as a fully functional theater stage which host various events ranging from symphonies to plays to art exhibits. That's the great thing about Reston is that they have so many community events and ways to get involved.

On the downside, I did see some evidence of gang activity on some of the trails (mainly graffiti on the bridges and some loitering, nothing serious) and there were one or two homeless people on the trails behind the shopping center, so I probably wouldn't let a kid in elementary school or younger wander the forested trails alone. The homeless people I sometimes encountered were not the pushy 'DC type' and were very friendly. The loitering teens never bothered me at all.

I don't know anything about the schools though, unfortunately.

I'd work with a real estate agent familiar with the area when it comes time to buy a place, they'll be able to help you make decisions about which places are safe/desireable or not. And I'm sure the schools in north Reston are fine too if you end up moving there instead. Fairfax County public schools are excellent.

One random side note: Bus connectivity is excellent in South Reston and I was able to choose from three different bus routes that would take me from within a short walk of my condo to places ranging from most of Reston to Dulles Airport to the West Falls Church Metro station (which leads to inner NoVA and beyond to DC/MD).

[shunza]

Thank you all so much for the information provided. I appreciate it!

[amp]

Originally Posted by shunza

Hi everyone, I've been reading through the Virginia forum trying to dig out more information about south reston v.s north reston. I am a potential home buyer looking at the Reston area. From my understanding and my own research online, mid and north Reston seems to be more desirable to live, and higher property values too.

I am getting married and looking into having kids. So a nice elementary school and a family friendly neighborhood is important to me. From my research it seems like Hunters Woods is the best elementary school in the Reston area, however, the school is in south Reston, so...I need some help from any current residents in the area!! Could you give me a general idea about the Hunders Woods neighborhood or south Reston? Which area should I avoid? I am mostly concerned about safety issues after reading the fairfax county crime reports. There seems to have burglaries and robberies in the neighborhood from time to time. Do you guys feel safe and happy living in the neighborhood? Do you know the general demographics in the neighborhood? How are your neighbors?

I found a nice townhome in the area and I am considering about putting down an offer. But these unknown information is making me a little uncertain and nervous. So, any information or suggestion is greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot!

To be honest...I like North Reston better. I have heard that all the elementary schools are good in Reston, but I havn't actually researched them extensively. The other thing you can thing about that is very close and has good schools is Oakton, or near Hunters Mill road. I am biased though since I live right near the town center(with 2 kids) and its such a bonus to be able to walk there.

[5stones]

my uncle lives in North reston and it's very nice. convenient to town center and Faifax county pky.
off of Bennington woods. very nice and peacefulk back in there.

[janning]

Is the 606 what separates North Reston from South Reston?