In the 1950's the farming community of Burke, VA was the proposed site for Dulles Airport.  Due to the efforts of the few families that lived in the area at the time, the airport plan was derailed and moved to Chantilly where Dulles Airport is today. It is hard to imagine how different the area would be if the government had succeed in their plans.   Even though they fought and won the battle not to build the airport most of the farm homes and land had been purchased and condemned by the government leaving the area virtually deserted.

After the Dulles Airport proposal was killed dvelopers realized the potential of a signficant parcel of land only 20 miles outside of Washington DC and the area of Burke began to grow.  Part of the land was turned over to the Fairfax Park Authority to make up Burke Lake Park and the majority of the rest of the land became the area known as Burke Centre.

The homes that make up the area known as Burke Centre were built on a 1700 acre parcel of land and with the strong Burke Centre Conservancy retain a great connection with nature. Thirty miles of bike paths, six ponds, a lake and five community centers where owners can find nature and activities right outside their doors. Terra Centre Elementary School was one of the first earth sheltered schools built in the area and the roof is still used today by students as their athletic field.

 

 

With over 5800 homes divided into five distinct neighborhoods: Landing, Woods, Oaks, Commons and Ponds; Burke Centre is one of the largest planned communities in Fairfax County. With the Burke Station VRE, Metro Bus transportation and major highways close by, Burke Centre is a popular location for Northern Virginia homeowners who work in DC. 

Since the first homes were built in Burke in 1976 the area has also been popular with military families stationed at Ft.Belvoir, the Pentagon and Military District of Washington installations.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Burke Centre give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. My team also serves other areas of Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Clifton, Lorton, Fairfax Station, Manassas, Woodbridge and surrounding neighborhoods. . Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

One of the benefits of being actively involved in the Occoquan River Communities is the opportunity to get a "sneak peek" at one of the biggest success stories in redevelopment in Lorton.  The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center is getting ready for the grand opening the week of September 19^th -27^th with multiple events planned throughout the week.  The week starts with a classic concert concert-pianist Pedja Muzijevic and culminates with the grand opening gala featuring Tony Award winning singer Barbara Cook.

Artists who have studio space are just moving in and getting themselves settled.  The staff is putting in long hours to make sure that everything is ready for the crowds who will be coming to check out the new center and registrations are starting to come in for the upcoming classes being taught this fall. 

 

The history of the prison and its connection to our area goes further back in time that many might imagine.  From the Women Suffragists imprisoned in 1917, Nike Missile Base in the 1950's and some famous prisoners including Norman Mailer, the prison has seen its share of changes.  The buildings on the site themselves tell the story from agricultural beginnings with the barn built in the 1920's to the maximum security cells added in the 1980's.  

Residents of Fairfax County are fortunate to live in an area where the vision of the reuse of the 3200 acres that made up the Lorton Prison site has become a reality.  Additional buildings on the are still to be refurbished but the area has come along way from the initial planning meetings and this "jewel" of Lorton will be one that we all can enjoy long after the grand opening events.

Previous Posts on the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center and Lorton Redevelopement

Artists Take Over the Jail Cells
Reminders of Prision Life in Lorton VA
Where Old Fences Meet New in Lorton
Nike Missiles and Prisoners-Not Your Usual Neighbors
A New Community Blossoms Where Prisoners Once Lived

 

 

©2008 Cindy Jones.  "Lorton Workhouse Arts Center-An Insiders View"

 

 

This isn't about a pay per view fight coming to you from our area but the fact that every day in Northern Virginia hitchhikers are jumping in strangers cars and headed in to DC.  Our slug lines are famous around the country as a unique form of carpooling not often found in other major metropolitan cities. 

Many like to associate the term "slug" with the slimy creatures you find in your garden but the term actually started with the bus drivers who would find riders who had slipped in "slugs" or fake tokens into the token box instead of the real ones.  The term stuck and became linked with grabbing a free ride in our area.

