Where should I live if I work in McLean, Herndon, Alexandria, Arlington - where should I move? (Reston: apartments, rental) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Loliz · 03-09-2011, 03:03 AM

Hi all,
I'd appreciate anyone's input on this question:
I'm a 35 year old single female moving to NOVA in June. I will be working out of several offices and will have to commute. The offices are in Herndon, Alexandria, Arlington, and McLean. I am looking for a place that is pretty central to cut down on the commute time, but also fun with things to do (i.e. restaurants, music, malls and shopping, trendy spots, etc.) From what I've read I probably would like Alexandria, but I think that might be too much of a commute on the days I have to go to Herndon (which by the way is not that often). Is there any place like that that is more central in location to these areas? I was thinking somewhere around McLean or Tyson's Corner? But I really don't have a clue! Any help would be much appreciated. Also, I'm going to be renting so would like something affordable and newer too.
Thanks in advance.

tigger37708 · 03-09-2011, 03:47 AM

Some people will scoff at this suggestion but I think Pimmit might be a good location.
Its a middle class area with small homes built in the 50's prices for homes are in the low 400's
people love to bash pimmit
but when we were looking i didn't think it was bad at all

JfromReston · 03-09-2011, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loliz

Hi all,
I'm going to be renting so would like something affordable and newer too.

In order to best help you we need to know your defination of "affordable".

Are you willing to spend $1500, $1800, $2000, or ??? on rent?

stpickrell · 03-09-2011, 05:50 AM

Trendy, newer construction, and central?

Hmm.
Fair Lakes has some newer options but is pretty low on the trendy scale. It's also pretty bad commute to all the places.
Falls Church City may have some options for you but it is $$.
Orange Line Arlington has plenty of things, some new construction there, but I-66 gets crowded around Ballston heading WB in the morning and EB in the evening and it is $$$. but it'd be only 30-40 minutes heading to Herndon which you said is the least frequent place you go to, right?

Also we'd need to know if you would be ok with a roommate

robbobobbo · 03-09-2011, 06:41 AM

North Arlington would be a balance between Alexandria and Herndon. You could take the GW Parkway into Alexandria, and either the GW Parkway or I-66 to points west like McLean and Herndon. It has dining, hang-outs, shopping, live music, and it qualifies as trendy for NoVA.

South Arlington around Pentagon City would give you quicker access to Alexandria, and you'd be able to get to the GW Parkway and I-66 fairly easily. Its benefit over North Arlington is price. It has a nice indoor mall, other shopping besides that mall, dining, a stretch of 23rd St that is popular. It registers low on the trendy scale compared to the Ballston-Clarendon-Courthouse area. You're a short drive away from North Arlington's popular spots, as well as the part of Columbia Pike that is getting some revitalization.

Alexandria is nice, but it's on the endpoint of your destinations, and I'd recommend being near a midpoint instead.

Loliz · 03-09-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JfromReston

In order to best help you we need to know your defination of "affordable".

Are you willing to spend $1500, $1800, $2000, or ??? on rent?

Well, I really was hoping to stay under $1800 for a 2 BR, 2 BA, >1200 sq ft. apartment. In looking on the rental sites, I see that the type of apartment I tend to like (complex, newer, modern, amenities) seem to be running around $2000. I was thinking I might have to rent from a private landlord (something like a condo or townhouse) in order to get a better deal.

terrence81 · 03-09-2011, 09:22 AM

I'd say north Arlington or Falls Church would be the mid point. I'm specifically thinking the area around the East Falls Church metro or Westover versus say Ballston or Clarendon. I'm thinking about moving there myself.

Clarendon is great with a lot going on but its terribly expensive. Unfortunately $1800 barely gets you a 1 bedroom in that area. I live in south Arlington and while your commute would be short for Alexandria and Arlington it'd be a lot longer for Herndon and McLean.

Alexandria? It's great and I want to move there myself. However its off my list because of my commute to Fairfax. I wouldn't recommend it for you either. The Beltway is awful going towards and away from Tysons during rush hour. But allow me to take both sides and say that Alexandria is really nice and with the exception of Old Town, more affordable than Arlington.

Yes you can get some deals if you deal with a direct owner. I've lived in rented private homes and complexes. I'd say that the advantage with a complex is that they're a little quicker about maintenance issues and of course have more amenities.

Either way good luck!

Loliz · 03-09-2011, 09:28 AM

Interesting that no one mentioned Tyson's Corner or McLean's and that was the place I was thinking (just by looking on Google maps) that would be pretty central. Why is that? Are there not nice apartments in that area? Too much traffic? Not enough things to do? I know that Google maps doesn't tell everything.
I have no idea about the area so all of your input is definitely helping me narrow down where I'm going to look.
To the person who asked if I was going to have a roomate? No.

terrence81 · 03-09-2011, 09:34 AM

I personally would not want to live in or near Tysons because of the traffic and lack of things to do besides go to the mall. Its basically a huge office park. Its safe though but the traffic and blah ness of the area would keep me away.

robbobobbo · 03-09-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrence81

I'd say north Arlington or Falls Church would be the mid point. I'm specifically thinking the area around the East Falls Church metro or Westover versus say Ballston or Clarendon. I'm thinking about moving there myself.

Those are good locations as a midpoint, but just one thing - apartments are all very old, aren't they? The one exception I know of is Gresham Place at Washington St (29) and N. Westmoreland, where the Bear Cafe is. That would be a good location - but I think those are condos and OP would have to find an owner renting one. But yes, accessibility would be good there.

EDIT: Those condos might be called the Westlee. I'm looking at Google Street View and see a couple of signs there, hence the confusion.