Shirlington Village: Premier Address NOT on the Orange Line
July 23rd, 2007 Categories: Arlington Urban Villages, Around Arlington County, Buyers, Condos, Neighborhoods, Shirlington
Living on metro’s orange line is sexy, trendy and the “in” thing to do. The first words from the condo buyers I work with is: I want to live on the metro line. Of course the metro line they want is the orange line.
The orange line is great- from Rossyln to Ballston– it’s where everyone THINKS they want to live. And many people do.
There has been and continues to be many new development projects in the orange line corridor. Many that I will be talking about in months and years to come. BUT– if you work downtown and NOT on the orange line– commuting may not be as easy as you think because it usually involves a transfer. If that’s your situation, then it’s time to consider other options.
Your other options are the blue and yellow lines.
If you want Arlington, VA– that means your options for “walk-to-the-metro” are limited on the blue and yellow lines. Pentagon City & Crystal City is mostly rental apartments. The Ellipse is up and coming and stay tuned for my thoughts on that development. But it’s not exactly “walk-to-metro.” The Bella Vista condo is a high rise condo right in Pentagon City. Although it’s not in a real “walkable” neighborhood.
Shirlington is Arlington’s urban village to consider. It is a close-in, walkable village located just south of the Pentagon right off I395, Shirley Highway. It is considered Arlington’s Art Center and the home of WETA, Washington’s PBS Station, Signature Theater & Classika Theater. In addition to it’s art focus, there are great restaurants, The Energy Club gym, the W&OD bike path, dog parks, Shirlington library, a movie theater and annual street festivals like Movies Under the Stars and Octoberfest.
Anchored in the middle of all this activity is Shirlington’s new condominium: Shirlington Village. Built as part of Shirlington’s recent expansion, it is a 161 unit high-rise condo located across the street from the bike path on South Arlington Mill Drive.
It’s 161 units include one to four bedroom flats and lofts some with dens, ranging from 781 to 2,500 square feet. A little more spacious than your average orange line condo– with all the amenities found in any condo built in the last five years: roof-top pool, work-out room, business center, lounge with big-screen tv and 24–hour concierge.
There weren’t any short-cuts taken on each unit’s features: hardwood floors, high-end appliances, granite counter tops, ceramic tiled bathrooms. Each unit has a balcony or sun room and many of the first floor units have separate entrances onto South Arlington Mill Drive. If you are fortunate to live on the northeast side of the building- you even have a view of the Washington Monument. Exposures are either north or south– each unit I’ve been in has lots of light. In fact, my clients who moved there in January sometimes complain that there is too much light- if that’s even possible! But they love living there.
Coming this fall, Harris Teeter Grocery is opening right across from the entrance.
Each owner is deeded one or two parking spots in the underground garage in the building with other reserved spots in the shared multi-level garage next door. There are extra storage units and it’s a pet-friendly building.
When this condo opened late in 2006, many units were immediately listed to sale from investors who were looking to flip their property. When many of the units didn’t sell, they were rented. So, while there is currently only one unit for sale: a 2 bedroom, 2 bath with den unit on the 8th floor listed for $535,000– I expect more units to come on the market later this year when those leases are up. Keep your eyes open.
One thing that this building has that your average orange line condo doesn’t have? Competition. It is the only high rise condo in the neighborhood. There was suppose to be another condo – IO Piazza– but it’s been rumored to turn rental and all the listings on the MLS have magically disappeared! I could be wrong– so check their web site for more updated info.
Sure there are other condo communities in the neighborhood– Windgate, Fairlington, Park Fairfax, The Heatherlea- but all these were built or sold as condos in the 1970s-1980s. The other newest condo, on Four Mile Run– West Shirlington– is a conversion project of garden style units and not as conveniently located as Shirlington Village.
Now if you are commuting downtown– Arlington county is building a new bus depot at the other end of Shirlington to improve bus service to Shirlington. It is one stop away from the Pentagon metro and the yellow or blue metro line.
If you’re in the market for an Arlington condo– don’t limit your options.
Explore the south side– you just might be surprised.
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