Living in Alexandria

Visit Alexandria

Let’s say you want to live in the DC Metro Area, but not right in the district, and you want to live somewhere super classy with reasonable cost of living. You’ll want to consider moving to Alexandria VA for sure. As the southernmost destination of the Metro, Alexandria seems to be the perfect distance from the big city—close enough to keep you in the loop and plenty far for escaping the constant hustle.

Two brand new developments have cropped up to support the relaxing lifestyle that those moving to Alexandria are after: Cameron Park and Robinson Landing. Both combine townhomes and condos and feature green and waterfront landscapes respectively. Alexandria VA is a proper city with a small-town vibe, yet it has the scope to support a slew of neighborhoods and communities which are simultaneously unique and harmonious. Some of the most popular and successful these days are:

Old Town

The city’s oldest and most charming neighborhood, Old Town, dominates the shoreline and encapsulates the popular image of what Alexandria is. An incredibly walkable neighborhood, Old Town Alexandria has about everything residents could hope for in terms of dining, retail, entertainment, and recreation.

In terms of Old Town real estate there are a number of gorgeous brick townhomes for sale like the stately 301 Saint Asaph St S. There are also many condos that blend effortlessly into the neighborhood’s rustic aesthetic, such as Harborside and Captain’s Row condos, and some elegant newer builds such as 521 N Washington Street, Porto Vecchio and Alexandria House.

Del Ray

Developed initially to house employees of the adjacent rail yards, Del Ray has evolved into a hotspot for great food and wellness practices. Often referred to as ‘Well Ray,’ there is a surprising concentration of wellness business, including yoga studios and acupuncturists, which could probably cover the whole of Alexandria. Great restaurants and a beloved farmers’ market bolster the tendency toward good living in Del Ray.

Potomac Yard

Once a working rail yard requiring heaps of open space, Potomac Yard has had the luxury of a reasonably blank canvas on which to build—as industrial-to-residential conversions go. Developers of this fledgling neighborhood have had the advantage of knowing what works well in Alexandria. The results include a combination of modern sensibilities, as seen in Preston at Potomac Yard Condos; and the winning classic rowhome aesthetic on display at Potomac Yard: Pulte.

Carlyle

As the neighborhood is home to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, it is fitting that Carlyle (aka Carlyle District) has an all-around sleeker and more modern feel than the adjacent Old Town. Evidence of this can be seen in several new condominiums including The Jamieson, Condos at Carlyle Square, and Duke Condos, not to mention The Carlyle Club: the neighborhood’s own upscale art-deco supper club.

National Landing

The big news in Northern Virginia lately is that Amazon, the world’s most successful online retailer, has chosen the Arlington neighborhood of Crystal City as a hub for East Coast operations (Amazon HQ2). Naturally the benefits gleaned by Arlington will spread to Alexandria as well. Before pitching the area to Amazon, the local governments of Alexandria and Arlington teamed up to create something quite rare to house and support HQ2: a border-spanning neighborhood. Dubbed National Landing, this new neighborhood will be comprised of Crystal City and parts of Pentagon City and Potomac Yard. With a starting workforce of 25,000; Alexandria, Arlington, and the waterfront communities of DC are sure to experience significant economic growth in the coming years.