December 9, 2005
Just How Far Is Far?
Arlington has long been a county divided. For many years, Route 50 has been the dividing line between the tony suburbs of North Arlington and the more blue-collar suburbs of South Arlington. However, Kathryn over at Kathryn on… proposes a new dividing line -- one that differentiates “Nearlington” from “Farlington.”
Tired of cabbies that balk at the trek across the river and DC-dwelling friends who insist that all land across the river is some vast, untamed, suburban wasteland, Kathryn takes a stab at defining just how far is far out. Glebe Road, she posits, is a natural dividing line between near and far, as it spans the length of the county, from Potomac Yard to Chain Bridge. Glebe runs roughly parallel to the Potomac for much of its course, at a distance of about 5 miles from the city, or a little more than half the breadth of Arlington County. Within the boundary described by Glebe are the areas with the greatest density in the county, many with more urban-style and transit-oriented development than most of DC proper.
The danger in this division is not only the likelihood of it fanning the flames of the city versus suburbs debate that rages endlessly, but also the distinct possibility that it will alienate the people living on the “wrong” side of the line; there are many residents of "Farlington" who are still able to get to downtown D.C. or Capitol Hill in less than 10 minutes. In and of themselves, the terms "near" and "far" are not value judgments, but in a city that values proximity to power, there is an implicit caste system that divides the close-in suburbs from the far suburbs. Perhaps it is an inevitable byproduct of the region’s popularity -- as the metropolitan area continues to spread, more of the close-in suburbs will capitalize on their proximity to the city line, touting themselves as a part of the city across the river, and moving the perceived line between "near" and "far" even further.
So, readers, what is the difference between Nearlington and Farlington?
|
Why don't you ask Grover? I hear he's an expert on the differences between near and far.
Oh, wow.
Ben - I actually dedicated my post to Grover. Awesome.
That Pulitzer is sure to be just around the corner for this one.
The whole place is just Whitebreadington.
If cabs see this, then they'll start charging double to Falls Church. No bueno...
As a member of Nearlington I whole-heartedly support this concept. I also think we should build a wall.
I'd be for the District incorporating Nearlington. Then we could all make fun of Farlington.
As a resident of upper Columbia Heights/Petworth. Who FEELS like I've got everything around me that I need plus easy and quick access to everything else (like Rock Creek Park, downtown, Maryland, even Virginia on a good day), I constantly get told I live so far away. Which is just crazy to me. I don't see how Balston would be more near than Petworth. I guess it depends on what you want to get to. The Pentagon? The Smithsonian?
If Arlington is "Whitebreadington," then Washington is the District of Pumpernickel.
Arlington County Virginia:
60% White
19% Hispanic
9% Black
9% Asian
4% mixed race.
28% of Arlington residents are foreign-born.
Arlington? Why are people still pretending that Arlington matters as anything other than patches of land in-between the Pentagon, Pentagon City, Crystal City, DC, and the boondocks that are the rest of Northern Virginia. If you're having a hard time getting a cab to take you to Arlington, move out of the sticks and into the city.
I love James. James knows all. James James James. James is better than anyone. Yay James.
Everyone! Heed James assvice! Move to DC right now! DC is better. James is better. James, marry me. James represents this fair city so well.
James 2008.
(James is the reason I WILL NEVER MOVE TO DC.)
I for one welcome our new Districtians - the Nearlingtonians.
It's interesting that the urban/suburban debates inevitably come back to the ability to get back and forth via cab. Maybe if we got some damn meters in the DC cabs so cabbies aren't free to charge, literally, whatever they feel like for a trip across the river (one asked for $30, in advance, to go from Adams Morgan to Shirlington; plus I've heard stories of people being charged double the fare to go to the suburbs, which I'm pretty sure is a clear violation of Taxicab Commission rules, though surprisingly I can't find the passengers' rights on the DC Taxicab Commission website) and had more oversight over cabbies so they couldn't do as they feel without repercussions then we'd have a major ripple effect and the "I don't do NoVA" snobbery would come crashing down.
As a DC resident, I want Arlington back from virginia. Its the only solution. Uber alles and all that.
Farlington? Is that near Fairlington?
Give Arlington back to the district? How about giving the district back to Maryland. Then you'd have to change your license plates.
It makes me a little uneasy to see that my home turf of Ballston just barely makes it into Nearlington. Never the less, I will begin wall construction tomorrow morning.
I suspect I live very near to Kathryn (I, too, get in the cab with "66 to 50, exit for 10th Street), but I've never had anyone refuse me. And over the past few years, I say I've averaged cab rides home from K St or Logan Cir. about 3x a week. I've occasionally had attempted overcharges (my favorite one with my deducting a dollar from the actual fare every time he yelled (he was trying the intimidation route, for an extra $10), but that's fairly rare.
