Parkwood Court Apartments (Alexandria) or Woods of Fairfax (Lorton) (Arlington: apartment complex, lease)

[SophieDaphne]

Hi all,
We continue to look for apartments once our lease is up in April.

We really like Woods of Fairfax in Lorton & have submitted an application on a 2-bedroom (monthly rent is $1401) for 1000 square feet.
The Woods of Fairfax Apartments for rent in Lorton Virgina

I've also come across Parkwood Court in Alexandria, which has 2-bedrooms for $1389 (950 square feet).
Parkwood Court Apartments | Apartments in Alexandria, VA

Does anyone have any suggestions/tips about the areas/complexes?

I work at INOVA Fairfax, boyfriend works at the INOVA Healthplex in Franconia.

No kids.

Thank you!
Sophie

[TheWatchmen]

Nothing really helpful to say here. I live fairly close to Parkwood Courts (in a SFH), and have driven by them, and didn't note anything out of the ordinary. I would check them out for yourself, but man, from my experience, apartment complexes should collectively win some sort of award for making apartments look 1000x better than they actually do, on their websites.

There are a lot of apartment complexes all up and down that 236 corridor that are (in my opinion) aging, dumpy, and overcrowded, but gosh darnit if they don't make them look pretty on their websites.

My *guess* is that Parkwood would be friendlier to both you and your SO for a rush hour commute. In my mind and experience, everything off of 95 is a frigging nightmare.

[SophieDaphne]

Thank you!
Generally, fortunately, we avoid rush hour by working ridiculous hours I'll be leaving home at 6:00pm, and he leaves around 6:00am (and as it is is missing most of the traffic). I think we'll take a look at Parkwood.

Is it in a decent neighborhood in Alexandria?

Thanks!

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by SophieDaphne

Thank you!
Generally, fortunately, we avoid rush hour by working ridiculous hours I'll be leaving home at 6:00pm, and he leaves around 6:00am (and as it is is missing most of the traffic). I think we'll take a look at Parkwood.

Is it in a decent neighborhood in Alexandria?

Thanks!

Looking at a map, I'd say that Parkwood Court Apartments is indeed in a "decent" area: not dangerous but not exciting, either. It's perfectly placed for people who like the convenience of nearby freeway, bus and train options.

I don't know enough about that stretch of Lorton to offer an educated guess on the area around the Woods of Fairfax. I'll say that for both apartment complexes, the asking price for rent is in the low end of middle for a close-in area.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by SophieDaphne

Thank you!
Generally, fortunately, we avoid rush hour by working ridiculous hours I'll be leaving home at 6:00pm, and he leaves around 6:00am (and as it is is missing most of the traffic). I think we'll take a look at Parkwood.

Is it in a decent neighborhood in Alexandria?

Thanks!

It's a good area. Just be very wary of why the apartments are so cheap. The cheaper apartments in Alexandria especially off of Duke Street in the Landmark area have a reputation for being mice or roach infested, hence the cheaper prices (Not all of them though!). Make sure you check the apartment building reviews online (Apartmentratings.com and Yelp).

I think I've canvassed in that apartment complex in Lorton. It's a pretty good neighborhood with a lot of immigrant families. Schools might not be great if you have kids.

[TheWatchmen]

Agreed, it is a fine area of Alexandria - quieter and more suburban sprawl-y and less to do than Old Town, but still a fine place to live. That complex is a hair short of 2 miles from the nearest metro station (Van Dorn), so not exactly a quick walk, but it is easily accessible. It has decent dining and shopping all around it. You're a quick ride in to Old Town, Arlington and DC, and taking uber/taxi into Arlington or DC isn't completely outrageous, either.

There are plans to tear down Landmark Mall right behind that complex and make something much nicer of it. I'm not sure when that is going to start happening.

I love Ben Brenman Park and Shooter McGee's (restaurant), which are both very close to that complex.

[SophieDaphne]

Thank you guys!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by SophieDaphne

Hi all,
We continue to look for apartments once our lease is up in April.

We really like Woods of Fairfax in Lorton & have submitted an application on a 2-bedroom (monthly rent is $1401) for 1000 square feet.
The Woods of Fairfax Apartments for rent in Lorton Virgina

I've also come across Parkwood Court in Alexandria, which has 2-bedrooms for $1389 (950 square feet).
Parkwood Court Apartments | Apartments in Alexandria, VA

Does anyone have any suggestions/tips about the areas/complexes?

I work at INOVA Fairfax, boyfriend works at the INOVA Healthplex in Franconia.

No kids.

Thank you!
Sophie

I lived in the Landmark area for a few years. I'd say that area is okay (car-break ins are the biggest problem but completely preventable) but I would personally not do that complex if I had other options because on the next street over (N Paxton) there is a fire station which will inevitably have noise pollution all hours of the night. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to noise pollution after a bad experience with it in Louisville.

There are plans to tear down Landmark Mall right behind that complex and make something much nicer of it. I'm not sure when that is going to start happening.

This has been in the works for at least a good 10 years and probably will take 10 more years for a shovel ready plan at this rate.

I have a friend who lived in the Woods of Lorton. Nice units but personally I think your commute is a lot harder there than the Alexandria complex would be.