It doesn't take an urban planner or city designer to be able to tell the difference between a Northern Virginia neighborhood built in the 1950's and 60's with a neighborhood built in the last 10 years.  In many areas closer to DC, infill communities have been built with a very different lifestyle in mind.

The new neighborhoods don't have large backyards that used to keep families in the rear of their house and spending hours mowing on the weekends.  In there place are front porches where neighbors interact with each other and smaller gardens that can be tended easily in just a few minutes. 

Neighborhood kids spend their time interacting with other kids at central tot lots instead of swinging alone in their backyards.  And lets face it walking the dog is better for both you and your dog!  This style of living isn't for everyone and the older neighborhoods if well maintained, will always attract families who want more green around them.

All anyone in Northern Virginia has to do is look at the changes in Shirlington Village over the last five years to see an example of a successful new urbanism project.  An area that had become a run down shopping center is now a thriving community center with not only new housing but a state of the art library, Signature Theater, restaurants and grocery shopping all within walking distance of home. 

Not all of the new urbanism neighborhoods in Northern Virginia have reached their goal of centralized play, shop and work spaces.  With the decline in the current real estate market some of them are half done and the houses are in but not the needed shopping and work spaces.  Many of them are already approved and it is a matter of a better market to make them a reality.  Some neighborhoods making their way towards completion include the Lorton Prison revitalization project and Belmont Bay in Woodbridge.  Yet other projects, such as in Tyson's Corner continue to wait for transportation funding to straighten out the mess that the sprawl of the 1960's and 70's brought to the area. 

No matter what type of neighborhood you prefer you will find it in Northern Virginia.  The choice is yours but the future is leading developers to build more compact neighborhoods with centralized community spaces.  With energy costs continuing to rise, more families are moving to these communities to enjoy the view from the front porch.

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If you are buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County or Prince William County give Cindy Jones  a call at 703-346-2213.  Stop by VaRealEstateTalk, Cindy Jones Homes or Military Relocation News for more information. Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.