Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:42 PP - I was thinking that anywhere the OP is able to find a 2BR for $1300 in Arlington, that the population is less likely to be white. Lyon Park, Lyon Village, Highland Village - some communities are not going to have rentals for that price. I lived in 4 apartments in Rosslyn, Virginia Square and Ballston and noticed a pretty large Hispanic community, and that's even more the case in South Arlington. (Glebe Road south of Pershing; much of Columbia Pike.)

If it helps, I've heard that Washington & Lee high school is much more racially diverse than Yorktown. So while your elementary may be mostly white, high school will be a different story.

I don't know about "muich more"..here is the official school demos:

Yorktown 66.3% white; 11.3% Asian, 8.3% black, 13.2% hispanic, 0.2% Amerc.Indian, 0.8% unspecified

W&L 40.9% white; 13.5% Asian, 15% black, 32% hispanic, 0.3% Amerc.Indian, 0.5% unspecified

Btw, both are EXCELLENT (tip in the country) HS. I would take the economic diversity, less of a 'mean girl'/spoiled population-- given the choice. There is a myth ppl spout about the 2 schools without actually knowing anything about them personally. I'd feel very confident sending a child to either school.

I thought the OP preferred more hispanic..because her daughter is half-hispanic.

From a person with a 4.0 GPA at a great Fairfax Co. HS...that put me only about #30 in a class of 500...and VA universities had a quota/cap on the # of kids they would admit from my HS. Sometimes it's better not to be with all of the big fish.

Anonymous wrote:9:42 PP - I was thinking that anywhere the OP is able to find a 2BR for $1300 in Arlington, that the population is less likely to be white. Lyon Park, Lyon Village, Highland Village - some communities are not going to have rentals for that price. I lived in 4 apartments in Rosslyn, Virginia Square and Ballston and noticed a pretty large Hispanic community, and that's even more the case in South Arlington. (Glebe Road south of Pershing; much of Columbia Pike.)

If it helps, I've heard that Washington & Lee high school is much more racially diverse than Yorktown. So while your elementary may be mostly white, high school will be a different story.

I don't know about "muich more"..here is the official school demos:

Yorktown 66.3% white; 11.3% Asian, 8.3% black, 13.2% hispanic, 0.2% Amerc.Indian, 0.8% unspecified

W&L 40.9% white; 13.5% Asian, 15% black, 32% hispanic, 0.3% Amerc.Indian, 0.5% unspecified

Btw, both are EXCELLENT (tip in the country) HS. I prefer the economic diversity, less of a 'mean girl'/spoiled population. There is a myth ppl spout about the 2 schools without actually knowing anything about them personally. I'd feel very confident sending a child to either school.

I lived in these apartments with a girlfriend for several years - it's near the Golds Gym in Ballston and the Mosaic Park. It's been a while but when we were living there everything had just been renovated, was clean and very nice and well maintained (and affordable!)

Birchwood Apartments
525 North Pollard Street, Arlington, VA 22203
703-465-0050

9:42 PP - I was thinking that anywhere the OP is able to find a 2BR for $1300 in Arlington, that the population is less likely to be white. Lyon Park, Lyon Village, Highland Village - some communities are not going to have rentals for that price. I lived in 4 apartments in Rosslyn, Virginia Square and Ballston and noticed a pretty large Hispanic community, and that's even more the case in South Arlington. (Glebe Road south of Pershing; much of Columbia Pike.)

If it helps, I've heard that Washington & Lee high school is much more racially diverse than Yorktown. So while your elementary may be mostly white, high school will be a different story.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks so much for all of these leads. I had no idea that prices fluctuated depending on the season. I'm coming down to VA next month so I'll line up some places to look at. One of my friends also mentioned renting a basement apt. Where could I look for one to rent?

Yes, prices will start to drop in September and you can find places with rent specials especially if you are willing to go down to a 1 Br.

Be very careful about some of the apartment complexes that people have listed here. I can tell they think they are "nice" bc the oustides look ok but having lived in several older buildings/complexes in Arlington (see above post on Dorchester), many of the complexes in Arlington are very old - some have not been renovated at all since they were put up and in some cases that's the 40's and 50's!. Any older building will have a big roach problem (they spray but its unavoidable) and you will have less than desirable neighbors and they aren't going to be complexes were you can let your child go out to play without you and you will also need to be careful at night.

Basement apartments certainly exist but you will need to go through a private owner. Look on craigslist.

Also keep in mind that some places will want first and last months rent AND a security deposit and the ability to pass the credit check all at one time. So the initial outlaw for a $1300 a month apt would be $3900

Anonymous wrote:Try Dorchester / Dorchester Towers on Columbia Pike. Very affordable, diverse community, decent location.

If a guy named Michael is still the manager at Dorchester, look out for him -- total ass. I found the management at Dorchester Towers to be much more professional.

I lived there about 5 years ago when I was single and I wouldn't recommend it to a single woman and child. My car was broken into, a couple apartments were broken into, there washers were always broke and going into the basement was scary anyways. Further, the key to my nieghbors apartment above me also opened my apartment and the neighbors next door! Apparently, the just re-keyed several locks with the same key!!!

