May 2019

For urban living in a parklike setting, it’s time to explore the possibilities of living in McClean Gardens. This historic community sits in Northwest DC, right on the edge of Glover-Archbold Park, yet also just a stroll away from shopping, dining, entertainment options, and public transportation.

Situated on nearly two-dozen acres of wooded property, McLean Gardens is home to dozens of condo buildings. Originally constructed around the early 1940s to house World War II-era defense workers in dormitory-style housing, the buildings later turned into rentals, and then condos in the early 1980s. These days buyers have their choice of flats, duplexes or lofts in McLean Gardens, and hold the distinction of living in one of DC’s most desirable

With its central location, Residences at CityCenter provides for sophisticated living options in an urban environment. This newer construction condo complex offers up more than 200 private homes, spread across two towers.

Some homes offer the enjoyment of a private terrace and the convenience of garage parking. New residents can also expect to find such luxuries as sweeping floor-to-ceiling glass, opening up the units to an abundance of natural light. Other features and finishes extend to the hardwood floors, high-end appliances and some custom additions.

Typically, the Residences at CityCenter start at around 620 square feet of living space, but some of the largest options in the complex command more than 2,600 square feet of living space.

With a large park, a mix of housing, restaurants and retailers, Columbia Heights has it all. This trendy neighborhood has changed substantially since its beginnings, and it continues to grow in popularity, especially in more recent years.

Once home to a university, horse track and farmland, Columbia Heights grew to become a Washington streetcar suburb. Riots in the 1960s, however, took a heavy toll on this once fashionable community. It took decades more for the neighborhood to finally spring back to life.

When a major Metro station opened up in the late 1990s, it wasn’t long before developers started moving in to Columbia Heights. You’ll now find a mix of national retail stores plus mom-and-pop shops in the neighborhood.

You’ll also find

Graphic: Crystal City Business Improvement District

Formed to promote the offerings of Crystal City, the Crystal City Business Improvement District works to continually promote local restaurants, retailers, businesses and the residential community as a whole.  Essentially a BID is a private/public partnership for business and property owners to collectively contribute to the development, promotion and maintenance of a commercial district.

Property owners within the boundary elect a Board of Directors to governor the BID. The board is made up of a mix of tenants, business representatives, property owners, and others with an interest in the area.

The Crystal City BID has six core areas it focuses on including economic development, transportation,

Brand new condos are now available in National Harbor. The Haven at National Harbor is one of the most exciting new additions to the waterfront location, with a number of different floor plans available for new buyers to choose from.

While peacefully at home in a more private setting, The Haven also holds the advantage of a location that’s just a short stroll away from hundreds of options in shopping and dining at National Harbor. Some condos offer the desirability of Potomac River and National Harbor waterfront views, as well.

New condos at The Haven mark the first new condos built at National Harbor since it first opened about a decade ago. With nearly 250 condos to choose from, the property also marks one of the largest projects of its kind

Available units are going fast at Verse, where already more than 60-percent of available condos have been sold. The new condo building doesn’t open until later this fall, but it’s already considered one of the best-selling new luxury condo developments in the area.

The 25-story building marks the first phase of The Boro District, the very first walkable community to come to Tysons Corner. Phase one promises to bring along the addition of new condos, apartments, retail space, office space and a one-acre park.

In all, the 16-acre Boro District aims to become a destination with the city, with retail, commercial and residential space combining to form one of the area’s most desirable locations. Future plans include the addition of outdoor concerts,

Photo: akunamatata

Whether you’re an avid runner or just like to take an occasional jog around your neighborhood or through the park, Arlington is a great place to get in some exercise. While there’s plenty to do, see and experience living in Arlington County, it’s specifically tops when it comes to running.

The county was just named the top spot for runners for the second year in a row. The ranking comes from SmartAsset, a financial website that commonly tracks consumer-oriented things, including the best cities for runners.

According to SmartAsset, when comparing the number of races per 10,000 residents, Arlington has more than any of the other 97 cities it studied. Some options for the spring include Crystal City 5K Fridays, held in

As one of the nation’s fastest growing suburban communities, McLean is known for its beautiful homes and its upscale options. Only about 10-miles outside of DC, the location makes it easy to travel to the neighboring communities of Reston, Falls Church and Arlington.

Overall, though, people are drawn to McClean for its prestigious setting, with upscale homes, quiet streets and a high quality of life. All of this, however, remains an easy commute away from everything else in the DC area.

Years ago, McLean served an important role in history. While not officially established until the turn-of-the-century, the town played a part in the War of 1812. One of its most historic sites is Hickory Hill, an old estate dating back to the late 1800s. Even

A new residential tower just broke ground in Tysons. Monarch is currently under construction, bringing with it more than 90 new condo units, set within a 20-story building on Jones Branch Drive.

The future condos are expected to range from around 880 square feet of living space to around 3,400 square feet of space. Priced starting in the $600,000s, you will also likely find some units topping $3 million. Options start at a one-bedroom unit, with some three-bedroom and penthouse units available.

This allows for around a dozen different floor plans, with only two to six units per floor of the building. All of the private condos will feature the inclusion of outdoor balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for plentiful natural light to