Safest town near Alexandria???? (Richmond, Annandale: middle-class, real estate, apartment complexes)

[odie4572]

Hello...I'm planning a move from Massachusetts and I was wondering if anyone could point me toward a specific location. I'm single, 36, professional (therapist)...I like what I've read re Alexandria. I'm planning a visit next month, and I'm wondering if there is another area I should check out.

Also wondering if people like Alexandria, or it is better towards the coast??

thank you for the help,
TC

[01va571]

Almost all of Alexandria is safe. The only parts of the city that I would consider a little bit risky, would be the area around route1 in and round Wythe street, or North Alfred St., there are some projects around that area with some punk kids who live in them. Even then, you still would most likely NEVER become a victim of crime in the area, I mean really the crime rate has been dropping ever since 1997 in Alexandria, and even then it wasnt that bad to begin with. Also some area's around Landmark arnen the best parts of town, but like I said Alexandria is safe.

[ConcreteShoeMan]

I'm 39, single, a professional and have lived in Alexandria for about six months. Love it. I live near Fairlington with easy access to Old Town and the Metro.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by 01va571

Almost all of Alexandria is safe. The only parts of the city that I would consider a little bit risky, would be the area around route1 in and round Wythe street, or North Alfred St., there are some projects around that area with some punk kids who live in them. Even then, you still would most likely NEVER become a victim of crime in the area, I mean really the crime rate has been dropping ever since 1997 in Alexandria, and even then it wasnt that bad to begin with. Also some area's around Landmark arnen the best parts of town, but like I said Alexandria is safe.

I'd also not want to live in Arlandria (near Mt. Vernon Ave. between the Glebes), but I agree that the rest of Alexandria is safe.

[CaseyMac]

Check out the funky Del Ray neighborhood. It has cool shops and restaurants and is close to the legendary and loved Old Town section and then DC is just up the road.

[Tone509]

As others have said, Alexandria is a generally safe smaller city whose questionable areas are easily avoided. As for towns outside Alexandria, there should be no safety concerns with the slight exception of the Route 1 corridor of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County which is south of the City of Alexandria itself. (A bit confusing, I know. ) Some people also give less-than-glowing reviews about the section of the town of Annandale just west of Alexandria because of the high density of apartment complexes catering to a diverse, working-to-middle-class population. Fairfax County as a whole is safe. However, if you'll be working in Alexandria, your main concerns about where to live should probably be your job location and your budget as traffic and the high cost of living are often the determining factors of figuring out where to settle down in Northern Virginia.

Oh and if by "the coast", you mean the Potomac River, then you'll be pleased to know that Alexandria features a considerable riverfront that is very popular.

[01va571]

Originally Posted by Tone509

As others have said, Alexandria is a generally safe smaller city whose questionable areas are easily avoided. As for towns outside Alexandria, there should be no safety concerns with the slight exception of the Route 1 corridor of the Alexandria section of Fairfax County which is south of the City of Alexandria itself. (A bit confusing, I know. ) Some people also give less-than-glowing reviews about the section of the town of Annandale just west of Alexandria because of the high density of apartment complexes catering to a diverse, working-to-middle-class population. Fairfax County as a whole is safe. However, if you'll be working in Alexandria, your main concerns about where to live should probably be your job location and your budget as traffic and the high cost of living are often the determining factors of figuring out where to settle down in Northern Virginia.

Oh and if by "the coast", you mean the Potomac River, then you'll be pleased to know that Alexandria features a considerable riverfront that is very popular.

I hear people talk about the RT1 Fairfax section (Richmond Highway) being bad all the time, I drove around there like last month past HyblaValley and everything; I couldn’t find anything bad about it. I mean....I remember the sevenwoods drive area had a reputation years ago, but the other side of Rt1 (Grey Parker area?) that runs through all the projects are worse IMHO...It looks more like parts of DC over that ways.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by 01va571

I hear people talk about the RT1 Fairfax section (Richmond Highway) being bad all the time, I drove around there like last month past HyblaValley and everything; I couldn’t find anything bad about it. I mean....I remember the sevenwoods drive area had a reputation years ago, but the other side of Rt1 (Grey Parker area?) that runs through all the projects are worse IMHO...It looks more like parts of DC over that ways.

I lived in the Rt 1 corridor area of Fairfax County for about three years. It certainly doesn't look "bad" unless one finds strip malls of midscale shopping and restaurants scattered amongst various apartment complexes to be unappealing. However, I used to notice in the crime report section of a neighborhood paper I got at the time that there was more mention of the district that included Route 1 than any others. That said, with the imminent arrival of new Fort Belvoir commuters "thanks" to BRAC, I predict that the area will continue to gentrify. That will probably not only displace the "riff-raff" but unfortunately hard-working, respectable members of the lower economic end as well.

As far as the Parker-Gray area in Alexandria City goes, I've seen much more unappealing complexes. It's ironic that much of it abuts some of the most expensive real estate in the city. But again, one can avoid or pass through the area with little problem.

[01va571]

Originally Posted by Tone509

I lived in the Rt 1 corridor area of Fairfax County for about three years. It certainly doesn't look "bad" unless one finds strip malls of midscale shopping and restaurants scattered amongst various apartment complexes to be unappealing. However, I used to notice in the crime report section of a neighborhood paper I got at the time that there was more mention of the district that included Route 1 than any others. That said, with the imminent arrival of new Fort Belvoir commuters "thanks" to BRAC, I predict that the area will continue to gentrify. That will probably not only displace the "riff-raff" but unfortunately hard-working, respectable members of the lower economic end as well.

As far as the Parker-Grey area in Alexandria City goes, I've seen much more unappealing complexes. It's ironic that much of it abuts some of the most expensive real estate in the city. But again, one can avoid or pass through the area with little problem.

Well for Alexandria that was the area I picked as the worst. There is no such thing as a real ghetto or hood ANYWHERE in Northern Virginia.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by 01va571

Well for Alexandria that was the area I picked as the worst. There is no such thing as a real ghetto or hood ANYWHERE in Northern Virginia.

I agree with you!