My own sense of near and far, developed after living in Arlington 8 or so years is pretty close to Kathryn's. Anything beyond Ballston is definitely burbs, even next to the Metro stations. I'd never considered anything along 395/Crystal City near, though, but that's probably because my DC stops at Independence, which I guess would make any points south of that far.
You all should check out the cab/rider rights inside the taxi next time you are there (and it's bright enough to read). There are some things on there that are pretty surprising, to me at least.
eg.
1. the cabbie has the right to demand payment at the beginning of the ride.
2. the cabbie has the right to pick up another passenger along the ride as long as the desination is withing a certain number of blocks from the original passenger's destination
there was more. I can't find the rights on the web anywhere either.
I knew about the cabbie having the right to demand payment, I was just surprised that it was just some number he pulled out of his ass. If I'd asked to go from 18th and Columbia to Farragut Square and he'd asked for $9.10, that would've been another story.
#2 rarely happens to me.
It really doesn't matter how "far" it is. Accross the river is across the river. Bridge and tunnel kids is bridge an tunnel kids, don't think we can't spot ya, cuz we can.
I love how some people are serious in their assumptions that they are somehow better than others simply because they live in the city. These are the folks who prove that even city residents can be useless asswipes as well.
cuz i am like 17 and cant spell, bcuz of my DC Public educashion GO BACK BRIDJ AND TUNEL KIDS we r just fine on r own.
Who can get from Glebe to Capitol Hill in 10 minutes? Even late at night, that seems like a stretch.
I'm thinking of moving off the Metro line and buying a car. What kind of commute am I talking about from, say, Ballston? From Shirlington or points south?
But, we're useless asswipes...who live in the CITY.
I am a the last outpost of city before the great ocean of suburbia to the west. Beyond me, there be dragons!
If you're in Ballston, you're metroing in, I'd think. The only chokepoint on a driving commute from there, though, is the Roosevelt Bridge.
A cab has once exercised his ride to pick somoene else up with me already in the cab. It was a family of tourists, standing outside of the Farragut West metro station after the last train (doh). I'd have generally not minded, but there were FIVE of them. Yes, that's right, for a total of six passengers in a Crown Vic. To top it off, he then attempt to rip them off, right in front of me, as he dropped them off at their hotel.
Shirlington is not that bad of a commute, depending on accidents of course. But no traffic/late at night? 5-10 minute trip over the 14th st bridge. I can usually make it from Shirlington to Dupont in 15/20 minutes. It's all about WHEN you drive, people, not where you drive. If you're looking into getting downtown in rush hour, use the bus/Metro system. It's not that hard of a concept.
Who can get from Glebe to Capitol Hill in 10 minutes?
I used to be able to get from Falls Church (next exit past Glebe) to Eastern Market in 15 minutes on light traffic days. During rush hour, my current commute (Falls Church to Georgetown) takes 25 minutes, whether by car or Metro. MB is correct in saying that the only chokepoint is at the bridge (Roosevelt, Key, Memorial, 14th Street -- they are all bad). It's cheaper to Metro, though.
oh please, enough with the hating on arlington. calling it whitebread only shows that you are johnny (or jenny) come latelys to the area and have only been to whitlows on wilson. many of the areas of "farlington" are a good bit more racially and economically diverse and integrated than many parts of the district.
oh please, enough with the hating on arlington. calling it whitebread only shows that you are johnny (or jenny) come latelys to the area and have only been to whitlows on wilson. many of the areas of "farlington" are a good bit more racially and economically diverse and integrated than many parts of the district.
This debate wouldn't even be a debate if people in Virginia just accepted the fact that they do, in fact, live in Virginia. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard people from Virginia say that they live in the "DC Area." I once asked a friend why he said this, and he said, "Because if I say I'm from Virginia, they'll think I'm from a Red State!" Guess what, buddy... you are! Get over it! People in Arlington County, both Near and Far, stand up proudly for your state!
This debate also wouldn't be a debate if the people who live in the District would just accept the fact that there aren't magical forcefields along the borders, and that the city is, in effect, part of three states. Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince George, etc., are all part of the DC region.
Besides which, telling somebody that you live in the DC area is, in fact, a lot more descriptive than saying "Virginia." Virginia is a large state. If I lived in Norfolk, I'd tell people I live in the Tidewater region, and not just say "Virginia."
Although I, personally, say "Northern Virginia," but I find that even this means, to people not from the area, pretty much anything north of Richmond.
If you live in arlington and some outsider asks you where you live, the first response is "DC AREA" so you can save time. No one knows where Arlington is. No one knows that Arlington Cemetary is there. No one knows that the Pentagon is there. No one knows that Iwo Jima is there. "DC AREA" is the only response you can give that doesn't end up with puzzled looks.
