Thoughts on Carmel Vienna Metro apartments? (Hampton, Alexandria: to rent, condo, broker)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Seamonkey- Thanks so much for your posting! I am so impressed by how kind and thoughtful people are on thsi forum! First, congratulations to you and your family for your new arrival! I am so sorry that you had the experience of the added pressure of hoping that your child didnt disturb your neighbors. I am so glad that you were able to use the appropriate resources to address the issue until you were able to move. Are the TH in this complex privately owned?
I know that KmKat recommended HomesDataBase, and I found some TH in Mosby's Terrace. Does anyone have feedback on that development? I found a 3 bedroom for 1600 which is even better than what I pay now in downtown Norfolk.
I am so glad that you also mentioned the shade issue, and the fire drills. While I know that safety is important, I would find this annoying. These posts make me much more determined to find a place more suitable for us! Thank you for your very helpful feedback!
Thank you for your suggestion Nancy. I am going to look into TH. We originally looked in Arlington, and I guess I had just accepted that in our price range we would be in an apt. In Vienna, the prices are a bit more reasonable and we might be able to afford renting a TH. Do you think I'd meet other families living in a TH? Probably more than I would if I were in an apt. with a crying baby. . ..
I want to thank every single one of you who took the time out of their day to reply and help me! I am in awe of your kindness. I would like to let you know that I am so impressed by your thoughtful replies that I went on the HI forum and attempted to pay your kindness forward by answering some questions on there for people. I want to thank each and everyone of you for being so generous!! You touched my heart!!
Thank you for your suggestion Nancy. I am going to look into TH. We originally looked in Arlington, and I guess I had just accepted that in our price range we would be in an apt. In Vienna, the prices are a bit more reasonable and we might be able to afford renting a TH. Do you think I'd meet other families living in a TH? Probably more than I would if I were in an apt. with a crying baby. . ..
Some of the town houses have pools or tot parks so yes you would meet people there.
Vienna itself is a very family friendly town...there are a number of parks, as well as the community center that has lots of activites
If you want to know more about a specific area send me a PM
Seamonkey- Thanks so much for your posting! I am so impressed by how kind and thoughtful people are on thsi forum! First, congratulations to you and your family for your new arrival! I am so sorry that you had the experience of the added pressure of hoping that your child didnt disturb your neighbors. I am so glad that you were able to use the appropriate resources to address the issue until you were able to move. Are the TH in this complex privately owned?
I know that KmKat recommended HomesDataBase, and I found some TH in Mosby's Terrace. Does anyone have feedback on that development? I found a 3 bedroom for 1600 which is even better than what I pay now in downtown Norfolk.
I am so glad that you also mentioned the shade issue, and the fire drills. While I know that safety is important, I would find this annoying. These posts make me much more determined to find a place more suitable for us! Thank you for your very helpful feedback!
I'm not sure which development Mosby's Terrace is, but I'm guessing it's behind the Metro somewhere. If you give me a street address, I will swing by and take some pictures for you. Overall, I think it's an okay area.
Mosbys Terrace is on 123 right past Madsion HS , it would be a healthy walk to the Metro.
I have been in some of the townhomes there, as with many places some have been well maintained others no so much.
I believe it has a pool in the complex, as well as a tot park, depending on where the unit is located there may be some green areas.
Parking is around the outer perimeter of the complex, not sure its assigned but again depending on where the unit is located it could be a little walk .
With a baby I would look for a townhouse with either a garage, or driveway...and also make sure you have a washer and dryer
I currently live in Carmel Vienna Metro and love it, but I'm single with no kids. Having said that, there are plenty of little kids around in the complex. There's a nice little park right behind us--not a playground, but a park with a hiking trail--and there are grocery stores, Starbucks, etc. really nearby.
But with a kid--there are two drawbacks. 1) I don't know of any playgrounds nearby, and there's limited outdoor space; and 2) the parking situation. Parking is fine in general but with a kid you'd have to go up and down in the elevator, and (this is the thing I don't like about this place) about half the time one of the main elevators are out because people are moving out or moving in. Really inconvenient, but that's only a problem if you live near that elevator.
But the apartments are gorgeous, and the building is quiet for the most part. Like I said, I really do love it. You may just want to come by and take a look; Nenette in the front office is really nice.
Some ideas for you...look around Ellenwood, Braxton Woods, etc. There were a number of them in homesdatabase but all already applied for. They go quick it seems. You can walk very easily to safeway and starbucks and Metro is 20 minute walk. Lots and lots of kids and families. Also really nice, Dunn Loring village near Dunn Loring metro. They are building town center nearby and overall those townhouses seem more well taken care of.
I do know mosby's terrace. They are more condos--one unit has 2 level unit and there are bottom units (I looked at them to buy 10 years ago). Kinda 70s style if you know what I mean but that is nice area.
Hello-
I just saw your post and thought I would reply since I also have a baby and just moved out of the Vienna Metro Apartments. I would recommend renting a townhouse or even a detached house over an apartment at this complex. It is safe and clean, and has a nice fitness center, but I found it difficult to live there with a small child.
First, the walls and floors are really thin and we received several noise complaints from our neighbors for noise related to our child. This really added to our family's stress level as babies do cry at times despite all our best efforts to sooth them. We found ourselves tip-toeing around the apartment and hoping our son did not make any noise. The apartment manager was totally unhelpful and said that it was our responsibility not to disturb others and we actually contacted a housing attorney and cited Fair Housing Laws to get him to back off.
While this may be an isolated incident, there are other features that make it difficult to live there with small children. Carrying a child from the parking garage to an apartment upstairs was challenging and very tiring, especially with packages or groceries. Depending upon what unit you live in, the walk from the elevator can be very long. I wished we had rented a townhouse for that reason.
The area is walkable to the metro and a shopping plaza, but it is bounded by very busy main roads. And, as one poster mentioned, hardly any green space or shade to walk with a baby. The tot lots are in adjacent complexes and they are very small and I never saw children playing on them.
There are also fire drills that occur at the most inconvenient times and are loud and upsetting to small children. I don't think you would have this issue in a town home.
Finally, there are also costs in addition to the rent- extra monthly fees for parking if you have more than one car, you have to pay for a key fob to use the elevators and open the garage doors, and the water bills at the apartment are VERY high. They divide the total cost of water usage for the whole complex among tenants. We bought a 5 bedroom house in Vienna and our water bill is always less than it was for the apartment.
That being said, we love Vienna and it has been a friendly and convenient place to raise a child.
I hope this information helps you make your decision.
ditto..for Regents park which is right across the road of Carmel. I can hear my neighbor's (North/South/East/West) toilet flushes, foot steps, every day morning radio etc etc
I am pretty sure they can hear ours too..But thats what you should expect if you want to move to an apt complex that is old.
Consider other people's suggestions about renting a TH across Nutley street and metro..there are town homes right on the I-66 exit (both East and West), opposite to Marshall road elementary also you will see town homes.
If you have kids, please do yourself a favor, don't move to these apt unless you think this is that last place on this earth..My kids complain every day about not being able to run around or feel free to talk loudly etc.
TH should be better or if you can afford SFH will be wonderful
Good luck
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Having said that, there are plenty of little kids around in the complex. There's a nice little park right behind us--not a playground, but a park with a hiking trail--and there are grocery stores, Starbucks, etc. really nearby. 
