Why is Richmond Highway considered one of the worst areas to live? (Mount Vernon: houses, neighborhoods)

[zilvanessa]

This area: 22306, Alexandria average and median listing prices - Trulia.com

[Fundman]

While Route 1 is a mess, the area east of Route 1 towards the Potomac is very nice. I'm sure the nice areas of Mount Vernon are being counted in any real estate averages.

[zilvanessa]

Sorry for all the questions but is Windbreak Drive considered part of Route 1? There is a small complex of townhouses behind Mt Vernon Square...that's the area I was looking for.

[roninsedge]

Originally Posted by zilvanessa

I've heard about schools but is because they have some ESL programs? It looks like the further you go (towards Fort Belvoir) the worst it gets?

I'm asking because I've heard people that says "It is a good area" and other ones saying "Don't even think about living there". I was looking a TH in the Mount Vernon Square area...thoughts????

That is part of the West Potomac HS school pyramid. Crime is not too bad in Mt. Vernon Square's townhouses, traffic is a bear but you have plenty of bus routes to get you to Huntington Metro and you have a shopping center with a Safeway on the edge of the community.

[Fundman]

You enter that development by exiting off Route 1 and driving past the apartment complex. I would definitely consider that part of the Route 1 area.

[Darkseid]

The thing about the Route 1/Richmond Hwy area is that it is kinda isolated. Not a lot to do down there, and it takes a good minute to travel up Route 1 just to get up to I-95/495, then another good while (depending on traffic) just to get to 395. Much less going to a destination like Tysons, Arlington, or DC

[pcity]

Originally Posted by Darkseid

The thing about the Route 1/Richmond Hwy area is that it is kinda isolated. Not a lot to do down there, and it takes a good minute to travel up Route 1 just to get up to I-95/495, then another good while (depending on traffic) just to get to 395. Much less going to a destination like Tysons, Arlington, or DC

It's not that bad getting to Arlington or DC because you can take the GW Parkway. The only tough part of that route is going through Old Town. You probably wouldn't take 395 to DC or Arlington from that area.

[zilvanessa]

I'm not worried about traffic...I work early in the morning. My question was focused on the neighborhoods that are right off route 1.

[roninsedge]

Originally Posted by zilvanessa

I'm not worried about traffic...I work early in the morning. My question was focused on the neighborhoods that are right off route 1.

The neighborhood you mentioned is not that bad at all. My mother lives near there currently and I spent a lot of timing cutting through Mt. Vernon Square to visit my friends while growing up. I have had numerous friends live there over the years as well. If you have any specific questions, I should be able to help.

[FindingZen]

zilvanessa,

As I said in an earlier thread you started about the Mt. Vernon Square townhomes, the THs themselves are fine; it is the apartment complex you pass on the way that can be an issue at times. That said, it is arguably the nicest of the garden apartment complexes on or near Route 1.

$400K is actually low for a house in this area, especially so close to DC. It's not hard to spend double that or more as you head east towards the George Washington Parkway. As others have said, it is indeed the relatively affordable apartments that attract service industry workers, enlisted military working down at Fort Belvoir and, unfortunately, those with idle time on their hands. Some homes immediately to the west of Route 1 have similar issues with idle renters.