Will's Blog

head_left_image

Braddock Metro

Braddock StationThe Braddock Metro Station is located at 700 N. West St., entrance at the North side Braddock Rd. Residents of the Braddock Road Metro neighborhood are participating in a comprehensive re-planning of the blocks between the Metro Station and Route 1. There are already several condo communities at Braddock Metro, including Colecroft Station Condos and the Lofts at Braddock. Toward Rosemont and Del Ray, the neighborhood is mostly composed of upscale single-family detached homes.

Braddock Metro Station has relatively low Metro ridership. Near the metro there are acres of empty lots and warehouses in what was once an industrial area, but is now a highly sought after neighborhood. So, this neighborhood is poised for redevelopment. Residents, activists and developers are working with local government to plan architecture, public spaces and parks, safe and pedestrian friendly streets, local retail and restaurants, transit, and a mix of housing types for all incomes.

The first train departs at 4:55am at Huntington Station, and last train departs at 12:33am Huntington Station. Braddock Metro is 7 blocks from the center of Old Town Alexandria, of Washington Street, and 5 blocks to the Potomac River.

Parking available using SmarTrip cards with 10 short metered spaces. There are 46 bike racks and 12 lockers at the station.

Metrorail fares:
$1.65 minimum
$4.50 maximum
Children's fares:
Up to 2 children 4 years or younger ride free with an adult paying full fare.
Children 5 or older pay adult fares.
Seniors 65+ ride for half price of the regular fares.

Braddock Station toward Colecroft Station Condos

Condo 1 of Alexandria serves Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County

Alexandria Festival of Arts

On September 13th -14th, join the fun at the 6th Annual Alexandria Festival of the Arts! The festival is centered at the Hotel Monaco, located at 480 King Street in Old Town. There is a parking garage nearby but the festival can be  accessed via Metro and the King St. Trolley.

Artists from all over the country will proudly showcase their work for attendees. Come on by to browse or possibly make a purchase. The prices for the art pieces will vary from artist, on size, quality, and medium. There will be the opportunity to share your ideas on the art work with the artists in an friendly environment.

A wide variety art will be on display such as paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, and ceramics. Artists were chosen from a panel of judges based on the quality and originality of their work.

The Alexandria Festival of the Arts was voted as one of the top 100 festivals by Sunshine Artist Magazine. There are no entrance fees at the gate and hours of the festival are Saturday 10am - 7pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Alexandria Festival of Arts

Alexandria is a nice place to visit, but a great place to live. It's close to job centers in the Pentagon, DC and Northern Virginia. The area has some of the most sought-after real estate in the world, but there are always bargains to be found.  For help with your real estate needs in Alexandria, contact Will Nesbitt.

The Athenaeum --- Northern Virginia's Fine Arts Association in Old Town Alexandria

The Atheanaeum in Old Town AlexandriaLocated in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, The Athenaeum is home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association (NVFAA). Constructed between 1851-52, the Athenaeum is a Greek revival building with a rich history. The building is named after the Greek Goddess of wisdom, Athena. Over the years The Athenaeum has taken many names and was used for many functions. Together with the Lyceum, the Athenaeum is a foundation of Alexandria's Greek neo-classic buildings.

The building has a long history of use in Alexandria. Before the Civil War, Robert E. Lee banked here, when the building was known as the Bank of the Old Dominion. During the Civil War it was occupied by Federals and home to the Union Army Commissary Headquarters. In 1905, the bank was converted from commercial to industrial purposes.  The building was used by the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop as a place to grind talcum into powder.  In 1925, the talcum factory became the Free Methodist Church.

NVFAA purchased the Athenaeum in 1964. Since then, restorations have taken place using the funds from the members of the NVFAA and the National Park Service Save America’s Treasure Grant.

Recent art exhibits include Song For Europe by Mark Cameron Boyd is participatory installation using his signature “text bisection” process on a series of chalkboards to address four different languages from European origin such as Greek, Latin, French, and English. This exhibit is on display from August 16th - September 21st.