Slug lines have flourished and become one of the easiest and certainly cheapest ways to get into town during the work week.  The protocol for slugging is well established, the routes defined and though it is not officially sanctioned by any local jurisdiction there are no laws against it.  Most of the official slug lines are along the I-95 corridor from as far south as Fredericksburg in Stafford County.  The best hours to be picked up in the morning vary by location but generally coincide with the HOV lane restrictions of 6-9 am and 3:30-6PM.

At first newcomers to the area are skeptical about jumping into a car with a perfect stranger, lets face it we all have heard the horror stories about hitchhiking but in the case of slugging you won't find any problems.  There are official pick up and drop off spots in the suburbs of Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford Counties and there are official pick up and drop off spots in DC.  Lines are orderly and if anyone tries to break ranks and skip ahead in the they quickly learn that drivers will leave them stranded. 

Combine slugging with our extensive bus routes, rail lines and subway routes and smart commuters find out quickly that with the price of gas over $3.00 a gallon that they can leave the car at home and enjoy getting to the city with far less stress by taking public transportation.  The Pentagon is one of the major drop off and pick up points for slugs and makes it perfect for active duty personnel!

My map is a sample of slug line locations in our area.  To see more of the official slug lines check out the Official Slug-Line Website.  If you are relocating to Northern Virginia and want to know more about slugging or getting around the area give me a call.  As a native of the area I have a few secrets I can share about how to get from here to there!

 

 

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones "Slugging It Out in Northern Virginia"

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If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Prince William County give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. My team also serves other areas of Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Burke, Clifton, Lorton, Fairfax Station, Manassas, Woodbridge and surrounding neighborhoods. . Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

With the upcoming influx of military and civilian personnel scheduled to move to Fort Belvoir, neighborhoods within 30 minutes of the post in Prince William County are gearing up for new homeowners to arrive.  All of these neighborhoods offer great value in today's market and they offer a choice for buyers which include foreclosures, new homes and re-sales.

The first community you find when you cross the Occoquan River is Belmont Bay.  With its waterfront location, variety of home styles and communities amenities it isn't a surprise that this community has been discovered by military families being stationed at Fort Belvoir.  If you walk the waterfront paths in the community you will be greeted with a smile and hello from everyone you pass.  Kids love to run on the pavilion green and watch the boats coming and going from the gazebo by the docks.  Commuters appreciate the quick hop onto Route 1 to head to Fort Belvoir or the VRE station right in the neighborhood to take them into Alexandria or DC. 




As you travel a little further south on Route 1 your next stop is the award winning community of Potomac Club.   The jewel of the neighborhood is the 12 million dollar community club house with both indoor and outdoor pools, rock climbing wall and business center.  The townhouses and townhouse style condominiums are stacked up the hillside creating winding streets and pockets of green space.  The newly opened Wegmans grocery store is within walking distance and there is easy access to either Route 1 or I-95.

 

 

 

 

Another mile down the road and you the final two developments on this tour of Prince William County neighborhoods perfect for BRAC.  The first is Eagles Pointe and enclave of detached homes with another terrific community clubhouse.  The detached homes are clustered on no-through streets and are separated from other nearby developments with a stand of full growth trees.  Across the street is the community of Port Potomac.  With a mixture of detached homes and townhouses the development features a Williamsburg style club house, pedestrian friendly streets and walking trails. The community has been popular with families looking for a location close to shopping and public transportation.

All of these neighborhoods are close to shopping at Potomac Mills, Wegman's  and recreation at numerous parks in the area.  If you find yourself with plans to relocate to Fort Belvoir as part of BRAC then give me a call.  These communities are just a sampling of what you will find within a 30 minute commute of Fort Belvoir.

