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Fairfax Square resident Ed Payne takes a walk around the pool area. (Susan Straight - )

Fairfax Square is a 502-unit apartment complex whose large old trees and lawns give it a campuslike feel.

The property, owned by Van Metre, a real estate firm based in Fairfax County, sits off Main Street in Fairfax city, just east of the densely developed commercial area where Old Lee Highway intersects Main Street.

Its 18 three-story apartment buildings are set among trees and cul-de-sac parking lots. The property, built in 1966, includes 406 one-, two- and three-bedroom garden-style units; 64 three-bedroom townhouses; and 32 "tuck-aways," which are two- and three-bedroom units on the first floor of townhouses.

The property is set back from the road behind an office park that is also owned by Van Metre. Residents say having the offices in front is convenient because the office park has medical offices, a dry cleaner, a florist and a deli.

Fairfax Square is close to two strip malls along busy Main Street, also known as Route 236. "Any grocery store you can imagine is close by -- Giant, Shoppers, Safeway," said resident Heather Weisman. "I usually drive, but I have walked."

The business to which resident Ed Payne most often walks is the nearby Shell station. The longtime resident and Northern Virginia native has a car that requires frequent maintenance, and he has all the work done there. "My gosh, it's convenient. I just drop [my car] off and then walk over and pick it up."

There is plenty of parking at the property. The only assigned spots are in the townhouse section, where one of the spaces in front of each townhouse is reserved for that home. There are extra spots for additional cars.

The property's biggest recent change was the construction of a clubhouse two years ago. Residents now have a central social area, with a pool and a large terraced sun deck, a 24-hour fitness center with optional personal trainer, a kids' room, a lounge, a business center and a pub.

Weisman moved in three years ago. The clubhouse "was a major improvement," she said. "I'm a big pool and summer person, so the fact that they have a pool now was a major bonus. The whole property seems a lot nicer."

The clubhouse was decorated by former community manager Thomas Van Metre's sister, Alison Van Metre-Paley. Thomas and Alison are the children of the property's owner, Albert Gleaves Van Metre, who is involved in the details of each of his eight apartment properties in the region.

For the pub room, "my sister wanted to do a nautical theme," Thomas Van Metre recalled. "My dad was a yachtsman. He raced for a number of years."

When his father saw the pub room for the first time, "it really wowed him," Van Metre said. There is a half-size canoe suspended over the bar, and artwork throughout.

The community hosts regular events in the clubhouse, such as a weekend brunch. Other events include a summer pool luau, a pool closing party at summer's end, movie nights and pizza nights.

Weisman said that even though she has not attended these events, she has not had any problems getting to know neighbors, especially because she has a patio and a dog. "It's pretty easy to meet people. Most of the neighbors are really nice, down-to-earth people. It's a good mix of people with kids, young professionals and people like me just starting out," she said.

The old trees and wide, sloping lawns of the property make it pet- and pedestrian-friendly. That was important to Weisman. She needs room to exercise her Labrador retriever.

"There are not a lot of places that will accept large dogs. Plus, there's lots of room for me to let him run," she said.

Although she considered moving to a different property this spring, "the large-dog thing is such a huge thing" that she decided to stay.