Is the Huntington part of Alexandria best for us?

[Anonymous]

My wife and I are considering buying a house in the near future in the Huntington part of Alexandria. We like many parts of the DC area but have homed in on this area based on the following priorities: good public schools, affordability, walkability, and proximity to my wife's job off the beltway in Fairfax and my job downtown. I have three questions:
1. Is Old Town accessible by foot or bike from Huntington, or is the beltway a 'barrier' to getting between the two easily? On a related note, is Huntington itself walkable/proximate to neighborhood-serving uses?
2. How bad is the commute from the Huntington area along the beltway up to around the 66 exit/Merrifield area in the morning and back in the evening?
3. Are there other areas that, based on what I've described our priorities are, might be better to consider? We can justify going up to $480k or so for the right combo of inputs.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's a run down area that feeds to poor schools. My and it floods a lot in that area.

[Anonymous]

1. Old Town is NOT accessible by foot or bike. The beltway is a barrier. Nothing is walkable. Schools are not good and it floods a lot.

2. Both commutes will be hell. Also, running errands on the weekend will be hell.

3. Look at South Arlington - Columbia Pike area, Shirlington area, some places off of Glebe road. The commute to merrifield via Rt 50 is a breeze and there are busses to the pentagon metro station running frequently all over Arlington. You may also try Del Ray - it's just North of Old Town. You may also find something in your price range in the area called "new alexandria," which is between rt 1 and the parkway just south of old town.

DH and I both grew up in the area you describe. We both hated it and would never consider raising our family there. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

del ray is what you're looking for. schools are fine, notwithstanding the hysteria you'll see on this site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:del ray is what you're looking for. schools are fine, notwithstanding the hysteria you'll see on this site.

For $480K, in Del Ray, they'll be able to afford a 1000 sq ft townhouse. I know because that's where I live, because that's what I can afford. I love Del Ray and for me it's worth the trade-off, but the OP should be aware that prices in Del Ray are nothing like prices in Huntington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:del ray is what you're looking for. schools are fine, notwithstanding the hysteria you'll see on this site.

For $480K, in Del Ray, they'll be able to afford a 1000 sq ft townhouse. I know because that's where I live, because that's what I can afford. I love Del Ray and for me it's worth the trade-off, but the OP should be aware that prices in Del Ray are nothing like prices in Huntington.

Oh, also, it wouldn't be all that convenient a commute to Fairfax. South Arlington, which one PP mentioned, might be a better fit for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:del ray is what you're looking for. schools are fine, notwithstanding the hysteria you'll see on this site.

For $480K, in Del Ray, they'll be able to afford a 1000 sq ft townhouse. I know because that's where I live, because that's what I can afford. I love Del Ray and for me it's worth the trade-off, but the OP should be aware that prices in Del Ray are nothing like prices in Huntington.

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Alexandria/321-E-Raymond-Ave-22301/home/11845168#schools

[Anonymous]

OP-have you been there? I rented there for a year and it really doesn't have any of the features you seem to be looking for.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've been there a few times but it was a while back. Maybe Columbia Pike might be better. What are the schools like around there?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you move to Fairfax and you take the Virginia Railway Express train (30minutes) into DC. Look around Rolling Road VRE station, or Burke Centre VRE station. High schools would be West Springfield, Lake Braddock, Robinson or WT Woodson

[Anonymous]

OP here. We've considered moving to Fairfax and like it well enough but are hesitant because we recognize this would likely entail adopting a car-centric lifestyle. I know thats not popular with many but walkability is up there for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Old Town is NOT accessible by foot or bike. The beltway is a barrier. Nothing is walkable. Schools are not good and it floods a lot.

2. Both commutes will be hell. Also, running errands on the weekend will be hell.

3. Look at South Arlington - Columbia Pike area, Shirlington area, some places off of Glebe road. The commute to merrifield via Rt 50 is a breeze and there are busses to the pentagon metro station running frequently all over Arlington. You may also try Del Ray - it's just North of Old Town. You may also find something in your price range in the area called "new alexandria," which is between rt 1 and the parkway just south of old town.

DH and I both grew up in the area you describe. We both hated it and would never consider raising our family there. Good luck.

To the contrary, schools in the Edison pyramid are much better than those in ACPS or South Arlington. You're an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I've been there a few times but it was a while back. Maybe Columbia Pike might be better. What are the schools like around there?

Bad. They are just bad.

Columbia Pike is just as bad as Huntington.

The PP is right - Warwick Village right outside Del Ray has some streets that are ok. You have to be careful and look at your neighbors before buying. The schools suck but you do get some option to move to slight less bad school in the City. There are also plenty of private school options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We've considered moving to Fairfax and like it well enough but are hesitant because we recognize this would likely entail adopting a car-centric lifestyle. I know thats not popular with many but walkability is up there for us.

OP First, Huntington is in Fairfax County. Are you looking at the older duplexes in the area or some of the few single family houses along King's Highway? Are you considering the condos? What is your price range? Have you driven through the neighborhoods? There are some newer townhouses along Huntington Avenue that are nice. The shopping in the area is very weak -- a 7-11 and a few low-end restaurants and services. If you tell me your budget and what you want besides some walkability, I might be able to point you to some other neighborhoods. For example, there are nice duplexes along East and West Taylor Run in Alexandria City. They are walkable to a big shopping center as well as the King Street Metro and border a park. The elementary school -- Douglas MacArthur -- is also fair to good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Old Town is NOT accessible by foot or bike. The beltway is a barrier. Nothing is walkable. Schools are not good and it floods a lot.

2. Both commutes will be hell. Also, running errands on the weekend will be hell.

3. Look at South Arlington - Columbia Pike area, Shirlington area, some places off of Glebe road. The commute to merrifield via Rt 50 is a breeze and there are busses to the pentagon metro station running frequently all over Arlington. You may also try Del Ray - it's just North of Old Town. You may also find something in your price range in the area called "new alexandria," which is between rt 1 and the parkway just south of old town.

DH and I both grew up in the area you describe. We both hated it and would never consider raising our family there. Good luck.

To the contrary, schools in the Edison pyramid are much better than those in ACPS or South Arlington. You're an idiot.

This is like the fight of the worst schools in the area. Most people would send their kids to private in the above areas.