Advice Please: Move to Alexandria (Arlington, Huntington: apartment complexes, rentals, condo)

[longm3]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are considering move from MD to Alexandria or surrounding areas. We'd like to ask for some suggestions on apartment searching.

I work near Dupont Circle, Metro to work. My wife works in Alexandria near King st. metro.

We are both young professionals, will be renting apartments for the next 2 years at least. We have 1 car.

We prefer somewhere she can walk/bike/short drive to work and I have easy access to Metro. Our monthly rent budget is ~$2100-2400 for a 1 bedroom with Den/Loft or 2 bedroom apartment.

King st. - Eisenhower Metro
Meridian and other luxury apartments around this area spears to be quite expensive if you look at the per sq ft price. They have a lot of FEEs as well.
Carlyle Mill seems to be quite decent in terms of price, but I guess it is an fairly old complex?

Braddock Metro
Pros: Walking/biking distance for wife's commute. Apartments are newly built (1111 Belle Pre, Asher etc.)
Cons: We walked around the neighborhood, seems kind of sketchy?

Van Dorn Metro
The Reserve at Eisenhower: The price seems to be quite reasonable but I see the surrounding area is kind of an industrial area.

Huntington Metro
The Courts at Huntington Station is the only apartment within walking distance to metro?

Above are what I found so far. I don't have a clue about the bus systems in VA. If she can drive me to Metro station in the morning, then in the afternoon I can take a short bus ride to home from Metro, it's OK as well.

Potomac Yard seems to have quite a few new apartment complexes (I personally prefer newly built apartments). However it seems that there is no easy bus access to Metro?

Thanks a lot!

[mcknigs]

I don't know much about apartments in those areas, but do you consider none of those places near Potomac Yards to be adequately close to Crystal City Metro?

[PK12]

Originally Posted by mcknigs

I don't know much about apartments in those areas, but do you consider none of those places near Potomac Yards to be adequately close to Crystal City Metro?

If you are talking about walking to Crystal City metro from Potomac Yard, it is kind of a long walk

[PK12]

OP,

If rental cost is a big concern, I would recommend The Reserve at Eisenhower as the best option for you. Blue Line > Red Line transfer (for getting to Dupont) will be much easier than transferring from the Yellow Lines.

The area might be somewhat industrial but I would not say it is sketchy or unsafe by any means (around Braddock Rd could be a little bit, but Ive heard it is fast improving. ).

[pcity]

Originally Posted by PK12

If you are talking about walking to Crystal City metro from Potomac Yard, it is kind of a long walk

OP did say they were OK with a short bus ride, so Potomac Yard could work.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by PK12

If rental cost is a big concern, I would recommend The Reserve at Eisenhower as the best option for you. Blue Line > Red Line transfer (for getting to Dupont) will be much easier than transferring from the Yellow Lines.

If OP works to the south of DuPont, it might even make sense to get off at Farragut West and walk.

[highpoint1]

Originally Posted by pcity

If OP works to the south of DuPont, it might even make sense to get off at Farragut West and walk.

Yes, that's what I do, too.

OP, while I understand your preference for newer apartments, have you considered looking for private apartment/condo rentals in Old Town itself? For one thing, there are some truly extraordinary and unique properties there that could be a wonderful opportunity. For another, if you're too far from the Metro to walk, there is plenty of bus service on DASH (Alexandria's bus system--I'd argue that it's better than Metrobus).

[Carlingtonian]

I used to work at Farragut West. I think your best option is to move to Lee Highway in N. Arlington and take the 3Y bus to work, which goes directly through Rosslyn and down Constitution, and eventually to McPherson Square. Safe and reliable--far more than the Orange Line, in my experience. You will save money by not being near a train station--about 1 mile north of Ballston--but there are many great shops right there on Lee. Google Lee Heights Shops--the apartments all around there are on the 3Y.

[highpoint1]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I used to work at Farragut West. I think your best option is to move to Lee Highway in N. Arlington and take the 3Y bus to work, which goes directly through Rosslyn and down Constitution, and eventually to McPherson Square. Safe and reliable--far more than the Orange Line, in my experience. You will save money by not being near a train station--about 1 mile north of Ballston--but there are many great shops right there on Lee. Google Lee Heights Shops--the apartments all around there are on the 3Y.

Would that work well for the OP's spouse?

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by highpoint1

Would that work well for the OP's spouse?

There is no location that would be ideal for both of them via mass transit. But she could easily drive to King Street from that location. Or take an ART bus to Ballston and take the Orange Line to Rosslyn and transfer to Blue.