OP - as a fellow single mom, I would recommend getting a smaller place (1 bedroom) in exchange for being closer to the city/your office. A long commute can kill a single parent, particularly if you are new to the area. You don't want to rely on shoddy bus service either. You should be able to find a nice 1 bedroom for your price range in NoVa on the orange/blue line. Start out at Courthouse and move West a few stops. Also a possibility is NW DC.
Check Craigslist for basement rentals.

OP here. Thanks so much for all of these leads. I had no idea that prices fluctuated depending on the season. I'm coming down to VA next month so I'll line up some places to look at. One of my friends also mentioned renting a basement apt. Where could I look for one to rent?

Try Dorchester / Dorchester Towers on Columbia Pike. Very affordable, diverse community, decent location.

If a guy named Michael is still the manager at Dorchester, look out for him -- total ass. I found the management at Dorchester Towers to be much more professional.

Westover:

http://www.ahcinc.org/documents/Westovermarketingflyer1016.pdf

Anonymous wrote:I live in Fairlington and while the townhouses are closer to 2k to rent, there are some condo style units that might work for you. Check out craigslist and search by Fairlington. You can also look at fairlington.org to see floorplans if you find something on craigslist. I wouldn't say its very diverse but there are pools and playgrounds!

Fairlington 2Brs in the winter - you might find something for $1600. Mid summer - nothing less than $1750.

I live in Fairlington and while the townhouses are closer to 2k to rent, there are some condo style units that might work for you. Check out craigslist and search by Fairlington. You can also look at fairlington.org to see floorplans if you find something on craigslist. I wouldn't say its very diverse but there are pools and playgrounds!

Sorry PP here - still thinking about this

Fairlington has an active 1BR (Abingdon)
http://www.2hdb.com/sonnil/cgi-bin/aa.fcgi?+Mjc3MjMyOWFmYjMzN2ZlZGU1MGI3MmVlYjBmNTYyN2QSlI0iZbI78etCOGgIJq%2f3KfJjVte4iAPT53bKEL9Q6GD9dMLRRDm0UbyM22YuMFHJJfUZcCO2EVmh

Arlington Oaks (near Barrett)
http://www.2hdb.com/sonnil/cgi-bin/aa.fcgi?+YjNiMjE5ZWQ1OGUyZjcwNDU2ZTFjYzQyZWZjMjkxMDUSlI0iZbI78etCOGgIJqz1KfZiVte4iAPV53bKEL9Q6GD9dMLRRDm0UbyM22YuMFHJJfUZcCO2EVmh

Ballston Park (near Barrett)
http://www.2hdb.com/sonnil/cgi-bin/aa.fcgi?+OTE4MzI5NDdlNzhjMWI1NmVlNGU3OWQ2OTc5Yzc4MDUSlI0iZbI78etCOGgMJ6vxKPJjVte4iAPQ53bKEL9Q6GD9dMLRRDm0UbyM22YuMFHJJfUZcCO2EVmh

The Chatham (also near Barrett)
http://www.2hdb.com/sonnil/cgi-bin/aa.fcgi?+NjIxNjNiYjZiN2NhN2I1ZGI1NWVjM2M3ZmYyZTFhOGYSlI0iZbI78etCOGgJLqHyL%2fVmVte4iAPY53bKEL9Q6GD9dMLRRDm0UbyM22YuMFHJJfUZcCO2EVmh

Heatherlea (near Abingdon)
http://www.2hdb.com/sonnil/cgi-bin/aa.fcgi?+NTMxY2E2NDZiNTEzNjU3YzkyMTI5MjYyMmEwMzVkZTMSlI0iZbI78etCOGgIJqj6JPdmVte4iAvGr2jKXbBW+i%2fwLc%2fSTjbzFcr4hCh6f13ed7wUZnaxWFQ%3d

PP here - didn't mean to imply "overcrowded" when I said crowded, just don't allow transfers the way they used to....

Here is one of the apartment complexes:
http://www.ballstonpark.com/s/homepage
Also Gates of Ballston - same general area
The Carlin

There are also some condos in the area that might have rentals, I'm blanking on the building names though.

Once you cross Glebe Road you're in Ashlawn school district which is very similar to Barrett, diverse school and good principal. Lots of high rise buildings closer to Ballston but might have rentals depending what you are looking for.

Another idea is Shirlington, which has lots of apartments and also possibly rentals in Fairlington which would be more neighborhoody. The school is Abingdon which is also similar to the ones described above and you also would have the option for Claremont which is bilingual.

My friend used to live in Barton House (closer to Court House) but in Key school district.

Another idea is to look down in Shirlington

There are lots of affordable apartments around my daughter's school (Barrett Elementary) near Ballston. Can't think of any names off hand but a lot of the children live in these buildings, I'd say about half the school population, and the rest live in the modest homes in Arlington Forest (like we do). It's a very diverse school with a great principal and a good program. It also has children from other school districts who chose to participate in the magnet program (before it got too crowded). Just something else to consider.