Place to live?

[DaveK]

Arlington: http://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/1121-Arlington-Blvd-22209/unit-807/home/11252766

DC: http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/101-N-Carolina-Ave-SE-20003/unit-109/home/10343851

Just a couple of examples. You can find these sorts of condos very close in. It’s only when you want more space that you have to start moving further out. It’s all a tradeoff.

[hozn]

@DaveK 77646 wrote:

It’s easy though from almost anywhere in Arlington to hop over Key Bridge and out MacArthur Blvd to string together a longer day.

This is true. I just wouldn’t want to do that at rush hour — though it is probably not as bad as I fear.

[DaveK]

@hozn 77650 wrote:

This is true. I just wouldn’t want to do that at rush hour — though it is probably not as bad as I fear.

That is an excellent point… I bet it’s even worse than you fear.

I don’t know anywhere in the area I’d feel comfortable riding for 50 miles at rush hour that isn’t a loop in a small little area of north Arlington.

[Arlingtonrider]

@DaveK 77664 wrote:

That is an excellent point… I bet it’s even worse than you fear.

I don’t know anywhere in the area I’d feel comfortable riding for 50 miles at rush hour that isn’t a loop in a small little area of north Arlington.

I think that’s true if you want to stick to the roads, but the W&OD can be a fine 50 mile ride during rush hour (when there isn’t snow).

[dasgeh]

@DaveK 77664 wrote:

That is an excellent point… I bet it’s even worse than you fear.

I don’t know anywhere in the area I’d feel comfortable riding for 50 miles at rush hour that isn’t a loop in a small little area of north Arlington.

There’s also the loop in the middle of the Potomac & Anacostia rivers.

[GB]

Pluggin’ my hood –

I’ve lived in a colonial village condo for 5 yrs and love it. It’s right between Court House and Rosslyn with easy access to Custis, the MVT and the Cap. Crescent Trail. The N. Arlington hills are in my backyard and so is the WOD. It’s easy to cross the Key, TR or 14th st bridges for cycling around DC or Haines Point.

It’s a 1 mile walk to Clarendon for groceries or a night out and it is well served by the metro, metro bus, and the ART buses if you don’t feel like walking.

If there’s a catch its that none of the units under $300k are new. But if you’re happy with 1980s construction (time tested) check out the area. I know there are a couple 1 bedroom condo’s for sale in the Colonial Village development at the moment (condo dues run around $300, which I think is lower than average). Be aware that some of these may be historically protected developments.

[DaveK]

@Arlingtonrider 77672 wrote:

I think that’s true if you want to stick to the roads, but the W&OD can be a fine 50 mile ride during rush hour (when there isn’t snow).

While one could do it, I think you’d either sprain a bell ringing finger or go hoarse from shouting “on your left!” if you tried to ride 50 on the W&OD around rush hour.

[guga31bb]

@hozn 77650 wrote:

This is true. I just wouldn’t want to do that at rush hour — though it is probably not as bad as I fear.

It’s not that bad once you get past directly in front of the Georgetown campus — for some reason MacArthur is never very busy except near those turnoffs to 495. The only thing I really don’t like doing during rush hour is going up that super steep part of N Glebe right after crossing Chain Bridge that has no shoulder and a bunch of cars who don’t want to wait behind someone biking up a hill at 5mph.

[consularrider]

@guga31bb 77711 wrote:

… The only thing I really don’t like doing during rush hour is going up that super steep part of N Glebe right after crossing Chain Bridge that has no shoulder and a bunch of cars who don’t want to wait behind someone biking up a hill at 5mph.

Try for the KOM on 41st instead.

Hmm, just had an awkward thought, do they plow it (especially the switchback trail at the top)?

[vvill]

Yeah I don’t even like biking down that section. Have never attempted going up – I always opt for 41st.

[Terpfan]

Well, with the budget and willingness to live in condo type living, you pretty much open up areas on all of the trails. You can still buy smallish condos in north Old Town Alexandria for $230-250k. I rented there before and it’s right on the MVT. You have Shirlington right on 4MR. There are places along the Custis. I mean, if condo living is ok, then pretty much any trail in the region becomes opened up. So it becomes other factors like which trail/area do you like, what do you value in terms of area (nightlife, restaurant choices, etc etc).

Having lived in MD, DC and VA (I’ve literally lived in every bordering jurisdiction except Arlington, ha), I would say there are advantages and disadvantages to each. The most notable to me is financial and VA’s cheaper. You’re looking at 5.75% income tax (well more like 5.5% if you make less than 100k once you run their graduated level up to the top) versus effectively 7.95% (also graduated, so really 7.85ish) in MoCo/PG in MD versus 8.5% in DC. Generally speaking, the fees are also lower in VA (driver’s license, car registration, title, etc). The downside is VA charges property tax on vehicles, but if you’re carless, this is a big plus. With that said, VA has no state property tax, so what you see locally is what you get. It makes it slightly cheaper in total than neighboring MD or DC jurisdictions. DC for me was always about convenience and my brief time living in the city was great for going out–so many ways to get home from a long walk, to bus, to cab, to bike, to Metro, to whatever I wanted and so many choices. MD was home growing up and obviously I’m a huge Terps fan so it has many positives, particularly I always liked the state’s parks and recretation (MoCo’s indoor pools were awesome). So, yah, +/-s to all of them, but you have plenty of chocies.

[hozn]

@consularrider 77713 wrote:

Try for the KOM on 41st instead.

Hmm, just had an awkward thought, do they plow it (especially the switchback trail at the top)?

No, don’t take my KOM!

Yeah, I rode up Glebe a couple of times before I discovered 41st street; I never ride up Glebe anymore.

[Dcphilly]

hi everyone. thanks for all the input. I ended up buying a 1bd/1bath condo out in vienna near the metro station. I don’t think it’s very bike friendly… but oh well

[dcv]

Congrats, there are a couple of commuters who regularly ride from Vienna to DC. PM me if you’d like any help finding a route, there are a few ways to get to the WOD from the Vienna metro. Also – dirt’s been organizing Friday commuter convoys, starting at the WOD & Maple in Vienna at 6:30 and riding to Friday coffee club in DC.

[NicDiesel]

@Dcphilly 80336 wrote:

hi everyone. thanks for all the input. I ended up buying a 1bd/1bath condo out in vienna near the metro station. I don’t think it’s very bike friendly… but oh well

Ouch. Are you biking to work from there? The W&OD out by Vienna is a great ride (except on the weekends). Just tell me you’re not driving to work on 66.

[Author]

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