Advice on Specific Neighborhoods in NOVA?? (Arlington, Alexandria: apartments, rental, violent crime)

[jalr]

Our family is probably going to be moving to the area in the next few weeks, assuming that a job assignment will go through for my husband. He will be working in DC. I am a stay at home mom with two little ones and would really like a safe, family friendly neighborhood. Safety is probably my primary concern. It would also be nice to be close to a metro station. We are currently looking at a couple of rental properties- possibly more to come. I'm hoping for some advice, since I don't know if we'll be able to go out and drive the neighborhoods before settling on something.

Here are two we are currently looking at:
1. A townhouse near the intersection of S. Van Dorn St. and Fraconia Rd.
2. A townhouse near Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike (those look like the biggest roads nearby- I think this one might be in Falls Church?

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. I've always lived in the west and must admit I'm pretty nervous about moving out there, especially without having time to go check out the area. Thanks in advance!

[pcity]

Near South Van Dorn and Franconia Rd. puts you in Franconia, just north of Kingstowne. Definitely a safe area and not too far from Van Dorn Metro.

Columbia and Leesburg is Bailey's Crossroads (though the postal address would be Falls Church). A lot of recent immigrants live in this area. It's hard to generalize about the area because it does vary, but in general this would be a less safe, less family-friendly area than the Franconia location. That's not to say that it's the ghetto, but it isn't considered one of the nicer parts of Fairfax County either. The other negative is that is not really near a Metro. You would have to take a long bus ride to get to one.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by jalr

Here are two we are currently looking at:
1. A townhouse near the intersection of S. Van Dorn St. and Fraconia Rd.
2. A townhouse near Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike (those look like the biggest roads nearby- I think this one might be in Falls Church?

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. I've always lived in the west and must admit I'm pretty nervous about moving out there, especially without having time to go check out the area. Thanks in advance!

1. Pretty safe clean area with a lot of value.
2. The total opposite of number one!

[jalr]

Thank you for your help! The advice here is so helpful, especially since we are currently so far away. I may be back with more questions....

[jalr]

Does anyone know anything about the area near Glebe Rd. And Mt. Vernon Ave.? Is that safe? Would it be good for a stay at home mom with young children? Thank you so much to those who are willing to share what you know!

[pcity]

I would definitely not recommend that area. It is Arlandria, considered to be the worst portion of Alexandria, crime-wise. It is up and coming a little, but I wouldn't recommend it for a family.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by pcity

I would definitely not recommend that area. It is Arlandria, considered to be the worst portion of Alexandria, crime-wise. It is up and coming a little, but I wouldn't recommend it for a family.

I agree. I'm being transferred to a bank there and i'm not looking forward to it and i live in the Landmark area which has a reputation for crime (mostly undeserved.) A MS-13 murder happened there sometime ago.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by jalr

Does anyone know anything about the area near Glebe Rd. And Mt. Vernon Ave.? Is that safe? Would it be good for a stay at home mom with young children? Thank you so much to those who are willing to share what you know!

What others have said may be true for the area south of that intersection. However, a mile north of there are some of the nicest neighborhoods in the area (in Arlington). But there are few townhomes in those neighborhoods, and SFHs are expensive there. There are many apartments but most of them are in high rises--with the upside being that you are very close to groceries, a major mall, and metro, as well as to DC and the Pentagon. Lots of young professionals live there, but so do some young families like yours. So it would depend on what you're seeking.

One of the things that is unusual about Arlington and Alexandria - to some extent - is that you can have very nice and very less-than-nice areas quite close to one another.

[jalr]

Thank you so much! I have two more neighborhoods to ask about...

1. RIGHT by the Van Dorn metro station. There is a group of townhouse that looks like they're right across the street from the parking lot. Is it safe to live RIGHT by the Metro?

2. There are a few places we're looking at near Edsall and Van Dorn streets. Kind of between Duke and Edsall off of Van Dorn. How is that area?

Thanks for helping! It is really such a relief to be able to ask people who have actually seen these places!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by jalr

Thank you so much! I have two more neighborhoods to ask about...

1. RIGHT by the Van Dorn metro station. There is a group of townhouse that looks like they're right across the street from the parking lot. Is it safe to live RIGHT by the Metro?

2. There are a few places we're looking at near Edsall and Van Dorn streets. Kind of between Duke and Edsall off of Van Dorn. How is that area?

Thanks for helping! It is really such a relief to be able to ask people who have actually seen these places!

1. Very safe area. Never heard ANY compliant about that area (noise possibly but very small chance of crime).
2. I live in the same area. It does have a very SLIGHTLY shady reputation as far as crime goes, the crimes are more stuff stolen out of cars and vandalism, also violent crime is VERY rare here. Most crime here (not that there is that much) can be avoided by common sense. Locking your doors, Not leaving anything valuable out in your cars, Not walking the streets at 1 in the morning. Yes, there is light crime here but i'd rather ride out the rest of my time in NoVA here than being in Bailey's Crossroads/Seven Corners, the Springfield Mall area, Rt. 1 area in the Fairfax Co. Alexandria, and Arlandria where more violent crimes happen more often.

All in all the two areas mentioned here are good places to look for housing.