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Arlington, VA’s best-of-both-worlds quality has made it an attractive option for young families and empty nesters. A diverse arts community, perpetual cultural events, and divine dining give it a big-city feel while offering a little more open air and lower taxes than Washington, DC. So naturally, several forward-thinking developments have cropped up, offering many avenues to make Arlington your new home.
‘Interior Views’
The Wooster and Mercer condominiums, which occupy a coveted Arlington location between the Court House and Rosslyn Metro stops, don’t feel old or new. The buildings feel timeless, combining modern amenities, ceiling heights to gape at, and a wise, 21st-century sense of making every square foot count. Jim Abdo, owner of Abdo Development, says no expense was spared in giving the buildings some real substance and authenticity.
Amenities standard to most upscale condos – granite countertops, hardwood floors, and high-end appliances – are found at the Wooster and Mercer, but there are less obvious touches that distinguish it from other projects. The door to each residence is made from solid oiled wood, walls are poured concrete, double-paned argon gas-infused windows were used, and Abdo hand-picked the color of the bricks and mortar. Waterworks tile and fixtures accent the bathrooms.
“Every unit is different,” he says, and each one is a designer’s dream. Flooded with natural light, the high ceilings (up to 21 feet) give each space the feel of a gallery, and tasteful ironwork, exposed brick and ductwork add city charm.
“People are obsessed with exterior views,” which each many-windowed unit certainly has, Abdo says. But central to his design was the concept of “interior views” – that is, making sure that no matter where in the unit you stand, you’ll be looking at something lovely. The high ceilings, which give it more cubic footage than square footage, accommodate this notion nicely. The development’s well-designed common spaces include a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a pet park, and a club room. Priced up to $1 million; as of press time more than 80 percent of the 86 units were sold.
One-Stop Living
A major reason people choose to downscale from a spacious single-family home to a compact condo is simplicity – they just want to cover less ground. And the well-planned environment at The Eclipse on Center Park in Arlington makes everything available, with an on-site, 24-hour Harris Teeter grocery, fitness center, owners’ lounge, club room, pool, and theater. Photo-worthy views of DC abound, some including monuments, some catching twinkling pieces of the Potomac. Priced up to the $400s, up to two-bedroom with den floor plans available. There are 465 units total, with about 70 percent sold at press time.
A Different Kind of Rental Community
Renowned architect and designer Robert A. M. Stern is the brain behind the look of The Gramercy at Metropolitan Park, an unusually all-inclusive rental community in Arlington. Zipcar services, Metro access, concierge service, high-end finishes and fixtures, ceramic tile floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, on-site retail, a theater and screening room, and a club room with a bar and demo kitchen are just a slice of what residents are offered at The Gramercy. If you’re between homes or in the area for the short-term, this could be your ideal blend of condo and apartment living. Priced up to $6,700 per month, 399 units total, with about 40 percent leased at press time.