Thats becuase all of NOVA and MD burbs exist ONLY BECAUSE DC exists. You are a product of the growth of the real and original thing: DC.
Ginger stepchildren if you ask me....
At least the bridge and tunnel kids have enough self confidence to get over their suburban upbringing guilt. We all know that once these suburban grown city dwellers knock up their lady, or turn 35, they will race down 66 to Loudon searching for RYAN HOME signs. Ohh by the way, the multicultural, open minded urban utopia you seek has moved. They were forced to the burbs once their apartments became condos and their homes became renovation opportunities. Like the old saying goes, you can take the kid out the suburb, but you can’t take the suburb out of the kid.
Thats becuase all of NOVA and MD burbs exist ONLY BECAUSE DC exists. You are a product of the growth of the real and original thing: DC.
Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax (city), Bethesda and others all predate the founding of Washington, D.C. Georgetown does, too, it was a small settlement in the pre-capital days. But saying that the Virginia and Maryland suburbs are only here because of D.C. demonstrates a complete lack of any history knowledge.
In fact, D.C. is only here because Washington's home at Mount Vernon was just a few miles down the river.
Please. The difference is obvious. There is no Wal-mart in Nearlington. Nuf said.
There's a Wal-Mart in Farlington?
(Congrats, Kathryn, we're adopting it! Good, uh, luck with the cabs, though.)
Why, thank you, everyone.
So Fairlington will be in Farlington....Just confussing.
There is no difference. They both Suckington.
But, we're useless asswipes...who live in the CITY.
Man, you DC people are delusional. Here's a cold splash of reality: there is no city in America so disadvantaged, relative to its suburbs. Your suburbs have more people, more money, more jobs, lower taxes, less crime, better schools, and longer histories. You don't even have your own airport. In other metro areas, you can argue that city living provides easy access to mass transit and jobs. But there are more Metro stops outside of the District than inside. And where is Metro expanding? Across Fairfax County--already the largest jurisdiction in the area. Your population is declining. And don't feed me that BS about gentrification exchanging families for single professionals. Arlington attracts the same young-professional demographic, and its population is increasing. You’re losing population faster than you can replace it, and that’s not a winning game, for a city, however idle and wealthy the new residents.
You need to quit with this hysterical guilt-trip you keep trying to impose on your suburban neighbors. They aren't responsible for your problems. They aren’t racist or irrational. They are, in fact, significantly more rational than you, and if you are unfriendly, they will happily build their cities around you. And shrill declamations won't make them want to come into the District. It'll just make them unsympathetic. (Let's not forget, after all, that they elect your Congressional masters.)
Understand that they have profited for decades from the miserable state of your city. Things have been better, lately--at least you're solvent--but you have a long way to go before you can fully compete with your suburbs for residents and businesses. DC will always be the seat of the Federal government, yes, but don’t be naïve about the Federal government. There have been countless times in your city’s history when the government was perfectly happy to let the District rot into the river. You need to lure money away from those cheap, convenient markets across the river.
I would love to see DC rise up and kick the shit out of its suburbs. Honestly. But at least be realistic about your bargaining position. Smug posturing just makes you look insecure.
Interestingly, Arlington County themselves linked to this DCist posting, in today's edition of the Arlington Insider, a weekly e-newsletter emailed to Arlington residents.
I'm a resident of "Nearlington", so I don't mind at all, but I wonder how Farlingtonians will feel about their own county government linking to a conversation thread that urges the construction of a wall at their border? Heh :)
Actually, effrontery, National is in D.C. This seems counter-intuitive, since it's on the Virginia side of the river, but when Arlington and Alexandria were ceded back to Virginia, D.C. kept all of the river.
When, later, National Airport was built, they "created" the land it's on. Thus, it's within D.C.'s borders.
J,
You're wrong. Read the Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Airport
Jay, as a Farlingtonian who moved here almost 15 years ago from DC, I find this an interesting debate and came to it from the Arlington Insider. I'm still a Nearlington as far as access to DC and its amenities are concerned, especially compared to friends who have fled to Leesburg (ugh) and beyond. Love living in Arlington and raising my kids here. Long live Arlington!
Nope,
Wikipedia? Please.
I might be wrong, but Wikipedia isn't the source to demonstrate that. If I so desired, I could go over there and change it *right now*.
J,
Is this good enough for you:
http://www.metwashairports.com/National/history.htm
For the record, I don't think not having an airport within a city's municipal boundaries should be considered a knock against any city. If a city is old enough, it probably didn't get around to building an airport until they ran out of room within its boundaries for such a thing.