Combined, the homes and shopping centers in these subdivisions form the heart of unincorporated Ashburn VA.
Where is Ashburn Village/Farm?
- West on the Dulles Toll Road/267, past Reston, Herndon and Route 28 to Ashburn Village Pkwy- North.
- A route commonly taken by residents is west on Toll Road, north on Rt. 28, west on Waxpool to Ashburn Village and further west to Ashburn Farm.
- Many also enter Ashburn Village via westbound Route 7, turning left/south at Ashburn Village Pkwy.
- NW of Dulles Airport.
Ashburn Village
With 5071 residential units, the community also includes numerous amenities including 3 recreation centers, tot lots, tennis courts, miles of jogging and bike trails, ball and soccer fields, and over 500 acres of open outdoor space with six lakes and ponds that are stocked annually for fishing.
The Village's signature white tennis bubble takes center stage along Ashburn Village Pkwy.
Ashburn Farm
The majority of the land on which Ashburn Farm is located was originally the Gray Dairy Farm. A windmill was salvaged and restored from the Gray Estate and now stands with the large “Ohio Buckeye” tree.
The Ashburn Farm Partnership was created under Virginia law and began development in 1986.
Construction started after the concept plan was approved by Loudoun County in 1986. Cavalier Land Development Corp., developers of Ashburn Farm, planned the community to blend with the natural rolling terrain, resulting in winding boulevards and lots of trees. Ashburn Farm is north of the Dulles Greenway and bordered by Belmont Ridge Rd to the west, Ashburn Rd to the east, and the W&OD Trail to the north.
Ashburn Farm is more hilly than Ashburn Village. Both communities blend into each other fairly seamlessly.
Developed in the late 1980s housing boom, Ashburn Village boomed in the late 1990s tech boom when AOL and then Worldcom selected the area for their headquarters. The area is nearly built out residentially as new housing focus has gone more upscale on all sides.
Neighbors
Large neighboring communities-- also large planned unit developments include:
- North: Ashbrook, University Center, Belmont, Lansdowne.
- South: Broadlands, Brambleton.
Ashburn Farm is hemmed in by Goose Creek on the west, parallel to Belmont Ridge Road. A new community is under construction here; Goose Creek Village.
Transportation
Almost all employed Ashburn Village residents travel east for jobs in Reston/Herndon or Tysons Corner. Fewer to Fairfax Center.
I've never been in a traffic jam inside Ashburn Village or Farm. Ashburn's traffic problems are on the periphery. Especially the intersection of Waxpool and Rt. 28 at Pacific as this route avoids tolls on the Dulles Greenway and nearly all residents commute east for their jobs.
Traffic patterns show a minority travel into DC/Arlington-Crystal City/Alexandria business districts.
This compares with the Golden Triangle area of Bristow-Gainesville-Haymarket where the majority of commuters travel straight to DC and Crystal City job areas along I-66 and the Manassas VRE commuter rail line.
Loudoun Transit is a commuter coach traveling weekdays to the Pentagon and DC.
Since the high gas prices of last summer, the free park and ride lot at Dulles North fills up, initiating a free shuttle to the lot from Ashburn Farm.
Dulles North will be Loudoun's first above ground metro station when the much ballyhooed Metro Silver line is constructed, currently scheduled in the mid 2010s.
The Airport stop itself will be underground at the terminal. A third and final stop will serve residents at Ashburn Village/Ryan Rd and the Dulles Greenway (Toll Rd.).
Phase I is under construction from the Orange Line in Falls Church through Tysons to Wiele Ave. in Reston.
Loudoun County also offers a smaller bus line serving north Ashburn Village: the 7 to 7 on 7 bus.
Housing Types
Typical late 20th century suburban detached and attached (townhouses) predominate. Ashburn Village has more vinyl sided and townhouse units than Ashburn Farm. Red brick facades are also found, especially with later constructed, infill units that aren't a part of these HOAs.
Numerous garden style condos and apartment buildings cluster with townhouses near 4 grocery anchored shopping centers.
Parks/Recreation
Walking paths are used to get to the very popular region wide W & OD trail which slices east/west through Ashburn Village.
A small roller hockey rink is available at Trailside Park at Claibourne/W & OD trail.
Ashburn ICE is the largest indoor ice rink in the Dulles area off Waxpool Rd. It hosts mostly youth hockey leagues.
La Crosse, football and soccer are also popular team sports. Joggers/runners frequently are seen running after work.
A newer library is often packed with international students studying into the night after school.
Schools
Education is priority #1 and community activity often surrounds school academic and athletic events. The school district has high levels of funding and parent participation.
School buildings themselves are mostly new and are equipped with modern wiring and equipment in the tech savvy Dulles area.
Controversies
Suburban Loudoun frequently engages in community controversies.
Although nothing like the recent neighboring Broadlands dust up regarding a proposed hospital which was defeated, a planned homeless shelter recently generated heat.
Larger future fights seem centered on school redistricting with the neighboring Belmont taking the lead regarding rezoning for popular Stone Bridge High School.
This issue is similar to a western Fairfax County scenario when rezoning did not take place for Westfields HS and student population now exceeds 3000 at the still popular and high achieving school.
Negatives?
The dig against Ashburn is about Ashburn Village itself:
- Its boring.
- Its treeless.
- Its cookie cutter.
2. The area was recast from cattle grazing fields-not from virgin forest thus, not many trees were available when construction began. However, many natural tree save areas, though small, are within walking distance.
Most areas have planted trees which range from saplings to 20 years growth. Townhouse areas, especially those with garages, have fewer shade trees.
3. Some rows of homes and townhouses may look cookie cutter but overall, as a PUD, there is a mix of both housing styles and variation of tree save/grassy areas and walking paths. Building siting is well mixed.
As a location, many DC area residents, if they've heard of Ashburn at all, look with envy and would consider a move if:
- It were closer to DC jobs avoiding longer commutes.
- Had lower housing costs.
Ashburn Village and Farm are slated to get sandwiched with large approved business districts along Rt. 7 to the north during the 2010s and Moorefield Station/Metrorail station area, complete in the 2020s.
On the east, construction continues for light industrial and low rise office parks along Rt. 28 as land in Fairfax County is built out.
The Anti-DC
Some residents revel in that Ashburn is the "anti-DC". Newcomers on the Toll Road are confronted with an automated electronic toll taker upon exiting the expressway. Insert your credit card or push a button to talk with a remote human.
Some visitors mention it makes Ashburn feel clubby.
MRIS reports:
- 61 Active For Sales.
- 11 detached sold/60 days, Average $480,697 in 119 days, $7938 average seller subsidy, 94.72% closed to list price.
- 29 townhouses sold/past 60 days, average $273,489 in 86 days, 96.52%- closed to list price.
- 17 total homes rented/past 60 days, average $1754/mo. in 45 days.
20147: 262 in various stages of foreclosure according to RealtyTrac.
Going Up?
Land values will intensify as will residential building densities on the north and south with new commercial constructions. The built out status of Ashburn Village and Farm combined with demand for additional housing units as jobs are created will generate upward pressure on home prices.
The recent high profile corporate relocation of VW of America to Herndon saw "most of its employees locate in Ashburn area". This was explained by the high quality of life in Ashburn.
Ashburn is closely following the development patterns and successes of Reston VA.
Continued appeal of both Ashburn Village and Ashburn Farm generate more of the same in a self fullfilling cycle.
As the community ages, new development and proximity to a large international airport put Ashburn VA on the short list of desirable American communities for decades to come.
"What's a win for you?"
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