Music is another art form featured at The Athenaeum. Up and coming:

  • September 11th - Tom Dews with Patricia Cooper.
  • October 9th - Lori Grigsby & Sandy Moyer with Patricia Cooper
  • December 11th - BumpKin Pie

Yoga classes are available at The Athenaeum. Instructor Betsy Huffman welcomes drop-ins. Class fees are only $18 per class. Classes are Mondays 11:30am

The Athenaeum is available for rentals for weddings, receptions, parties, business meetings and seminars.

Gallery Hours:
Thursday, Friday, & Sunday: Noon-4pm
Saturday 1pm-4pm

The Athenaeum
201 Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-0035

If you're interested in buying or selling real estate in Old Town, please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo 1. Condo 1 serves Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County. We have a special interest in condominiums, but we are a full service agency helping any buyers or sellers. Our fast and free database of all MLS properties is at your service.

Condo 1 of Alexandria also provides property management services for landlords in Alexandria. We provide attentive service to protect your investment and cash flow. Contact us if you need a property manager in Alexandria.

Crystal Gateway at Waterford House --- Condos in Crystal City

Crystal Gateway CondoCrystal Gateway at 1300 Crystal Drive is one of the original anchors of Crystal City, a so-called urban village in the southeastern corner of Arlington County, Virginia, just south of Washington, DC.

Constructed of cast concrete in the mid-Sixties, the condominium community comprises 17 floors and a two-story penthouse. The curvilinear Crystal Gateway adjoins Waterford House, which houses both condos and office space and fronts 12th Street. Together, the two buildings form a horseshoe embracing a landscaped courtyard and pool.

Crystal Gateway houses no more than four condominiums on each floor, with some floors having only three. They range from a two-bedroom, two-bath unit of 1,516 square feet to a three- bedroom, two-bath, one half-bath unit of 2,296 square feet to the penthouse's four bedrooms and three baths totaling 2,780 square feet.

Typical units boast open floor plans; wall-to-wall carpet, ceramic-tile and hardwood floors; living-room wet bars; generous closets; spacious kitchens with updated appliances, Corian countertops and breakfast nooks; washer-dryers, and marble bathrooms with two basins and a soaking tub.

Expansive balconies, opening off living rooms and master bedrooms, afford panoramic views of the nearby Potomac River, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Kennedy Center and the distant National Cathedral.

Accessing those attractions couldn't be easier. Crystal City is served not only by Metro's blue and yellow lines but also by Metrobus, the Arlington Transit ART buses, and the Omnilink commuter buses; the Metro station is also a stop for Virginia Railway Express commuter trains.

It's just a 10-minute walk to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Pentagon Row and 15 minutes to the Pentagon and Pentagon City Mall.

Fashion Center at Pentagon City

Amenities at Crystal Gateway include a card room and a larger party room off the mirrored, mauve-and-green lobby. There's an exercise facility with a weight room and an aerobics area, as well as an indoor pool.

Monthly condo association fees, ranging from $650 to $850, provide for concierge and security service 24/7, water and hot water, building maintenance and grounds keeping. One underground parking space and a cage storage area are provided for each unit; additional paid storage is available.

In 2007, Crystal Gateway's foyer and halls were redecorated and the electric heating and air- conditioning system was upgraded. The last five years have seen major building replacements, among them the cooling tower, the heat exchanger and two hot-water heaters. In addition, all the balconies have been resurfaced.

The building is the midst of "going green," implementing energy-conservation measures and trash recycling, and improvements scheduled for 2008 include new audio for the fire-alarm system and interior decoration of both elevators.

Crystal Gateway is managed by Delbe Real Estate Company. Pets are not allowed.

  • For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in 22202 zip code.
  • For rent — Live data on rentals in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22202 zip code.

Condo 1 of Alexandria serves Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County

Crystal City -- urban village

Residents of Crystal City enjoy a remarkably convenient lifestyle. Centered along a stretch of Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1), Crystal City consists of a dramatic streetscape of office buildings, hotels, high-rise apartment buildings, shops and restaurants – all shaded by trees and linked by brick sidewalks.

But the area’s real charm is hidden from view – literally. Crystal City is so designed that residents east of Route One can traverse the city’s entire length, north to south, through a system of climate-controlled underground concourses. Sheltered from extremes of heat and cold, rain and snow, residents of Crystal Gateway can walk from home to the Crystal City Metro station in less than 10 minutes. After work, they have a multitude of options at the Crystal City Shopping Arcade, an underground mall adjacent to the Metro that features excellent restaurants, art galleries, hair salons, clothing boutiques and sporting goods stores.