 

 

 

 

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If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Prince William County give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. My team also serves other areas of Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Burke, Clifton, Lorton, Fairfax Station, Manassas, Woodbridge and surrounding neighborhoods. . Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

A year ago I penned a post on how September 11^th was the second day that changed my life.  Today as we once again stop to reflect and use the day to re-energize  it seemed appropriate to repost the slide show I put together for Independence day to remember our countries heroes.  They are the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue to enjoy our freedom.  Next year the slide show will be updated to include the Pentagon Memorial which will be dedicated this morning.  May we all remember September 11th .  Use it as  a day to give thanks and go forward with a positive attitude for all we have as a country and as individuals. 

When the VRE first began operations along the I-95 corridor in 1992 there were questions as to whether the lack of housing near the train stations would derail the long term plans for the commuter rail.   Now with new communities growing up along the commuter rail line and the rising price of gas more and more commuters are discovering the advantages to hopping on the VRE for their commute to the city or stops along the way.

The southern stop in Prince William County on I-95 corridor tour is the Quantico Station.   Located within the gates of Quantico Marine Corps Base commuters must drive in to the base in order to get to the station and must have a picture ID available to show the military police when entering the base.   Parking isn't a problem with 258 parking spaces available at the station.  You can grab coffee and a muffin at the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop before you hear "all aboard."  The first morning train leaves the station at 5:39 am and the last morning train is at 9:14.  The commute to Union Station runs an hour and express trains will get you there quicker! With the communities of Kramer's Ridge right outside the gate and Aquia Harbor just a few miles down the road in Stafford County.  Residents of both these communities can take advantage of the convenience Quantico Station.

Keeping chugging north on the tracks and within 10 minutes of leaving Quantico you hit Rippon Station. With 676 parking stations this location usually only runs at 55% capacity which may be because it is tucked back into a residential community makes this station a little harder for newcomers to find.   The station is surrounded by a number of developments including Potomac Pointe Condos, Riverside Station and Dawson's Landing. 

Five minutes from Rippon Station is the Woodbridge Station located at the entrance to the community of Belmont Bay.  Residents can walk to the station in the morning grab coffee and a muffin from the Coffee Club Café.  Besides the residents of Belmont Bay the station attracts riders from the Town of Occoquan and Lake Ridge.  With a parking garage and lot that accommodates 738 cars it is the biggest station along the route. 

If you are looking for a chance to park your car and enjoy your commute with just the clacking of the rails then check out the communities along the VRE route in eastern Prince William County.  Sit back and read the morning paper and enjoy your coffee and leave the driving to the engineer.  All Aboard!

Yesterday I spent a few hours with a Washington Post reporter who will be writing a feature on Belmont Bay in Prince William County.  It seems the word is out on this "hidden gem just across the Prince William County line on the Occoquan River. Not only has the Washington Post decided to feature the community but  Washingtonian Magazine has twice picked as one of the "best communities" to live in the DC area and recently the Washington Business Journal included this area has one of the Top 13 places to watch in the DC metro area.

So what makes Belmont Bay so great?  Ask the eight families that I have sold new homes to this year in the community and they will all tell you it is the location, the value and the ammenities that brought them here.  With a variety of choices from detached homes, townhouses, and condos buyers can find just about anything they are looking for. What makes it even more unusual is the VRE station at the entrance to the community making the commute in to DC a breeze. The main gate of Fort Belvoir is only 15 minutes away, Quantico is 20 minutes to the south and the Pentagon is an easy commute via easy access to the express lanes, commuter parking lot a mile away or the VRE.

Walking around the community you can quickly see why residents love being here. The quiet of the neighborhood is interrupted by the sounds of the geese quacking at the waters edge, the Osprey calling for their mates among the trees and at night the fox yipping as they traverse across the golf course heading back to the 400 acre nature reserve that borders the community.

Residents are able to walk most of the length of the waterfront through the community on paths that go from the edge of the nature reserve, around the front of the Harbor Point Condo's, the marina and front nine of the golf course. The marina at Belmont Bay was the first new deep water marina to open in almost 15 years in Northern Virginia and cost almost $2 million to develop. It can house up to 325 boats and is a popular place for happy hour during warm weather. With a community pool, two sets of tennis courts, a golf course and club house you don't have to go very far to find a place to play. The newest development Harborside overlooks the marina and has units available from the low 400's with parking and storage included.

