Kingstowne --- A planned community with a great plan

Kingstowne is a massive 22,000 acre subdivision---a planned community with nearly 5400 residences. The Northern Virginia region is home to many planned communities, Reston and Dale City come to mind quickly. Reston works well, but in my humble opinion, Kingstowne, the newest of the planned communities in this area, seemed to get things right. Kingstowne has a nice mixture of condos, townhouses and single family homes, with multiple entry points through broad rolling boulevards.

Kingstowne is so large, that many of the nearby subdivisions are now referred by many as being in Kingstowne. Yes, Kingstowne in many was has become its own little town. Never mind that nearby subdivisions like Island Creek and Manchester Lakes aren't officially in Kingstowne, many people still refer to the general area near Springfield and Franconia in Fairfax County, Virginia as Kingstowne.

One of the reasons that Kingstowne works so well is because of its position in the area's transportation network. For example, because Kingstowne is located just outside the Capital Beltway (I-495) and has easy access to the Springfield Mixing Bowl, the enormous junction of Interstates 95, 395, and 495, Kingstowne provides its residents a good commute to major employment centers like the Pentagon, Washington DC, Tysons Corner, Arlington and Alexandria. Via back-roads, Kingstowne connects very easily to Fort Belvoir.

The residents of Kingstowne can also reach downtown via the Metro's Blue Line at the Springfield-Franconia Metro or the Van Dorn Metro. Springfield-Franconia station is closer to Kingstowne and offers plenty of parking. Van Dorn Metro is closer to town and offers a "kiss and ride".

Despite being in a major metropolitan area, Kingstowne maintains a small town feel. Kingstowne Towne Centre has shops, grocers, restaurants, banks and fast food---in other words: all the conveniences of modern life. Nearby Springfield Mall serves most needs. Kingstowne is a great place to live.

Click Kingstowne to see what's for sale in and around Kingtowne.

About the Author: Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo 1 Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty in Alexandria VA. He specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne.

Sponsored by Condo 1 Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty LLC

Serving real estate needs of Northern VA · in Alexandria · in Arlington · in Fairfax County ·

Does your HOA or condo restrict vehicles?

When I found this out I was a bit upset, so I worked a round of emails through the tenants, the landlord and the condo association. We advised all parties concerned that Condo 1 Alexandria proceeds from several assumptions:

1. Landlord and the tenants are entitled to all the benefits and rights of the subject association
2. Our tenants and landlords are bound by the same rules and regulations as everyone else. 
3. We also believe that we are part of a community and as such we should treat our neighbors with respect and dignity. 

I treat the condo associations as if they were our friends and neighbors.  

Now, if my next door neighbor improperly parked a vehicle at my home, my response would be to discuss the matter with my neighbor. My neighbor might not know the rules. My neighbor might need one night of lenience. My neighbor might have some reason for doing what he is doing. By talking with my neighbor or by issuing a warning of some sort I could preserve a friendship and partnership with my neighbor.

If my neighbor was not reasonable and if I could not come to an informal solution, then we would agree---as friends and neighbors---to fall back on the rules and regulations that guide our community.  

Tow First --- Ask Questions Later

I was upset because someone at the association or the towing company made the decision to tow first and ask questions later. That policy is the quickest way to destroy a community and pit neighbor against neighbor. Condo 1 Alexandria and our tenants and our landlords do not want to antagonize our neighbors or community. But, we ask that our neighbors wish us the same.

  As a part of my due diligence, I reviewed the new parking resolutions at Island Creek and came to understand that the tenant's work van was an unauthorized vehicle per the new November regulation. I had an older set of condo docs. Commonly, commercial vehicles are banned in residential areas, but there is a difference between a commercial vehicle and a work van with a logo painted on it.

Landlords and tenants should know that I do not make it my business to read each new resolution from the forty or so condo associations where Condo 1 Alexandria does business.

But if you ask me I personally think that the new Island Creek resolution diminishes the value of Island Creek, because it diminishes the number of people who will live in (and thus buy or rent in) Island Creek. However, I respect the resident's right to choose the type of community they wish and I agree that my clients will abide the resolution as written. I apologize for any offense, but I am complaining to better the community---not to make enemies. 

Sponsored by Condo 1 Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty LLC

Serving real estate needs of Northern VA · in Alexandria · in Arlington · in Fairfax County ·