The Crystal City Metro Station is underground at 1750 South Clark St., Arlington, VA 22202. It is served by both the Yellow and Blue lines of the Washington Metro. The entrance is at the corner of Clark St. & 18th St. Crystal City Station opens at 5:02 a.m. (Trains leave exactly two hours later Saturdays and Sundays.) The last train departs around midnight. (Trains leave exactly three hours later on Friday and Saturday nights.) There are 10 bike racks at the Crystal City Metro Station. The station is served by many buses and bus lines:

  • Metrobus 16H
  • Metrobus 23A
  • Metrobus C
  • Metrobus 9S
  • Arlington Transit Bus 91
  • Fairfax Connector Bus 597
  • Loudoun OmniRide Commuter Bus

Crystal City also has its own Virginia Rail Express (VRE) station serving both Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. Reagan National Airport is located in Crystal City. Crystal City has direct access to I-395 as well as Rt. 1 and the GW Parkway. The Mount Vernon bike trail skirts the edge of Crystal City.

Crystal City is served by the Aurora Hills Branch Library. Aurora Hills Library is in a spacious, contemporary building. The collection is broad and diverse but highlights contemporary, popular fiction and nonfiction titles. Periodicals and books-on-tape are also available for borrowing. Inquire at the library to learn more abou the book discussion groups that meet here monthly, or to learn more about the pre-schooler program.

With Reagan National Airport in our backyard, direct access to major highways, and even a direct link to the Mt. Vernon Bike Trail... Crystal City is at the center of it all.

  • For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in 22202 zip code.
  • For rent — Live data on rentals in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22202 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22202 zip code.

Condo 1 of Alexandria serves Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County

Shops and Entertainment Complex at Eisenhower Metro --- Condo Heaven

AMC movie complexes are located all throughout the United Sates and Canada with over 350 theaters and over 5,000 screens. AMC Hoffman 22 is a 22-screen theater making it the largest movie complex in Northern Virginia and second largest in the region. Built in 2001, it is a relatively new theater. There ATM machines for purchasing tickets and advance ticket pickup. Ten of the screens are on the first floor with a very large lobby leading to a escalator or elevator to the second floor with 12 more screens. Two of theaters seat 410, and three others seat 318.

In addition to easy service from the Eisenhower Metro, the entertainment complex has plenty of parking. There is paid parking available in the garage next door and surface parking available for free. At night and on the weekends. when the offices of the Hoffman Center are closed, there is additional surface parking available for free.

Tickets:
Adult $10.50
Matinee $8.50
Child (ages 2-12) $7.50
Senior (ages 60+) $9.50
Student Day (Every Thursday for a limited time ages 13+ w/ valid student ID) $7.50
Senior Day (Every Thursday for a limited time, ages 60+) $6.00
A.M. Cinema (All shows before Noon on weekends) $6.00

AMC Hoffman 22
206 Swamp Fox Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 998-4262

There are several eating establishments in close proximity to the theater. These include:

Condo 1 of Alexandria serves Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax County

There are many condos and residences located in and around the Eisenhower Valley. Will Nesbitt there to help make sense of it all and to help you find your next residence.

Eisenhower Metro Station


The Eisenhower Metro stop is located at 2400 Eisenhower Avenue. It is across the street from the Hoffman Town Center and entertainment complex. Eisenhower station is just inside the Capital Beltway (I-495) at the Telegraph Road exit. The Eisenhower Metro is served by the Yellow Line.

Eisenhower Metro

Eisenhower is a two platform station. Access to both platforms is provided to two escalators and an elevator. Bike parking is available with 10 bike racks and 6 lockers in the station.

The first train departs at 4:51 am Huntington and the last train departs at 12:37 am Huntington. Service beca

me available to the public on December, 17, 1983. The REX bus provides service nearby at the corner of Swamp Fox Rd. and Eisenhower. Eisenhower is served by DASH buses 2, 6, & 7.

Metrorail fares:
$1.65 minimum
$4.50 maximum

Children’s fares:
Up to 2 children 4 years or younger ride free with an adult paying full fare.
Children 5 or older pay adult fares.
Seniors 65+ ride for half price of the regular fares.

