Work in Alexandria, where to live? (Mount Vernon: apartment complexes, rent, safe neighborhood)

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by gomason

There's an apartment complex off of Duke Street called Foxchase Apartments which would be about $1300 including utilities and is pet friendly

I was thinking of Foxchase too but wasn't aware whether it was pet-friendly. Thanks for adding the info!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by gomason

There's an apartment complex off of Duke Street called Foxchase Apartments which would be about $1300 including utilities and is pet friendly

Pump the brakes. Foxchase does not include utilities at all. One of my friends left that complex for that very reason.

[sanial]

Thanks!
someone mentioned to me Newport Village apartments
Any insight on them?

[ChuteTheMall]

Foxchase and the west end area has a nice fenced doggie park on Duke St next to the Beatley Library, and a great bike trail there along Holmes Run. Plenty of busses at Landmark Mall and shuttles to Van Dorn Metro.

[Alexicon]

There's a place in Old Town called Gunston Hall Apartments, located on South Washington Street. It's known for being pet-friendly. It's the only place in the area that allows large dogs, so maybe they'd allow two small dogs. Note: this place is not glamourous or state-of-the-art at all, but one person's definition of "outdated" is another person's definition of "charming". Many times I pass by and see neighbors (with their pets) in the courtyard chatting with each other...which is kind of a rarity here.

A couple blocks south is West River Station, a garden apartment complex which allows two dogs. This is a nice smaller community with cute apartments that are very fairly priced. However, you might not be able to extend your lease after it expires, as I have heard that the buildings will be replaced by a new development in the next couple of years. (That might be the reason for the lower rents.)

Across the street is Hunting Point on the Potomac (two large towers), which also allows dogs now, but the rents are increasing as the buildings are being renovated.

All of these locations would be about a 15-minute ride by bicycle to Eisenhower.

[sanial]

Thank you all for suggestions!

I've found one apartment complex that looks promising: The Gardens at Del Ray at 4 E Cliff Street
Alexandria, VA 22301. It is dog-friendly and about 1 mile from Braddock Rd Metro. Can someone tell me if that area is generally safe, especially if I plan to walk to and from metro?

Thanks!

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by sanial

Thank you all for suggestions!

I've found one apartment complex that looks promising: The Gardens at Del Ray at 4 E Cliff Street
Alexandria, VA 22301. It is dog-friendly and about 1 mile from Braddock Rd Metro. Can someone tell me if that area is generally safe, especially if I plan to walk to and from metro?

Thanks!

This is not based on firsthand experience doing that walk, but based on what I do know from driving around Alexandria, I think you will generally be safe walking from the Metro to that complex--especially as a guy. Del Ray is the hipstery area sandwiched between Little Latin America (Mt. Vernon Ave and S. Glebe) and the area of North Old Town with the old housing projects (Route 1 and Wythe).

Obviously, most places get less safe the further toward the wee hours of the morning. And you'd be asking to get mugged if you walk around looking at your cell phone.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by sanial

Thank you all for suggestions!

I've found one apartment complex that looks promising: The Gardens at Del Ray at 4 E Cliff Street
Alexandria, VA 22301. It is dog-friendly and about 1 mile from Braddock Rd Metro. Can someone tell me if that area is generally safe, especially if I plan to walk to and from metro?

Thanks!

Looking at a map, that area is fine. You're actually close to the Rosemont neighborhood which is solid and quiet. It will be a healthy walk to the Braddock Road Metro but you will see the numerous buses along Mount Vernon Avenue that you can take in inclement weather.

[robbobobbo]

Originally Posted by sanial

Thank you all for suggestions!

I've found one apartment complex that looks promising: The Gardens at Del Ray at 4 E Cliff Street
Alexandria, VA 22301. It is dog-friendly and about 1 mile from Braddock Rd Metro. Can someone tell me if that area is generally safe, especially if I plan to walk to and from metro?

Thanks!

Nice safe area near Commonwealth Ave. Close to the library, close to Del Ray's main business/entertainment area (Mt Vernon Ave), and there is a restaurant and a few small businesses at Monroe and Commonwealth. If you had any trepidation about walking along the side streets to the Metro, you could take Commonwealth to Monroe to Mt Vernon to Braddock, which are all well-traveled, well-lit main roads - but I don't think you should have any such trepidation. The general area has been my neighborhood for over 10 years. I know nothing about the apartment complex, though.

I've always thought Cliff St was an oddity in the way it doesn't connect to Mt Vernon or Russell Rd but rather has a dogleg to Bellefonte. It's unlike nearly every other street in the Del Ray grid layout in that regard. Totally beside the point and immaterial, of course!

[sanial]

Thank you all for comments.
I am also looking at some apartments near Potomac Yard Shopping Center (Station at Potomac, Reserve, Glebe House)

Any comments about this area or any of these apartments?
Thanks!