Pimmit Hills
Located in the Falls Church/Tysons Corner area of Fairfax County, Pimmit Hills is primed to become more sought-after as the Tysons Corner redevelopment continues, says Lianos.
“The homes are undervalued for their location, which is near everything in Tysons Corner and near the Silver Line Metro,” says Lianos.
The neighborhood is zoned for Marshall High School, which is rated above average compared to other schools in the state by GreatSchools.org.
“A sure sign that this is an up-and-coming neighborhood is that some builders are buying some of the older, smaller homes and tearing them down and rebuilding newer homes,” says Lianos.
Most residents can walk to the Tysons Corner or McLean Metro stops. They will also live near the Capital One headquarters redevelopment site, which is set to include an event space, shops, restaurants, a hotel and a Wegmans upscale grocery store. The event space will have room for performing arts events, with a large auditorium and black box theater, as well as local graduations.
Pimmit Hills is close to downtown McLean’s shops and restaurants and offers easy access to commuter routes and downtown D.C. Older homes can be found priced in the $500,000s to the $700,000s, but newer homes are priced at $1 to $1.3 million.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $101,852
Average Commute Time: 26 minutes
Schools: Lemon Road Elementary, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle, Marshall High
Zillow Forecast: Up 2.2 percent in 2018
Mosaic District, Merrifield
New construction has transformed this suburban shopping area into a destination with shops, restaurants and the Angelika Film Center.
Young professionals are drawn to the area for its walkability and trendy stores, as well as the newly constructed townhouses that match modern tastes. Two luxury rental buildings are also part of the development. Schline says condos within a short drive from the Mosaic District are also selling well because of proximity to the new community.
“People like the community-focused activities, too, with things like movies on the lawn in the summer and the farmers market and holiday events,” says Schline.
Mosaic District residents can walk to the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station, but many are likely to stay in the neighborhood to take advantage of the amenities that include traditional services such as a hair salon, fitness center and barber shop along with an eclectic mix of local and regional restaurants and shops as well as national brands. The Mosaic District piloted the LEED Neighborhood Development Program, introducing intelligent urban design elements such as walkable streets with plenty of places to sit, spaces to gather socially and healthy dining.
Close to the Mosaic District and within the community you can find everything from one-bedroom condos priced under $200,000s to townhouses in the $500,000s to the $900,000s.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $108,154
Average Commute Time: 32 minutes
Schools: Fairhill Elementary, Jackson Middle, Falls Church High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.9 percent in 2018
Town of Herndon
Revitalization is transforming the old-fashioned Town of Herndon, established in 1857, into an arts-focused, interesting community, says Burdett.
Last fall the Town of Herndon signed an agreement with Comstock Partners to redevelop part of downtown with new residences, retail space and an 18,000-square-foot arts center. The development is anticipated to be complete in 2021.
But the Town of Herndon already has plenty to offer residents, such as ArtSpace, where local artists can showcase their work in the galleries and aspiring artists can take classes. The Town Green has been the site for decades for Friday Night Live concerts in the summer and live music is also part of the scene at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern and the Ice House Café & Oyster Bar. The Herndon Farmers’ Market is open Thursdays from April through November and, in the summertime, includes entertainment for families.
The Town of Herndon earns a robust 83 out of 100 Walk Score, which means the majority of errands can be accomplished on foot.
Housing in Herndon includes about 3,000 single-family homes, many of which are historic, along with townhouses, condos and apartments. The Herndon Metro station is part of phase two of the Silver Line project and is anticipated to draw more residents to the area. Single-family homes and townhomes in downtown Herndon are priced from the $500,000s to the $900,000s.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $101,872
Average Commute Time: 25 minutes
Schools: Herndon Elementary, Herndon Middle, Herndon High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.8 percent in 2018
Penrose, Arlington
Even though the Columbia Pike streetcar project was cancelled, plenty of revitalization is already happening along Columbia Pike organically, says Knull. Last summer, a new bus system was approved that will include “premium transit stations” along the Pike.
Penrose, a neighborhood located 3 miles from D.C. between Columbia Pike and Route 50, stands to benefit from the redevelopment. Residents can walk to restaurants and shops, a library and Penrose Park. Among the popular restaurants are William Jeffrey’s Tavern, The Celtic House Irish Pub and Bob & Edith’s Diner.
“The neighborhood is a bit like Del Ray, with varied architectural styles and not at all cookie-cutter,” says Knull. “You get spillover of people who wanted to buy in North Arlington but couldn’t find what they wanted there.”
Schline says Penrose has slightly smaller lots and smaller single-family homes than Del Ray and other Arlington neighborhoods, which has the benefit of making them more affordable. The neighborhood also includes townhouses, condos and apartments, which makes for a diverse population in terms of income. Single-family homes range from $500,000 for an older home that needs work to $700,000 to $900,000 for a newer home.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $105,763
Average Commute Time: 26 minutes
Schools: Henry Elementary, Jefferson Middle, Wakefield High
Zillow Forecast: Up 2.2 percent in 2018
North Old Town Alexandria
Rhule says North Old Town has been developing over the past decade and becoming more desirable.
“It’s got a slightly younger, hipper vibe that attracts dual-income professionals without kids and some young families, too,” says Rhule.
Housing consists primarily of condos and townhouses, many of them relatively newly constructed as the area transitioned from industrial warehouse and office spaces into a more residential and mixed-use area. Last summer, the city council approved a plan for North Old Town that embraces the concept of an arts corridor, dog park, community gardens and bike paths.
There are more shops and restaurants than in the past in this part of town, plus for commuters, it’s easier to drive into the District from this section. Many residents can walk to the Braddock Road Metro station as well as local retail spaces and the rest of Old Town. For frequent flyers, North Old Town is about a 10-minute drive from Reagan National Airport. The Oronoco Bay Park provides a serene place to admire the Potomac and the Mount Vernon Trail extends throughout the neighborhood.
The neighborhood has a mix of homes from older studio condos priced under $200,000 to newer rowhouses priced over $1 million.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $89,134
Average Commute Time: 29 minutes
Schools: Jefferson-Houston Elementary, George Washington Middle, T.C. Williams High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.8 percent in 2018