The Eisenhower Metro serves the Carlyle District and is convenient for workers at businesses in and around the Hoffman Center. The Eisenhower Metro is also useful for many residents in the condos of the Carlyle District. For some residents, the Eisenhower Metro is more convenient than the King St. Metro.

The Eisenhower Metro is in the 22314 zip code, which is generally considered Old Town Alexandria, but there is very little that is "old" anywhere near this stop.  The Carlyle Towers and several other new structures dominate the skyline here. For more information about Carlyle Towers, or the condos of the Carlyle District, please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo 1 at 703 765 0300.

  • Eisenhower Metro --- Search property near the Eisenhower Metro Station
  • For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in 22314 zip code.
  • For rent — Live data on rentals in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22314 zip code.

Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library

 

Kate W. Barrett Branch Library

The Barrett Library was built in 1937 and named after Kate Waller Barrett (185?-1925), to honor her memory as a humanitarian, social crusader, and political reformer. Mrs. Barrett was a very accomplished woman who received an her M.D. from the Women’s Medical College of Georgia in 1892. Dr. Barrett opened a home for unwed mothers in 1893 with the financial aid of Charles Crittenton. By 1909 there were over 90 homes and national headquarters in Washington D.C. DR. Barrett also was involved in veterans’ relief, women’s suffrage, and the restoration of the Arlington Mansion.

The library has undergone renovations and expanded its facilities in 1995. The Foundation Center at Barrett Library collaborates with the Alexandria Library to strengthen the nonprofit sector with the appropriate knowledge about U.S. philanthropy and training for its patrons.

The Barrett Branch also offers the SummerQuest children’s programs and “Let’s Talk Books” a Barrett book discussion group held every second Wednesday of each month at 7pm.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm
Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 1pm-5pm

Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4555

Old Town Alexandria is a great place to live or work.

  • For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in 22314 zip code.
  • For rent — Live data on rentals in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22314 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22314 zip code.

James M. Duncan Library

James M. Duncan Library

James M. Duncan (1897-1967), born in Alexandria. He was long term serving Alexandria City Councilman and member of the Library Board. After his death in 1967 it was proposed that the Del Ray branch be named in Duncan’s honor. The James M. Duncan Library continues to serve the Del Ray community of Alexandria.

Newly renovations have expanded the library to 5,000 square feet, naturally adult reading area, and new children’s reading section.

The James M. Duncan Library was the first building in Alexandria with a "green", or ecologically friendly, roof. It acts as an insulator by reducing the indoor temperature during the summer season. Also by using vegetation and soil it reduces rain water to sewer run off and naturally filters the water.

Every summer James M. Duncan branch offers children fun, exciting, and educational programs with a variety of functions. The SummerQuest programs is for ages 6-12. SummerQuest Junior is for ages infants to five years old.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm
Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Closed Sundays

James M. Duncan Branch Library
2501 Commonwealth Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 838-4566

Del Ray and Rosemont are a wonderful communities and there are many choices here. Please contact Will Nesbitt at 703 765 0300 if you are considering buying or selling in Alexandria.

  • For sale — Live data on all condos for sale in 22301 zip code.
  • For rent — Live data on rentals in 22301 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22301 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22301 zip code.
  • Homes for sale — All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22301 zip code.

Lloyd House -- Historic Alexandria

 

Interior of Lloyd House

Built between 1796-1797 in Georgian style by John Wise, the Lloyd House was occupied the Lloyd family from 1832-1918 and home to Carolyn Hallowell Miller, a suffragist leader after the Civil War. The Lloyd House use to be a branch of the Alexandria Library but now houses the Office of Historic Alexandria.

Many events are welcome to take place at the Lloyd House such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, fund-raisers, and workshops. Only the first floor and garden is permitted for use and could accommodate 100 people depending on the type of venue. The North Parlor Room has a maximum capacity of 50 seated dinner/meeting and 90 limited seating, mixer event. There is one unisex bathroom on the first floor for public use.

Lloyd House in Old Town

Facilities Coordinator
Lloyd House
220 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-4554

For your real estate needs and around Alexandria, please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo 1. We serve buyers, sellers, renters and landlords.