Venturing into Va... (Richmond, Alexandria, Burke: apartment, condo, crime rate)

[lisat]

Hello, all! We are planning to buy a house with an apartment for my grandmother. Had hoped to stay in the District or go to Mount Rainier, but we're not finding what we need for what we can afford (first time buyers). I had presumed Va to be too expensive, and please no one take offense or "go there," too conservative for us, but poking around online has shown me some properties that meet our criteria, so we're broadening our horizons, let's say.

Other factors are, the man works in Newington and drives; I work downtown and use public transportation (currently a 30 minute walk, which I will most definitely miss). We were hoping to keep it to one car, but realize heading to the 'burbs may make this impossible. We do not have human kids and never will, so schools are only an issue for us on the resale.

So, what can you tell me about the neighborhoods in Springfield right around the mixing bowl?
Columbia Pines and Bucknell Heights areas of Annandale?
And Alexandria, near Ft. Belvoir and Richmond Highway?
Would it be possible to get by in these areas with one car?
Which is better for getting to and from McPherson Square during peak?
Is it all family-oriented, or are there DINKs around?
And what place might an older southern lady who isn't used to the city be most comfortable?

Any and all input is most welcome!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by lisat

Hello, all! We are planning to buy a house with an apartment for my grandmother. Had hoped to stay in the District or go to Mount Rainier, but we're not finding what we need for what we can afford (first time buyers). I had presumed Va to be too expensive, and please no one take offense or "go there," too conservative for us, but poking around online has shown me some properties that meet our criteria, so we're broadening our horizons, let's say.

Other factors are, the man works in Newington and drives; I work downtown and use public transportation (currently a 30 minute walk, which I will most definitely miss). We were hoping to keep it to one car, but realize heading to the 'burbs may make this impossible. We do not have human kids and never will, so schools are only an issue for us on the resale.

So, what can you tell me about the neighborhoods in Springfield right around the mixing bowl?
Columbia Pines and Bucknell Heights areas of Annandale?
And Alexandria, near Ft. Belvoir and Richmond Highway?
Would it be possible to get by in these areas with one car?
Which is better for getting to and from McPherson Square during peak?
Is it all family-oriented, or are there DINKs around?
And what place might an older southern lady who isn't used to the city be most comfortable?

Any and all input is most welcome!

I can speak for the Springfield and Alexandria neighborhoods.

Springfield- Avoid anything close to the Springfield Mall and this would include the Mixing Bowl neighborhoods. This is probably the only area of Northern Virginia which has an actual issue with homicides.

Alexandria- for Richmond highway i recommend staying south of Belvoir b/c north of Belvoir is not a pretty picture. This is not a place i would put an elderly lady. I work in that area and to say the least it's crazy crime-wise and everything else.

Some places i would look for inexpensive housing are Huntington (slightly better than the afforementioned Richmond Hwy area), Lorton, Ft Hunt Rd (far enough away from the craziness of Richmond Hwy), and the 22310 and 22315 zip codes of Alexandria.

Since you mentioned Mt. Rainier you may want to look at New Carrollton and possibly Cheverly. If i was gonna do PG and wanted an inexpensive area that didnt have a extremely high violent crime rate New Carrollton and Cheverly arent bad places to look. Both do have higher crime rates than most of NoVA but that aint really saying much.

[lisat]

Hmm...I was afraid the mixing bowl area wouldn't be good. South of Belvoir and Lorton are really getting too far away. New Carrollton is getting too far for the other's commute to Newington. We were interested in Mount Rainier less for location, and more for the funky artsy community. Cheverly is a possibility, but there's jack all to do around there and the surrounding area looks pretty sketchy.

Bah! Why does this have to be so difficult? It seems there's nowhere good to live! lol

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by lisat

Hmm...I was afraid the mixing bowl area wouldn't be good. South of Belvoir and Lorton are really getting too far away. New Carrollton is getting too far for the other's commute to Newington. We were interested in Mount Rainier less for location, and more for the funky artsy community. Cheverly is a possibility, but there's jack all to do around there and the surrounding area looks pretty sketchy.

Bah! Why does this have to be so difficult? It seems there's nowhere good to live! lol

that's my frustration with DC in general. You either cant afford housing in a decent location or the housing you can afford is in a horrible location and/or requires a murderous commute.

I guess one more area you could try is Telegraph Rd its not too far from Newington. If you could possibly give me a dollar amt i may be of more help.

[lisat]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

that's my frustration with DC in general. You either cant afford housing in a decent location or the housing you can afford is in a horrible location and/or requires a murderous commute.

I guess one more area you could try is Telegraph Rd its not too far from Newington. If you could possibly give me a dollar amt i may be of more help.

Amen, brother. You summed it up perfectly.

As for price, cheap as possible. Yes, I know everyone says that, but I literally mean the lowest prices on the list--under $350k. Part of our problem is that we're more one-bedroom-condo level, but looking for a (town)house with an extra apartment. That's a tough find, in a decent area of course.

[VEIK]

A friend of mine got a TH in Burke for 340ish.

Its decent, build in the late 70s I think.

and he walks to VRE.