Stoneybrooke/S. Kings Hwy? (Richmond, Alexandria: middle-class, apartment complexes, HOA)

[New York10]

Hi,

Can someone tell me about this area in Alexandria? I am considering moving to Vantage Dr. near S. Kings Hwy (I believe the neighborhood is called Stoneybrooke).

Is this considered a "safe" area? The area looked nice, but I know the Huntington metro is not far away and that is not considered safe.

Thanks

[dkf747]

It's been 9 years since I lived off S Kings Hwy (Kings Gardens Apartments). My memory of that area, which is near the park, is that it was not to bad. However, that whole area does not really have a good reputation as far as crime goes. THat part isn't really in Alexandria. It's in Fairfax county, but the post office calls it Alexandria. I liked living in the area, despite it's reputation.

[vanyali]

Hey, that's the neighborhood where my husband grew up! On Rolling Stone Way.

I think the neighborhood has gone downhill, and the schools aren't any good anymore (if they ever were). I don't know if you care about that. It ain't the Ritz, but how good do you need it to be? In the five years or so since my in-laws sold their house, it's caught fire twice. Makes you wonder what the tenants are doing in there.

There are still some normal middle-class old timers around, but when I just asked my mother in law what she thought of her old neighborhood nowadays, I got a "I'm glad I'm not there anymore", an "it's a dump" and a "it's very mixed". So there you go.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by New York10

Hi,

Can someone tell me about this area in Alexandria? I am considering moving to Vantage Dr. near S. Kings Hwy (I believe the neighborhood is called Stoneybrooke).

Is this considered a "safe" area? The area looked nice, but I know the Huntington metro is not far away and that is not considered safe.

Thanks

It's fine. I have friends near there and it's safe. Decent, if old, middle-class neighborhood.

I'm not sure where you got that Huntington Metro is not safe. Maybe that was the case 15 years ago, but it's mostly young professionals in the apartments there now. I suppose it's not the nicest looking area, because of the construction, but it certainly isn't the ghetto. It's one of the few affordable safe places left in NoVA. Further south on Route 1 you have to be concerned about being in a bad neighborhood, but the area around the Metro is OK.

[Tone509]

I visit friends in Stoneybrooke all the time. It's an HOA community with solid, diverse middle-class homes. If I had the option, I would feel perfectly comfortable in terms of safety with buying a home in that community.

The Route 1/Richmond Highway corridor is often held as an example of a bad area to live on this forum. As a relatively new resident of the area, I've begged to differ on at least a few occasions. The short version is that while it's not Wisteria Lane, it's improving and there are neighborhoods, particularly east of Route 1 towards the river, that have always been attractive. Regarding the Huntington Metro, there are new townhouse and condo developments within walking distance, not to mention long-established condo and apartment communities nearby. I feel that some of the impressions of the Huntington Metro area may not be based on what has happened in the last few years.

[New York10]

Hmm, thanks for all the feedback - though I guess I am still confused as I see mixed reviews. Does it help if I narrow the area to a particular street? Not sure if anyone is familiar with Vantage Dr., but that was the street I was looking at.

I do not have children, so schools are not as important, though I guess it may speak to the area and also affect resale, if there is no improvement. Thanks again and I welcome any other comments you might have.

Safety is a concern for me. I have lived in the Landmark area now for over a year and while there are certainly worse neighborhoods in DC, it is certainly not an area I would want to buy property in...lots of shady activity. While I probably cannot afford the Ritz, I would still like to feel safe at night.

[Tone509]

I haven't personally been down Vantage Drive but I looked on a map online and it's definitely part of the Stoneybrooke development. Approaching from Route 1, you'll find that stretch of South Kings Highway to be increasingly aesthetically pleasing in terms of the houses and landscaping. Not a mile past Vantage Drive is South Van Dorn Street which leads into Kingstowne, which you may already known is a well-regarded upper-middle class section of town.

I reassert my opinion that you should feel comfortable living in Stoneybrooke.

Originally Posted by New York10

Hmm, thanks for all the feedback - though I guess I am still confused as I see mixed reviews. Does it help if I narrow the area to a particular street? Not sure if anyone is familiar with Vantage Dr., but that was the street I was looking at.

I do not have children, so schools are not as important, though I guess it may speak to the area and also affect resale, if there is no improvement. Thanks again and I welcome any other comments you might have.

Safety is a concern for me. I have lived in the Landmark area now for over a year and while there are certainly worse neighborhoods in DC, it is certainly not an area I would want to buy property in...lots of shady activity. While I probably cannot afford the Ritz, I would still like to feel safe at night.

[New York10]

Thanks, Tone. That is very helpful!

[pcity]

Originally Posted by Tone509

The Route 1/Richmond Highway corridor is often held as an example of a bad area to live on this forum. As a relatively new resident of the area, I've begged to differ on at least a few occasions. The short version is that while it's not Wisteria Lane, it's improving and there are neighborhoods, particularly east of Route 1 towards the river, that have always been attractive. Regarding the Huntington Metro, there are new townhouse and condo developments within walking distance, not to mention long-established condo and apartment communities nearby. I feel that some of the impressions of the Huntington Metro area may not be based on what has happened in the last few years.

I agree with this statement. When I say there are some bad neighborhoods along Route 1 to the south of Huntington, I'm talking about immediately next to Route 1. The areas east, like Belle View, are great, and the areas west, like Huntley Meadows, are fine too. It's the low-rise apartment complexes that are right on or adjacent to Route 1 that strike me as trashy. It's really a block-by-block thing, since there are some brand new complexes along Route 1 that are most likely better, but it seems like there are quite a few neighborhoods on Route 1 that I wouldn't want to live in and would not recommend.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by pcity

I agree with this statement. When I say there are some bad neighborhoods along Route 1 to the south of Huntington, I'm talking about immediately next to Route 1. The areas east, like Belle View, are great, and the areas west, like Huntley Meadows, are fine too. It's the low-rise apartment complexes that are right on or adjacent to Route 1 that strike me as trashy. It's really a block-by-block thing, since there are some brand new complexes along Route 1 that are most likely better, but it seems like there are quite a few neighborhoods on Route 1 that I wouldn't want to live in and would not recommend.

Even a Route 1 booster like myself would agree that most of the apartment complexes along that stretch are lacking in quality if not also other things. But the quality of the retail, at least, is vastly improved. To wit, Famous Dave's just opened last week and the parking lot is packed... most likely with patrons from Belle View, Huntley Meadows and even Stoneybrooke.