The Examiner Deems Falls Church ‘Best Value in the Area’

EDITORS’ NOTE: The following article appeared in The Examiner, a free daily newspaper known to anyone who rides the Metro. We are reprinting it as an interesting example of how Falls Church is viewed from the outside looking in. Although a close read reveals the existence of a “city,” the distinction is not stressed, which undoubtedly will give the CITY of Falls Church’s #1 booster, Gerald Pressman, fits. The reference to Lake Braddock must actually be Lake Barcroft.

FALLS CHURCH: THE BEST VALUE IN THE AREA

By DEAN BARTOLI SMITH
The Examiner

January 14, 2010

“In Falls Church, you can run the gamut from being in the country to being in a diverse suburban area to being in the middle of a cityscape near Seven Corners and Baileys Crossroads,” said ReMax agent Craig Richardson. “There’s also the ambience of old Colonial Virginia.”

The center of Falls Church lies at the crossroads of Virginia’s Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and Route 29 (Lee Highway). The area extends beyond the core city to include Seven Corners, postal districts in Fairfax County, and East Falls Church in Arlington County.

With desirable neighborhoods and new condos being built, homebuyers seeking a small-town community feel have flocked into the quaint village. Broad Street offers a range of ethnic and American cuisine, coffee shops, entertainment, as well as local businesses such as Brown’s Hardware, which dates back to 1882.

“I can walk to the Farmers Market and many places along Broad Street,” said resident Margaret Volpe who grew up in Falls Church and has moved back to the city. She explained that many of the homes were built during World War II — split foyers, Cape Cods, and bungalows — and while small in size they had good-size lots.

She said, “We’re seeing a lot of infill, where someone buys a house, tears it down and replaces it with a larger house.”

You can find one-bedroom condos under $200,000 and large colonial homes on Lake Braddock priced in the millions with options at every price level in between. Neighborhoods like Sleepy Hollow and Pimmit Hills are tranquil and secluded from more developed areas.

Craig Richardson says, “There are some tremendous gems to be found. You need to know where to look. Falls Church provides the best value in the area.”

Named after a church built in the 1700s, the Falls Church area was first settled by Algonquin-speaking Anacostan tribes. An Anglican settlement of farms for most of the 1800s, the Civil War brought Northerners seeking more temperate climes.

“It wasn’t long ago that you wouldn’t have to travel far to see a farm,” said Hugh Brown, owner of Brown’s Hardware and great-grandson of the founder. “A lot has changed. The horse and buggy is gone. People are more into gardening.”

In the aftermath of the recent snowstorm, Brown’s sold more than 300 sleds.

“Falls Church offers a whole lot to a wide range of people,” said Richardson.

December 2008:

• Average sold price in the 22046 ZIP code: $549,000
• Average list price in the 22046 ZIP code: $577,000
• Average days on market for homes sold: 52

Top Reasons for Living in Falls Church

GOOD FOOD: The Dogwood Tavern, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Haandi, Argia’s, Claire and Don’s Beach Shack, and 2941 are at the top of the cuisine list. There are also Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Mexican options. Sunflower vegetarian is a local favorite. Panera Bread is there as well as Starbucks.

LOCATION: Inside the Beltway, Falls Church has two Metro stops and is close to Interstates 66 and 395 and all the major roads into Arlington, Alexandria, and Tysons Corner. There are also buses — making it very easy not to drive on Northern Virginia’s overcrowded roads.

STATE THEATRE: Falls Church has a full schedule of musical entertainment all year long at this old movie theater built in 1936. Acts such as the Cowboy Junkies, Tab Benoit, the Iguanas, the Dark Star Orchestra and others plays this venue throughout the year and add another dimension to an already diverse area.

SHOPPING: Seven Corners, Baileys Crossroads, Tysons Corner, and Old Town Alexandria provide a range of shopping areas — from high end to low end — all in close proximity.