DelRay (townhouse, neighborhoods, shopping center)

[blu_monk]

2 words

Dairy Godmother

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by seiketsu

I'm moving again....does anyone have a street by street breakdown of Del Ray? Specifically, how is the area around Commonwealth Crossing and Caylor Apts (Cliff St. and Commonwealth) compared to other parts of the neighborhood?

I don't know with absolutely certainly but I believe that location is fine. It's certainly several blocks below the Arlandria area that has been discussed earlier in the thread.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by blu_monk

2 words

Dairy Godmother

For those who don't know, Dairy Godmother is a Del Ray institution known for its custard and other often frozen treats. So I take it that the is a compliment!

[Alicia Bradley]

Del Ray is cute, but it's *very* small. It's comparable to maybe one square block of a progressive (in a cultural sense, I mean, not necessarily a political one) college town.

[Flamingo13]

I know I could look it up but haven't - whereabouts is the 500 block of Monroe? The email from Alex. today on the the two shootings was a little alarming.

[robbobobbo]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I know I could look it up but haven't - whereabouts is the 500 block of Monroe? The email from Alex. today on the the two shootings was a little alarming.

That's around the Giant, CVS, and YMCA. I was there today, didn't know about the shooting until I read your post. I just checked the city web site and they didn't have much more info.

EDIT: just found details: it was at the Gold Crust Bakery at Monroe and Leslie. Maybe (I'm just guessing) it was a robbery.

Alexandria Times | One Dead in Double Shooting

More: http://www.nelsonavegang.com/

[Flamingo13]

My mistake, I thought two dead - I see one was transported.

Alexandria Police are investigating a double shooting that occurred at
501 East Monroe Avenue
. On Friday, December 18, at approximately 7:30 P.M., officers responded for a report of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they found two victims. One victim was transported to a local hospital. The second victim was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Section of the Alexandria Police Department at 703.838.4444 or the Crime Solvers tip line at 703.838.4858. Detectives would like to remind witnesses that they can remain anonymous.

[seiketsu]

If you had to choose among Del Ray, a townhouse in either Parkfairfax or Fairlington (near Bradlee shopping center), or a Shirlington highrise apartment, which would you choose? Shopping, community feel, walkability, transit ease (both by car and bus/metro).

Walkscore, Crimereports, and Google Street View are permanent open windows on my computer, but nothing compares to personal testimony.

[weezycom]

For me, it would be a toss-up between Parkfairfax and Del Ray, depending on the particular home & location, and if I was renting or buying. Owning a Del Ray house in the more southern part of Del Ray would be a bit preferable from an equity-building standpoint. The northern end of Del Ray -- I'd probably pick Parkfairfax in that scenario.

[weezycom]

Oh, and Parkfairfax is pretty stable in terms of protecting equity, and many of the various clusters in there have a good, strong community vibe to them. However, it comes with the rules & regs & fees of an HOA that has so much ground to cover that an individual owner doesn't have a strong say in what goes on. But that's part of what keeps the community desirable as well.