By Sarah Abruzzese
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Shirlington Village, which regularly draws crowds to its restaurants and movie theater, has recently expanded to add the Signature Theatre, a county library and more stores -- and a new three-building apartment complex.
The 241 apartments, called the Delancey at Shirlington Village, sit atop an under-construction Harris Teeter grocery store and other new shops and restaurants. Tenants say the Arlington complex appealed to them because it's new and the location is convenient.
When Wayne Tyson and his wife, Nora, returned to the United States from Italy, they realized they had an opportunity to find an apartment with the walkable lifestyle they craved, he said.
"It's just a fabulous place to live," he said about the Delancey, where construction is almost complete. It offered them the life they wanted, steps away from shops and entertainment, and just a few minutes from the Pentagon, where Nora Tyson works.
"We chose to live here because the Pentagon is, as Nora says, just one song's worth away," he said.
But they also chose the community because of the quality of the amenities and the layout of the apartments. Renters can pick from three buildings that offer different lifestyles: the Flats, the Lofts and the Tower, which has high-rise views.
Tyson, who recently retired from the Navy, said his main job now is being a stay-at-home husband. "I take care of everything," he said. The area makes it easier with "umpteen restaurants" a quick walk out the door, he said.
The new Shirlington Library and Signature Theatre are right across the street. "If you want to see the type of movie that attracts us, it is just around the corner," Tyson said. The movie theater "shows the best of the best."
The Tysons live in the elegant yet cozy apartments of the Flats. Tim Robinson, 31, has lived in a loft-style apartment since October.
"I'm a contemporary type of guy," he said about the clean-lined apartment, which appealed to him because of its open spaces and the "distinctive character" of the hardwood floors.
The appliances really stood out, Robinson said as he prepared a Sunday night chicken dinner for his girlfriend.
The kitchens have built-in microwave ovens, icemakers, garbage disposals and dishwashers. There are full-size stacked washers and dryers.
Linda Erwin, 46, was pleasantly surprised by the size of her kitchen in the studio apartment she rented in September. "I usually pick one bedrooms or one bedroom [plus] dens," she said. "I didn't need to with this."
She noted that her apartment has three wonderfully large windows where sun beams in. It is well organized so she doesn't feel cramped. Erwin said the closets are a good size, too, and the result is a cozy living area.
Many of the amenities are still under construction, but plans call for two 24-hour business centers, a gym and a spa that would offer residents massages.
When professional musician Rafael Javadov wants to practice his violin, he goes down to the business center in the Flats and plays in front of a flat-screen computer monitor while watching a classical music performance. He said the Delancey is "the best place."
For traveling around the area, there are several public transportation options, including Metrobus, Alexandria's DASH bus and Arlington's ART buses. There isn't a Metrorail station within walking distance. Drivers can rent open-air or garage spaces.
Tyson's building is quiet, he said, even though there are busy stores just downstairs. He lives on the second floor above a restaurant, but said he can't hear any noice.
Erwin said the management takes good care of tenants. "It's the little things," she said. Management response to requests is fast, she said -- often within an hour.
She said she knows all her neighbors because the management staff arranges a monthly get-together for residents.
Tyson said that, as at many Arlington apartment buildings, a lot of the tenants are young adults. "We're kind of like the senior couple here," he said. But despite the age differences, the neighbors are friendly.
"Nice places attract nice people," he said.
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