Pentagon City: Hub for young professionals

Pentagon City in Arlington is a neighborhood defined by its Metro station of the same name. The blue and yellow trains that make for easy commutes to the District and beyond have made the neighborhood a desirable home for young professionals, both couples and singles.

The businesses concentrated around the Metro station put many amenities such as live music, a gym and many restaurants within walking distance. “I rarely have to drive,” said Lindsay Mapp, adding that an abundance of retail outlets has made shopping on foot a preferred way of doing things.

“I walk to the grocery store, walk to take care of my errands, for the convenience of everyday life,” she said. “It makes things a lot easier than having to get in the car for everything.”

Pentagon City is located in south Arlington less than a mile from the Potomac River. Its boundaries are Crystal City to the east, with which it shares Jefferson Davis Highway; the neighborhood of Arlington Ridge to the west; Interstate 395 on the north; and Aurora Highlands and Virginia Highlands Park to the south.

While mostly undeveloped at the time the Metro station opened, there were some high-rise apartment buildings on Fern, Hayes and Joyce streets.

Today, the neighborhood is home to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, a multilevel indoor mall, and the adjacent Pentagon Row complex, which has retail and high-end apartments. It also is the site of a Thursday night concert series during the summer and an outdoor ice skating rink during the winter.

Apartment and condo buildings include the Metropolitan, the Park View, Southampton Condominium town house community, River House and Claridge House.

The neighborhood, of course, is close to the Pentagon and home to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Transportation Security Administration also has offices in Pentagon City, as do scores of Defense Department agencies and contractors.

“Pentagon City is crowded,” said resident Keith Winkelman. “The people who move here tend to be sociable, and many take part in the events that go on here.” Part of the attraction is that Pentagon City is so close to the District “but it’s not in the city,” Winkelman said. “It’s citylike, but not rural, like out in the suburbs.”

The abundance of activity has helped make Pentagon City a “medium-to-high market,” said Angela Warren, a housing consultant for Re/Max Allegiance. She said condos sell within 30 to 60 days but, while younger professionals flock to Pentagon City, they do not stay.

“Pentagon City is primarily transitional with the younger professionals who’re mostly chasing work, so there’s a huge turnover,” she said.

That type of homebuyer is not looking for a fixer-upper, so property owners must ensure their condominiums offer the same amenities found in single-family homes, Warren said. ”Most buyers are looking for updated kitchens and bathrooms, such as granite countertops, even in rentals. That is really important to them, especially the younger crowd,” she said. “What they really want is a place where they don’t have to do anything except move in.”

 

At a glance