CHUD.com Community › Forums › REGIONAL › The East Coast Flavor › Moving Back To The DC Area
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Moving Back To The DC Area

post #1 of 33
1/14/10 at 1:46pm
Thread Starter 
Hey, I'm moving back to the DC area (lived there for a couple years back in the mid-00's) and my work is located out in Reston with the office having a good possibility of moving to Fair Lakes.

I'm heading out to look for apartments this weekend and I've mostly been focused on the Falls Church/Dunn Loring area to try to keep my commute short. I've already got a list of about 6-7 places to visit but wouldn't mind more suggestions/recommendations. I'm kind of in the 1-2 bedroom range (my girlfriend currently lives with me but will be heading out to the field to do her PhD research in the next couple months).

I've also considered trying to get one closer to DC in maybe Arlington/Ballston area. Does anyone have any experience with that kind of commute? I kind of hate having a really long commute which means I'm generally looking to avoid having to cross any bridges as well. I am open to hear a wider variety of suggestions if you think its really worth it though.
Reply
post #2 of 33
1/14/10 at 2:12pm
I'm in Clarendon, but work right on the metro in D.C. I would say that, despite the awesome social advantages of living between Courthouse and Ballston, the added expense probably doesn't make a lot of sense if you're working in Reston. Might as well save $500-$1000 per month.
Reply
post #3 of 33
1/14/10 at 2:17pm
Falls Church is a good place to start, although if you're working in Reston (or Fair Lakes) then you shouldn't have a terrible commute if you want to live closer to DC, since you'll be going against the major flow of traffic at both ends. That's basically what I do.

Reston itself is nice, if you're considering living basically as close as possible to where you work.

Do you have a car or will you be relying on public transportation?
Reply
post #4 of 33
1/14/10 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
My girlfriend and I actually each have a car but I may be buying a new (or used) one to replace one or both of them in the near future once I know what my finances are like after the move. As for Reston, I've spent 3 weeks out there on travel and I just don't really like the feel of it. I used to live in Old Town and loved being able to walk around there or hop on the Metro to get into the city to do stuff.

When you say the commute shouldn't be 'terrible' what do you mean? I'm hoping to stay under 30 minutes unless some horrific accident or something. Part of the reason that Falls Church has been standing out to me is that I am hoping that in the spring I'll be able to bike to work some. It's about 10 miles from there to the office but W&OD trail basically goes all the way there (and the current office has showers in it).
Reply
post #5 of 33
1/14/10 at 2:46pm
I live in Reston and it's definitely more suburb than anything else (unless you live in Town Center). It's more about the convenience for us as my wife works in Reston and I work in Chantilly.

You could probably do 30 mins from Falls Church (except in rain or snow, where you might as well telecommute), but I mostly use the Toll Road, which you might not be inclined to do.
Reply
post #6 of 33
1/14/10 at 2:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dontEATnachos View Post
When you say the commute shouldn't be 'terrible' what do you mean? I'm hoping to stay under 30 minutes unless some horrific accident or something. Part of the reason that Falls Church has been standing out to me is that I am hoping that in the spring I'll be able to bike to work some. It's about 10 miles from there to the office but W&OD trail basically goes all the way there (and the current office has showers in it).
I mean that unless you live nextdoor to your office, nearly every commute in this area sucks. But if you're going against traffic, either on the road or on the train, it's better. My commute, barring traffic, is just under 30 minutes traveling about 10 miles against traffic.

Falls Church is nice, although you'll lose part of what you liked about Old Town. If you can live near the Metro that's one thing, but Falls Church proper has zero personality, and the rest isn't really walkable. If you like being able to walk around to get to things with reasonable Metro access, then maybe Clarendon/Courthouse/Ballston is the way to go. Particularly if you don't want to live in Reston.

If you want a cool NoVa address without paying the Metro premium (and don't mind being a little more flexible in your commute time), try Del Ray (in Alexandria) or Shirlington. Del Ray especially is a really cool neighborhood with a lot of great restaurants. It's an older area that's become more and more popular in the last few years.
Reply
post #7 of 33
1/14/10 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I actually lived in Del Rey for a year while living in Alexandria and was quite happy (still walking distance to Metro, YMCA, grocery store and a quick drive to Target/Best Buy/Movies). My company moving out to Reston and the longer commute from Alexandria--best case scenario seemed like 30-40 minutes and way worse with traffic--is kind of what really tipped the scales for me to move away in the first place.
Reply
post #8 of 33
1/14/10 at 3:07pm
Yeah, I live in Del Ray, and it's awesome, but the commute to Reston would be a bear -- I see a doctor at Town Center that takes 45 minutes to get to non-rush hour.

You might want to take a look at Vienna, which I hear has some good spots. Ballston might not be a bad choice, either, since you can get to the highway very easily from there.
Reply
post #9 of 33
1/14/10 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
I've got 4 days in DC (Sat-Tues) so my plan is: Falls Church area on Saturday, Ballston/Arlington area on Sunday, and if those both suck scramble to find something in Alexandria/Vienna etc on Monday and Tuesday.

