Asher Apartments/Alexandria by Braddock Metro (Jefferson, Fairfax: condos, townhomes, school)

[Leerinsmom]

Hi All,

My family moved to Fairfax close to 4 years ago. We are now searching for a new rental- at least 2 bed/2bath in walking distance to either the blue or orange line and less than $2,500 a month. That has been pretty hard to find especially the closer you head toward DC. Earlier this morning I did an Internet search for the Alexandria area and found the Asher Apartments that is in walking distance to the Braddock metro. Home Page Is anybody familar with these apartments or this area? I don't normally hang out in Alexandria but when I do, it is always Old Town. Any insight would be helpful- or if you have other apartments ideas that would be great too. I would prefer not to live in a high rise.

Thanks

[FindingZen]

The Asher apartments are brand-new; actually, I wasn't even aware they were yet finished. They are in an area of North Old Town that is rapidly gentrifying with new apartments, condos and townhomes that have replaced a good deal of the former low-rise public housing. Some of said residents still live in the area but are unlikely to interact with you negatively unless perhaps you're stumbling home drunk off the Metro at 2am. There are other well-established apartments and condos within even shorter walking distance to Braddock Road which may or may not fit your definition of a low-rise apartment building. There are also low-rise condos and apartments on or near West/East Abingdon Drive and Bashford Lane that may be worth investigating; it would require a short ride on the DASH bus to Braddock but you would have some company on the ride.

[kevbros]

The area used to be a combination of warehouses and housing projects. It still has something of an industrial feel to it, but that is changing as the redevelopment continues. You can't get much closer to Metro, the west side of the apartments is just one block from Metro, past the projects, but that block is pretty heavily traveled and not too scary. These apartments are zoned for Maury elementary, which is a good, but they are right on the boundary with Jefferson-Houston, a school that is struggling. I am not aware of any plans to change the boundaries, but being zoned for Maury on that block is a little unusual and lucky.

Because this area is changing so fast it's hard to know what it will ultimately feel like as far as community goes. As more retail goes in with the new mixed use buildings, the area will definitely have more to do. The immediate area does not have a lot of shops and restaurants yet, but it probably will in the future. King Street is just 5-6 blocks away, though, so only a 5-10 minute walk to a lot of activity.

Just to be clear these apartments are not definitely not in "North Old Town." North Old Town, as least as residents and civic associations refer to it, is east of Washington St and north of Princess St.
NOTICe Alexandria - What is North Old Town?

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by kevbros

Just to be clear these apartments are not definitely not in "North Old Town." North Old Town, as least as residents and civic associations refer to it, is east of Washington St and north of Princess St.
NOTICe Alexandria - What is North Old Town?

Point taken...although it's neither Potomac Yard to the north or Del Ray to the west. It could be considered "Parker-Gray" though some may see some a negative association with the public housing.