What's the Story with South Arlington? (Alexandria, Reston: apartment complexes, crime, credit)

[Tiger Beer]

By zip codes, I believe it is 22204...or is that just part of it?

RestonRunner also mentioned a Columbia Pike Corridor that is being developed with a streetcar?

From what I have gathered so far, this is the reasonably priced area of Arlington comparitively, although mostly because of its distance from the popular subway stations.

What else defines this region....what's the rest of the story with this area?

[Fern435]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

What else defines this region....what's the rest of the story with this area?

<crickets chirping>


I might venture an answer, but it would not be one that most posters want to admit or confront here.

[Tiger Beer]

From what I've gathered so far...looking at demographics. South Arlington (zip code 22204) has the highest percentage of foreign-born in the DC area at 40.5% of the population.

When I looked up who made up the foreign-born, I found that 23% El Salvodorean, 13% Bolivian, 6% Ethiopian, 5% Vietnamese, 4% Guatamalan, 4% Mexican and 4% Peruvian.

So, outside of the Ethiopian and Vietnamese...it sounds like it an overwhelmingly LATINO magnet for the region. (This is just that one particular zip code though, fairly unsure what else constitutes South Arlington).

Nontheless, I'll add that here. Otherwise, looks like a lot of detached housing...for the most part? Or am I missing things here....?

[slduvall]

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in your various posts regarding demographics is (I admit I havne't read them all) that I doubt these demographics take into consideration the illegal population. I would add some serious % points to some of those numbers. If this has been mentioned...'cuse me, it's early.

[cdmurphy]

I used to live in 22204 - just south of Columbia Pike, east of Bailey's Crossroads (South Frederick Street). My apartment was in a small garden-style complex - Columbia Grove. The side streets are mostly single-family homes, but there are apartment complexes all along Columbia Pike. There are also lots of little strip shopping centers with fast food, banks, laundromats, auto parts, drugstores, etc. The eastern end of Columbia Pike is more gentrified. There's no Metro nearby, so it's a heavy bus corridor. There are some good neighborhood ethnic restaurants.

As you have noted, the area has a lot of immigrants, illegal and legal. It is not an affluent area. There are always people out and about. My street had a lot of theft from vehicles, but otherwise it was fine. I was 25 when I moved there, a single white female, and never felt unsafe.

[claremarie]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

From what I have gathered so far, this is the reasonably priced area of Arlington comparitively, although mostly because of its distance from the popular subway stations.

Well, not exactly. The housing stock is very different from much of North Arlington. Lots of aging garden apartments, high-rises, duplexes, and tiny single-family homes on postage-stamp lots. There are some enclaves of the suburban-style SFH neighborhoods that are common in North Arlington, but they are surrounded by a sea of strip shopping centers and higher-density housing. There are many more immigrants and non-family households, and because of the demographics, the schools have lower test scores than those in North Arlington.
It's not all about distance to the Metro.

[normie]

It's a nice enough area that attracts a wide variety of people. Like everywhere else, it has chain stores as well as lots of ethnic restaurants. Homes and apartments seem to be smaller, so (in general) less families with children, and more 20 somethings than some other areas--but if you decide to move there your kids will still find plenty of other children to play with, AFAIK.

The only negative comment I've heard about the area is that neighbors tend to keep to themselves. A SAHM might find it hard to find a lot of friends there. I think it's due to the density. When you have a lot of neighbors right in your face you tend to create a private little bubble. That's what I've heard, anyway, but to be fair I don't live there and haven't really spent much time there so this is second hand info.

[normie]

Originally Posted by claremarie

It's not all about distance to the Metro.

I agree. Many people don't care one way or the other about the metro. If it's not something you use, you don't really care if it's nearby or not.

[stpickrell]

There is crime of the "don't leave your laptop in an unlocked car" variety, but east of say Glebe (and especially Courthouse) it's similar to Shirlington (gentrified, but not near a Metro). Unless, of course, someone plans on running with MS-13.

It is immigrant-rich enough west of Glebe to make squeamish folks squeamish.

The 16 series of busses runs along Columbia Pike about every 5 minutes in rush hour, 15 minutes in non-rush (or is it 10?) In any case, it is the best bus line in the WMATA fleet. I'd rate it way above Shirlington in terms of character and access to transportation.

Schoolwise, some of the elementaries are worth a try, although Gunston and Kenmore MS can't even get full accreditation (putting them in an "elite" 2% of public schools in VA). Jefferson is not much fun, either, I have heard.

If you're up for doing the Alexandria thing of "public until 6th grade, then private," it might work out for you.

[brooklynborndad]

We have heard its easier to get into HB Woodlawn, Arlington's "Progressive" alternative school, from S arlington than it is from North Arlington.

There are some nice pockets in S arlington, with some interesting people.