ETA: I don't need somewhere hugely walkable. Just something that feels more like a neighborhood and less like a 'development'. I liked that in Old Town/Del Rey and where I live in now in Madison, WI. I just want to be able to go get dinner at a few different restaurants or go to a bar without having to cross giant congested 6-8 lane roads.
Reply
post #10 of 33
1/14/10 at 4:42pm
I'm not going to lie to you: all these other guys are lying to you. You should live in Leesburg.
Reply
post #11 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:07pm
Leesburg does have a Pike.
Reply
post #12 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:09pm
I live not far from Balston and it is pretty convenient - Hwy 50 and Hwy 66 are right there and you can get to 395 in 2-3 stoplights by heading down Hwy 50. It's about 15 minutes from downtown D.C. with no traffic. Clarendon and Courthouse stores, restaurants, theaters are close. But that area really can't compete with Old Town (or most of Del Rey) on the "charm" scale.
Reply
post #13 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe LeFors View Post
Leesburg does have a Pike.
And an outlet mall. Yay, shopping!
Reply
post #14 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I did work with a guy who used to commute to Reston from Frederick, MD.
Reply
post #15 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:31pm
BrianM knows all about BallsTon, know what I'm saying?
Reply
post #16 of 33
1/14/10 at 5:49pm
I hear Prince George's County is nice this time of year.
Reply
post #17 of 33
1/14/10 at 6:46pm
If you have a two or three million to drop on a home, you really can't beat Silver Spring.
Reply
post #18 of 33
1/14/10 at 7:00pm
I'm still savings my shillings for a nice place in Dumfries.
Reply
post #19 of 33
1/14/10 at 7:47pm
Don't listen to LeFors. He lives out of a 1985 Volkswagon Vanagon that you'll usually find parked at the public boat launch in Mason Neck state park.
Reply
post #20 of 33
1/15/10 at 10:37am
How do you think we met???
Reply
post #21 of 33
1/15/10 at 11:15am
Centreville - The center of fun!

Plus don't forget the rumor that there totally will be a Metro stop in Centreville within the next couple years. Bank on it!
Reply
post #22 of 33
1/20/10 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I ended up finding a place just a bit outside the city of Falls Church (but it still has a Falls Church address) and is just about a mile from the metro and is reasonably close to the W&OD trail.

I stayed with a friend who lives in DC (just a block from the Capitol South metro stop) and it really makes living out of the city seem so much less interesting. Still, the place was reasonably cheap, had decent amenities, and most importantly is a short commute for me.

There were a number of good (and better than where I ended) places but it kills me to spend a bunch of money on rent. I'd rather save the money for when I actually buy a place. I can't wait until my girlfriend is done with grad school and I know that I'm going to be living somewhere for more than a year or two.
Reply
post #23 of 33
1/20/10 at 5:14pm
Once you get settled, you should meet up with the D.C. group for a few beers.
Reply
post #24 of 33
1/20/10 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The LD View Post
Once you get settled, you should meet up with the D.C. group for a few beers.
Yes, every once in a while these gatherings go reasonably well.
Reply
post #25 of 33
1/20/10 at 10:14pm
It has been

2

gatherings since the last rape.
Reply
post #26 of 33
1/20/10 at 10:27pm
Thread Starter 
And I'm sure it is purely coincidental that it is exactly how long it has been since someone new has shown up.
Reply
post #27 of 33
1/20/10 at 10:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jcassady View Post
It has been

2

gatherings since the last rape.
That you were conscious for.
Reply
post #28 of 33
2/7/10 at 2:42pm
Speaking of which, we haven't not raped Cassdy (as far as he can prove) for a while, now. How does the mid-late March look for people?
Reply
post #29 of 33
2/8/10 at 8:45pm
You think we'll be dug out by then, Frank?
Reply
post #30 of 33
2/8/10 at 8:49pm
Thread Starter 
Definitely glad I held off on moving now. I won't be there until the end of February which will hopefully be just in time for spring.
Reply
post #31 of 33
3/25/10 at 2:52pm
Sadly, those storms raped my apartment.

Did you ever make it out to DC?
Reply
post #32 of 33
4/21/10 at 5:15pm
8 1/2 this Saturday at the AFI.

Questo รจ quello che sto parlando!
Reply
post #33 of 33
4/21/10 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Whoops, sorry I never noticed your message, Cassady. Since my move back CHUD has sadly received the short end of the deal. This is almost entirely due to being in the office again and having my desk is positioned with easily viewed monitors.

But yes, I made it and things are going great. Working from the office again has really been great so far.

I was just thinking about posting another thread in the forum because I'm looking for new home theater speakers and wanted to know if anyone knew any independent but nicer stores in the area to check out. Maybe I'll do that later tonight when I've got a bit more time.

FC, If I can talk my GF into watching a B&W Italian movie from the 60's I'll definitely consider it. Unfortunately 'classics' seem to be a hard sell for me.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: The East Coast Flavor
CHUD.com Community › Forums › REGIONAL › The East Coast Flavor › Moving Back To The DC Area