Anonymous wrote:Like another PP, my kids went to public schools K-12 in ACPS. They wound up at UVA and William & Mary.

When you have one large high school, two things happen:
1. The concentration of resources means that there is an incredible amount of resources: tons of AP classes but also lots of electives.
2. You have a greater awareness of the full range of American teenagers. There are struggling kids across the country, in every jurisdiction. Sometimes they are intentionally segregated away from the people living the typical DCUM life.

My kids' "exposure" to this broader span of reality did not negatively impact their trajectory. If anything, I think they enter adulthood with more awareness than those that live within a narrow band.

Also, I live in a nice neighborhood in the West End. Yes, those exist in Alexandria beyond Del Ray and Old Town.

I don't think this city is perfect by any means, but the level of rage displayed on this thread is... odd.

Anonymous wrote:Like another PP, my kids went to public schools K-12 in ACPS. They wound up at UVA and William & Mary.

When you have one large high school, two things happen:
1. The concentration of resources means that there is an incredible amount of resources: tons of AP classes but also lots of electives.
2. You have a greater awareness of the full range of American teenagers. There are struggling kids across the country, in every jurisdiction. Sometimes they are intentionally segregated away from the people living the typical DCUM life.

My kids' "exposure" to this broader span of reality did not negatively impact their trajectory. If anything, I think they enter adulthood with more awareness than those that live within a narrow band.

Also, I live in a nice neighborhood in the West End. Yes, those exist in Alexandria beyond Del Ray and Old Town.

I don't think this city is perfect by any means, but the level of rage displayed on this thread is... odd.

Anonymous wrote:Old Town is fun to walk around, but living there is challenging due to housing costs, limited parking, and traffic/people density. It suits some, and not others. Schools are not good, which again matters only for some people.

For many, the relatively high cost of relatively small residential properties is a major drawback. You have to really value the walkability dimension of Old Town to balance that out.

Other parts of Alexandria are generally unremarkable, although crime is a concern in places. Population density is high, as might be expected in such a close-in suburb.

As with all locations, attractiveness depends on what you value and how you prioritize those attributes.

Anonymous wrote:Most of the people that I know in Old Town are single older adults or empty nesters. It is very charming and has cute restaurants and retail and a waterfront. I think for that demographic, it's one of the best places to live in the DMV if you want walkability.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The market suggests that Alexandria is very desirable as prices are high and demand is strong. So for the doubters, maybe visit, walk around, and try to see what you’re missing. If you still don’t get it, that’s fine. But this thread contains posts from people whose sole source of info about Alexandria seems to be typing “Alexandria crime” into google. It’s like all the people talking about how terrible DC is yet when I go out on weekends, every restaurant is full, there are people everywhere, and everyone is enjoying themselves.

But the regulated utility bills are through the roof by an extra $20/month. Therefore, it’s waterworld waiting to happen and a total dump.

Anonymous wrote:The market suggests that Alexandria is very desirable as prices are high and demand is strong. So for the doubters, maybe visit, walk around, and try to see what you’re missing. If you still don’t get it, that’s fine. But this thread contains posts from people whose sole source of info about Alexandria seems to be typing “Alexandria crime” into google. It’s like all the people talking about how terrible DC is yet when I go out on weekends, every restaurant is full, there are people everywhere, and everyone is enjoying themselves.

Anonymous wrote:The market suggests that Alexandria is very desirable as prices are high and demand is strong. So for the doubters, maybe visit, walk around, and try to see what you’re missing. If you still don’t get it, that’s fine. But this thread contains posts from people whose sole source of info about Alexandria seems to be typing “Alexandria crime” into google. It’s like all the people talking about how terrible DC is yet when I go out on weekends, every restaurant is full, there are people everywhere, and everyone is enjoying themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Alexandria and would not live anywhere else in the DMV. It's an ideal place for DINKs.

Agree! Another permanent dink couple here. Love living in old town.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't wait to leave the city of Alexandria. It's been a hectic nightmare here. First the road diets what used to make me 5 min to get to the store now takes me 25-30 min. NO ONE ever uses these bike lanes. The density is out of control like 13,000 people a square mile. The panhandlers everywhere (the city just recently took the crime OFF the books.) There is trash every where on curbs, overflowing city cans, there are about 4-5 bags of trash around all the city trash cans by seminary right now no ones picked up in over a week. The crime is crazy their have been two shootings in my complex alone one ended in murder. There was over 70 cars broken into one night alone here in the west end. There is no less than 7 low income project housing buildings they have stashed away in the west end in less than 1/4 mile area. Free busses for everyone including those who don't even live here plus we are paying for public school busses AND the "free" city busses that the kids now use for school. This and we get to drive by the tent people in Linconia by duke st. And I agree with the PP about the insane utilities. $120 a month for ONE bathroom for just the water and sewer bill! I don't have 5 toilets! I have one! The comcast monopoly, $220 a month for cable and internet (basic cable). It's a NOPE all the way around.

This is all user error. Sounds like you should rent somewhere other than City of Alexandria.