With all Belmont Bay has to offer it makes it a great choice for anyone who is looking for a relaxing get away after a long day of work. If you are interested in learning more about this great community just give me a call at 703-346-2213. Find out why so many of my clients have decided to call Belmont Bay home.  Oh and yes I live here too!

©2008. All Rights Reserved. Cindy Jones "Discover Belmont Bay-The Premier Prince William Waterfront Community"

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When you are ready to buy real estate in Belmont Bay call the community expert Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. If you are interested in other areas of Northern Virginia real estate including Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County or Stafford County. Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Some of us are old enough to remember maps, the free ones that you picked up at the gas station and opened up wide on the kitchen table to plan out your vacation.  The fun was watching your parents trying to refold them and stuff them in the glove compartment.  Today most people bypass the old fashion map for on-line for directions and often overlook the fact that a map only contains a small amount of the information you need to know about an area.

For someone getting ready to relocate to Northern Virginia checking out the map can give you a sense of where you are going and put locations in perspective.  You can get an idea of distance and learn the names of the local towns but a map can't take you to the next level.  A map doesn't know the difference between neighborhoods or the best commuter routes.  A map doesn't know where the shopping centers are or help you research schools for your children.  This is where a knowledgeable local Realtor® comes into play.

A recent call from a family getting ready for a move to Fort Belvoir put this in perspective.  The family had been looking at listings on line and felt they had narrowed down the areas they were interested in.  Their requirements were specific and the areas they selected made sense to a point.  When we started talking in more detail it became clear though that studying the the map and knowing the areas they were considering as the top places to live didn't match  reality.  In fact some of the neighborhoods they had eliminated from their list based on where they were on the map were the ones I would have suggested they consider first. 

After talking for awhile they began to understand that 45 miles on a Northern Virginia map didn't mean a 20 minute commute.  That more expensive didn't necessarily mean better value and I-95 wasn't the only way to commute to Fort Belvoir or to DC.   So they put the map away and decided they would trust the  advice of a "local" and though we will look at their top choices, we will also look at some of my suggested neighborhoods as well.

So when you pull out your map to make a decision about your upcoming move to Northern Virginia, pair it with the knowledge Realtor® and you may find that the two of us make a great combination.

 

©2008.  Cindy Jones  ""Maps are Great for Directions-Not for Home Buying Decisions"  All Rights Reserved

With over 21,000 jobs scheduled for a move to Fort Belvoir and another 2600 scheduled for Quantico all of the counties and areas close to the bases are preparing for change.  Even though the influx of personnel won't be complete until Fall 2011 signs of the influx are popping up.

You can already see some of the changes underway both inside and outside of Fort Belvoir and Quantico.  Road improvements in Fairfax County, the new Dewitt Hospital at Fort Belvoir and building renovations at both locations are just the tip of the iceberg.

For families moving to the area as part of BRAC getting to know the area and making decisions about where to live are going to be a #1 priority.  With so many choices putting together a solid wish list of neighborhoods, type and style of housing, school options and commuting are going to be top considerations.

If you are one of the personnel headed to either Fort Belvoir or Quantico and considering buying a home, then finding out about the available financing options will be the first order of business for you.  If you are eligible for the VA home loan program then you will be happy to know that with the lower prices in Northern Virginia in 2008 you will be able to find a good selection of homes that qualify for the regular VA loan limit of $417,000.  You can even use a VA loan to buy a foreclosure property!

The internet is a great place to start your search about the area but once you are ready to move to the next step give a native of the area a call.  I've moved around the globe myself and know what it is like to have to try and find the right place to call home.  Put my experience with relocation to work for you.

More information on Military Relocation to Northern Virginia

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To learn more about military relocation to Northern Virginia give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. If you are interested in Northern Virginia real estate including Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County or Stafford County. Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.