Looking for best arlington neighborhood - please give me your advice, thank you! (Tuckahoe: condo)

[mitova]

I (like many others) am looking for advice on where to look to buy a home. I've read through some of the postings and think I have narrowed it down - but please give me advice!

I will try to put as much information as possible.

- Job is in Arlington, and based on the positive feedback I've read about the arlington area - would like to live in arlington if I can afford it.

- would like GREAT public schools - I think I've read Yorktown HS is good, any other thoughts would be appreciated. Any specific elementary school recommendations?

- Price range - $600 - $800k

- 3 bdrm, 2 bath, some yard

- close to a park would be ideal

- Walkable - my view on walkable is restaurants, shops, coffee....can be a mix of old and new I'm not anti-chain store.

- we have a 3 year old and 5 year old, so we are definitely looking for a family friendly community with "stuff do to".

- we are more neighborhood with character oriented than condo or development.

What about Lyon Park, Lyon Village, Cherrydale, Donaldson Run?

Thank you so much for your help!

[Guamanians]

Yes, there is a nice neighborhood north of Lee HWY off of/in the vicinity of George Mason Dr. Williamsburg Blvd also has a nice stretch of homes, but could be even pricier. These areas are very close to Yorktown HS. You could also check on the south side of Lee HWY west of Glebe Rd. Sorry that I don't know the specific names of the neighborhoods.

[mitova]

Thank you for your tips - do you consider that area "walkable"?

[Guamanians]

Originally Posted by mitova

Thank you for your tips - do you consider that area "walkable"?

Yes I'd say that it is walkable. Its definitley walkable to Lee HWY which has grocery stores, coffee shops, fast food, etc. From there, you are about 1 1/2 miles to Clarendon or Ballston, and also 1 1/2 miles to Falls Church. Another area that is even more walkable is off of Washington Blvd between Glebe Rd and Wilson Blvd. There is a high school close by as well (I believe Washington-Lee H.S) You are close to Ballston, Clarendon, and all the shops on Glebe Rd, Washington Blvd, and Wilson Blvd. That neighborhood isn't as quiet as the ones N of Lee HWY. But, its still worth checking out.

[TheseGoTo11]

One issue in Arlington is that most of the Yorktown HS neighborhoods are not walkable. Washington-Lee district has a ton of walkable areas, but some people don't like the large ESL population there. Still, W-L is a pretty good school, so the compromise might be worth it.

[keysda]

We are actually getting ready to put our house on the market. We live in Westover and the elementary school is Tuckahoe and the high school is yorktown. Swanson, the middle school is in walking distance. All three schools are excellent--however most schools in Arlington are very good! ( I used to teach, before I stayed home with my guys.)Moderator Cut

[ajzjmsmom]

In my experience the walkability that you are looking for will not come if you live close to Yorktown, of course my description and yours could be very different. We recently spent 6 months in Arlington at the Courthouse metro area and that to me was walkability. My kids went to Yorktown HS and Williamsburg MS, both are in very nice neighborhoods but you would still have to drive for shopping.

[Jane09]

Any comments regarding safety in these neighborhoods? Any areas in Arlington to stay away from?