Single Military Mom commuting to Pentagon: Help!!!Where to live? (Arlington: apartment, rent)

[LLSheen]

I also agree with the W Springfield recommendation. Very safe community with a quick commute into the Pentagon. I slug every day and think it's as safe as riding the bus. SACC (the before/after care program) at the elementary schools is hit and miss. That's not to say the quality is inconsistent, I am just referring to the availability. In all honesty (and I don't know what rank you are or what your income is), I would rent a nice townhome in W. Springfield and send your son to St. B's or Nativity (catholic schools). It doesn't matter if you're Catholic. They are just very warm, inviting communities and their before/after care programs are highly regarded. Often, the cost for tuition and before/after care is the same as if you send your child to public school but have to pay for a private daycare for before/aftercare. Just a thought. Good luck!

[LLSheen]

Oh yes, I also wanted to add that there is no CDC at the Pentagon anymore. There is a beautiful new CDC at Fort Myer but they do not bus to the public schools and there is no school on Fort Myer. Arlington is an option but you will not get as much house for your money and, frankly, I think W. Springfield is an all-around safer option.

[jillabean]

Originally Posted by e7a7e

Hi! I'm in the same boat as you! Short notice assignment to the Pentagon, two kids and single... I've been looking on militarybyowner.com I'm trying to find something with a short commute as well. Also trying to find an elementary school that has a before and after program. I'm getting grayer and grayer by the minute

Well, if you look in West Springfield, I know West Springfield elementary has SACC (the before and after school program). But I am not sure about availability. You should call and ask (here is the website: SACC Programs*- Fairfax County, Virginia). My child is in it and I like the program (she does too... at least judging by the fact that she doesn't wants to stay and play when I pick her up, lol).

SACC will cover childcare on the 1/2 day Mondays as well as teacher work days. They also have a spring break, summer, and winter break program.

Good luck with the move!

[Smoke_Jaguar4]

Originally Posted by irvine

I would not say Central Arlington which often confuses people because it does't exist. There is North Arlington (north of rt. 50) and South Arlington (south of rt. 50).

Smoke Jaguar is referring to the many apartment options along the Metro Orange line in North Arlington. The further away from the stations you go, the lower the rents. Close to the Metro, studio apartments can be about $1,500 a month.

The area I was referring to is the stretch of Arlington between Colombia Pike to the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. There are a lot of unadvertised apartments that are affordable (Ft Myer Heights comes to mind: it's the area roughly between HWY 50, Washington Blvd, and Ft Myer Dr. Otherwise SFH's in this area are the most affordable in Arlington.

[LVMYDACH]

Originally Posted by Fern435

Definitely consider Springfield/West Springfield. There are several comfortable, safe and convenient neighborhoods around Rolling Road/Old Keene Mill Road with good schools and places in your price range. The advantage to this area is that there are several good bus routes along Old Keene Mill Road--one goes straight to the Pentagon, another goes to the Franconia-Springfield Metro/Blue Line, which goes to the Pentagon. If I remember correctly, the bus routes are H, R, and S. There are also plenty of people who slug to work along Huntsman Blvd. in the Orange Hunt neighborhood. My husband used to wait at the curb for the bus, and someone would come along and give him a ride to the Pentagon. That took some getting used to.

We used to rent a house in this area (also military/moved away last summer), and I think it would be a comfortable place for you. There are some pleasant townhomes and apartments near Cardinal Forest Elementary in West Springfield. Hope you find a place that works well for you!

I agree that West Springfield is a area you should definitely consider - it has a lot of military families that work at the Pentagon. Years ago I worked at the Pentagon and lived in the Orange Hunt Elementary School area off Huntsman Blvd in West Springfield. I had my daughter in before/after school care at a Children's World daycare center, which was located not far from the school. They took the kids via van to/from school daily. It worked out great! My daughter stayed at the daycare during the summer months - they offered a summer camp program. She did a lot of fun things including field trips, swimming and many other activities. This may be an option for you to consider rather than the SACC program whatever area you decide to move in. It may be more expensive but in my opinion worth the extra money knowing that you have solid dependable before/after school daycare and during the summer months. Good Luck!

[irvine]

Originally Posted by Smoke_Jaguar4

The area I was referring to is the stretch of Arlington between Colombia Pike to the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. There are a lot of unadvertised apartments that are affordable (Ft Myer Heights comes to mind: it's the area roughly between HWY 50, Washington Blvd, and Ft Myer Dr. Otherwise SFH's in this area are the most affordable in Arlington.

South of Rt 50 the SFHs are among the most affordable in Arlington. Once you cross route 50 into N Arlington, that's not the case at all. The Lyon Park and Ashton Heights neighborhoods south of Clarendon but north of Rt. 50 are among the priciest in the county.

Concerning apartments, you are right that there are a number of affordable apartments along Columbia Pike close to the Pentagon and in neighborhoods like Ft Myer Heights.

[kimmycat5]

Thank you all, you have given me so much to think about. My concerns are schools, safety, commute. Sounds like I need to live in an area with full day Kindergarten, before and after school program, summer programs too. I will look in West Springfield and check out the private schools, I didn't even think that I could break almost even since I have to pay for care anyway. Are neighborhoods in Old Town good? I'm coming from 8 years in the desert southwest, looking forward to green. I visit in April and move in June. @e7a7e goodluck, let me know how your search goes.

[cdrmike]

The downside to slugging/busing from Springfield as a single parent might be the inability to get back home if you needed to....no buses outbound from pentagon until 1545 and no slug line- for a mid afternoon run home. Suppose that you could call a cab bad pay the $$$.

[kimmycat5]

Is there a parking lot near the Pentagon? Is it normal to go to the Pentagon as the driver instead of the passenger?

[kimmycat5]

Originally Posted by slduvall

You will most definitly need B/A care. The School Age Child Care program (SACC) in Fairfax is nice, but there is usually a waiting list. So a daycare program with transport is the only other option.

Also another issue is choosing a school that has an all day KG. Daycare costs are a little cheaper that way. I know FFC was trying to make them all that way, but not sure if it has been completely implemented.

And another kicker - FFC elementary schools have early dismissal every single Monday. And the start times vary greatly around here. My daughters school starts at 9:12, off at 4:00.

And as you might have seen posted - the sticker shock of daycare is going to happen. I had mine at a base CDC - almost tripled the daycare costs, and we were paying the highest rate at the CDC.

Welcome to NOVA!

Whew...that gives me a lot to think about. Basically I need to fins the school first and house nearby in the zone that also offers a nice commute. Full day KG is a must