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Old 05-31-2011, 01:27 AM
 
12 posts, read 17,775 times
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Hi out there, our family will be moving Nova in a couple of months and looking at townhomes or houses around the NVCC Alexandria campus. We saw some listings around Bailey's Crossing and Columbia Pike. Hoping to find something within a 2-3 mi radius from the school. Can anyone describe what this area is like, demographics? Rental prices etc??? Hoping not to spend more than $2600. And any insight on this particular college? Thought about Annandale campus don't know if it's worth driving further out. Thanks!
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Old 05-31-2011, 10:03 AM
 
Location: Northern Virginia
4,489 posts, read 10,898,650 times
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The area around NVCC Alexandria varies drastically within that 2-3 mile radius. The area immediately surrounding the campus (within a few blocks) is filled with some really nice, modern, (expensive) townhomes and condos.

To the east, you'll start running into 1950's ranchers and tract homes in the Seminary Hill neighborhood. To the west, things turn eclectic quickly--a mix of older housing, tear down/rebuilds, high rise condos/apartments and businesses. Bailey's isn't known as the safest area in the metro region, but you can look up crime reports if you want to see what type of stuff goes on--I believe it's mostly car vandalism and such.

The area around the Annandale campus is much more uniform. Lots of larger SFHs on all sides of the campus. I don't think you'll find as many rentals in the area, but you may get lucky.

The rental prices are going to vary immensely depending on the size/age/location of the property you select. I like HotPads - Map Search for Real Estate, Apartments and Houses for Rent, Foreclosures and Homes for Sale for a visual mapping of rental properties in the area (it puts all the craigslist rentals on a map). $2600 should be doable.

Where are you going to be working? Or are you just moving up here so you can go to school? I ask because the commute is a bear--so if there's a job to get to, it might help narrow down where to live. Another option is to split the difference and find a house to rent inside the beltway Annandale or in N. Springfield. Then your commute to either campus should be ~10-15 minutes.
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Old 06-01-2011, 02:47 PM
 
Location: Washington, DC & New York
10,915 posts, read 31,243,414 times
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In that general area, I would look to Fairlington or Parkfairfax if you don't mind an older unit, since both are very nice, quiet communities off main roads. You have easy access to the campus, but are not surrounded by heavy traffic once inside each community, both of which are condos, yet have townhouse floor plans.

Bailey's Crossroads and Columbia Pike are mixed areas, so it really depends upon the area as to the amenities, and quality of life in a given complex. Some are located on busy stretches of Route 7 and Columbia Pike with numerous shopping options.

With respect to which campus you would select, that depends upon specialty. Some campuses have certain programs, within the NVCC system. There's a medical campus in Springfield, nursing was usually centered in Fairfax, Alexandria has the main photography program, etc. As to quality of education, it's a good institution, since I know people who regularly take classes at NOVA for continuing education requirements as they do not need additional credits for an advanced degree that they already hold. The other thing to remember with NVCC is that you have a "home" campus, but are free to commute to Annandale, Loudoun, etc. for whatever class you require. So, you may find that living between Alexandria and Annandale might offer the most flexibility with respect to offerings at each campus, and availability of the classes for the semester in which you want to take them.
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Old 06-01-2011, 04:04 PM
 
1,304 posts, read 2,409,847 times
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Some areas between Columbia Pike and Route 50 are not the greatest so be careful. South of Columbia Pike is probably better.

Are you looking at high rises, or just TH, SFH? Shirlington Village is about 2 miles away and has lots of walkable bars, restaurants, entertainment, etc.
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Old 06-01-2011, 08:01 PM
 
Location: Novastan
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There are some nice townhomes near West Braddock and North Hampton Drive. There are lots of families and professionals in that part. I am not sure about rentals, my friends owned places around there.
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