Opinions Welcomed and Needed (See Inside)

[FindingZen]

The Parker-Gray public housing section in Old Town is relatively small and in many parts is interspersed with some of the most expensive housing in the city. Whatever the comfort level is with that, it doesn't seem to have depressed or discouraged the premium housing there. Would I walk through Parker-Gray at 3am drunkenly jamming out to my Ipod with loose change hanging out my pockets? Perhaps not. But you might be one of many commuters walking to and from the Braddock Road Metro.

You should definitely be able to find at least a 2BR/2BA condo in Old Town Alexandria for under $500K. A townhome may be tough unless its a fixer-upper.

If you like convenient, familiar midscale retail, Kingstowne is your place. You will probably find THs in your range as well. Many of the roads are a little too wide for the community to be considered walkable... although I see plenty of people jogging on the sidewalks. The Manchester Lakes community might be one of your better bets.

I can't comment much on Dupont/ Logan Circle or Clarendon/Courthouse... except that finding a nicer condo under $500K may be as difficult as in Old Town if not even more so.

[AnalyzeThis]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Whatever the comfort level is with that, it doesn't seem to have depressed or discouraged the premium housing there. Would I walk through Parker-Gray at 3am drunkenly jamming out to my Ipod with loose change hanging out my pockets?

Ok that mental image made me laugh! I guess I need to decide *IF* I were to move to Kingstowne, if that would affect the kind of lifestyle I have now. I have lived in the 'suburbs' before and I was unhappy. Primarily because the distance to travel to anything particularly during the week where rush hour ended at 7, made me not want to do anything. Right now because it's not really a hassle for me to go anywhere, I can go to work, come home (within 25 minutes), change, walk my dogs, go to my boxing class, come back shower/change and go to dinner with friends and not skip a beat. Somehow I think if I move further out, I'd end up more like a hermit. BUT, I can't deny there is something to be said for having a little more space and the convenience of a small yard for my dogs and not having to worry about walking them in the rain (like today), or fitting in time to walk them when I'm running late etc.

You've given me much to think about!

[DCguy03]

I don't own a dog (yet) but I do live in the Courthouse/Clarendon neighborhood and there are lots of dog owners here. There is a fenced-in dog park that I walk by all the time -- it is right at 1299 N. Herndon Street, which is 2 blocks from the Clarendon Metro station.

The Arlington town website has a list/map of all the "Community Canine Areas" (yikes, what a name) here that should help you out: Community Canine Areas : Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources : Arlington, Virginia

[robbobobbo]

If you like where you are now, I would not recommend Kingstowne unless you are specifically looking for more open space and a less urban feel.

Patrick and Henry Streets, and the couple of blocks immediately around them, tend to be shabbier than other parts of Old Town because, face it, who with lots of money wants to live right on Route 1 with all the traffic?

The large public housing areas of Old Town are diminishing, and there's a lot more development going on above Washington Street in the past few years. Places that used to be a concentration of lower income are becoming more mixed.

The northern edge of Old Town (Bashford Lane area) is full of older townhouses. You could even ride a bike to the Pentagon (about 4 miles).

Outside of Old Town but still Alexandria, Del Ray and Rosemont have duplexes and townhouses under $500,000. Right now there is a 3BR townhouse in 22301 for $474,000.