South Arlington has metro stops at Crystal City and Pentagon City. The Shirlington Transit stations has such frequent service, and such a short ride to the Pentagon, it might as well be a metro stop. South Arlington is not limited to the neighborhoods along Columbia Pike. |
This is very true. Although, the parts near pentagon city are very expensive. It would be similar to looking in North Arlington. Oakridge elementary is rated high, and the housing stock is nice through there. Wide streets, and mature trees. Certainly worth taking a look. |
There is metro at the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery and National Airport too, same number of stops in north and south Arlington, and two lines that serve each set of stops (except ANC). My commute to Farragut from Nauck (from Pentagon City on the Blue line) takes the same amount of time as my colleague who lives in Westover and takes Orange or Silver. |
| There's a separate thread on the slowdown NoVa is now experiencing. South Arlington fares best in a scenario where people anticipate continued, substantial growth and congestion, and therefore place a premium on a short commute. In a scenario where growth is expected to slow, or the population may even decline, South Arlington's weaknesses take on more significance. The quality of the housing stock, both single-family homes and apartments, is decidedly mixed. In addition, Wakefield is one of the lowest-performing public schools in NoVa, along with Mount Vernon and TC Williams. In this environment, buying in an area that's slightly further out, but has better schools, is the safer strategy. |
True. I always think of those areas as being Alexandria, but you're right, they are S. Arlington. My bad. But are there affordable single family houses near the Pentagon, Pentagon City and Crystal City Metros that have schools perceived as good? |
| Nope, no street car and falling tax revenues are the final nails in the coffin |
Are there affordable single family houses near Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston, or East Falls Church metros that have schools perceived as good? |
What is your definition of affordable? |
No. That's why OP was asking about S Arlington or other areas. If there aren't affordable SFH's near the S Arlington metro stops either, and metro access matters, then that leaves her looking in the Shirlington area or the areas near the WFC, Dunn Loring metros. It was an honest question. I don't know the areas near the S. Arlington metro stops well enough to know if OP could find an affordable SFH there, or if she might consider looking a bit further out. |
OP's definition of affordable was a SFH under $650K |
OP's definition of affordable was a SFH under $650K You can get a SFH for $650-700K in Aurora Highlands (feeding into Oakridge, very close to Pentagon City/Crystal City) or Douglas Park or Alcova Heights (feeding into Henry or Barcroft, 10 mins on bus to Pentagon or Ballston). But no, you can't get close to metro AND the best schools AND a cute neighborhood for an affordable price because there are thousands of people who want that and some of them will have more money than you. |
| Another Alcova Heights resident - we love it here. This is my second property on the Pike (still have a condo) in Columbia Heights here, and the area has changed over the 10 years I've lived here. Sure, the affordable housing being dumped here is worrisome but I don't think it will matter in the grand scheme of things. |
Even if it was limited to the neighborhoods on columbia pike there are enough buses and shuttles to get you to the metro very quickly. We live in Nauck and DH takes the bus/metro to work every day, in under an hour. He works near the white house. When we lived on Columbia PIke it was super easier because he just took one bus from our front door to McPherson Square. |
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Oh, I was going to say Arlington is also planning on redeveloping the Shirlington and Four mile run area. I think those body shops and concrete plant on on borrowed time
http://projects.arlingtonva.us/plans-studies/land-use/shirlington-crescent-four-mile-run/ |
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Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway. I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there. |