Ballston - Virginia Square Real Estate

Arlington Virginia's Ballston & Virginia Square Neighborhoods

         The Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhood is located along the Arlington orange line corridor in the heart of Arlington.  It is a neighborhood that has been praised for its smart growth plan and has a combination of large office buildings, apartments, transit, and also a suburban part with single family homes and parks.  There are plenty of amenities and residents have everything they could want in a neighborhood within walking distance.  The neighborhood is very convenient with access to DC or Northern Virginia and always seems to be growing. 

History of Ballston & VA Square

            Ballston’s history began during the eighteenth century, when it was a busy crossroads.  It was named after the Ball family who were among the first settlers in Arlington. In 1896 a streetcar was installed along Fairfax Drive, which helped to develop the area into a thriving suburb.  The first large scale development was the Parkington Shopping Center in 1951, which was created where Ballston Common Mall now stands.  During the 1960s and 70s there wasn’t much activity in the area except for retail however the installation of the Metro station in 1979 changed everything.  This immediately created more demand around the station and eventually led to the large office, retail, and residential buildings that are now seen along Fairfax Drive and Wilson Boulevard.  Virginia Square is not quite as dense as Ballston and originally got its name from the Virginia Square Shopping Center which had been located on the now present FDIC building.

Ballston - Virginia Square's Vibe

            Ballston-Virginia Square is a downtown area with large office buildings and apartments that also has suburban streets and houses.  Just blocks from the metro you can find quieter streets with detached single family houses that you would never know were just outside one of Arlington’s busiest and popular neighborhoods.  There are all types of people that live in Ballston with much of the younger crowd living in the high rise apartments close to the metro.  Virginia Square has a similar vibe and is home to several large organizations including the FDIC, George Mason University Law School, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Central Library.  Ballston has several large organizations as well including the Nature Conservancy, National Science Foundation, Quest Diagnostics, and a Marymount University building.    

Shopping in Ballston & VA Square

         Residents in Ballston/Virginia Square can easily walk to Ballston Common Mall which has a Regal 12 Movie theatre, numerous stores, and a Macy’s.  For bigger shopping ventures, many people prefer to drive to either Pentagon City Mall in South Arlington or Tyson’s Corner Mall; both of which are just minutes away driving. 

Ballston - Virginia Square Recreation options

            Ballston and Virginia Square may be dense, urban areas at their core, but just blocks away from that density are several parks, gyms, and recreation opportunities.  Quincy Park is a favorite of residents and includes tennis courts, , basketball court, picnic area, two baseball fields, and even volleyball.  It has a nice backdrop as well, with the skyline of Ballston in the background.  Biking and jogging are both popular forms of recreation and Arlington is very pedestrian friendly.  As far as gyms go there are a number to choose from including Golds Gym, Sport and Health Club and more.  Washington-Lee High School, the alma mater of Sandra Bullock and Warren Beatty also allows use of their track and field, but be sure to check the reservations on the field if you intend on using it. 

Where do people live in Ballston & VA Square?

            The Ballston and Virginia Square area offers a variety of housing from quiet suburban single family houses to downtown-style sky rise apartments and condos.  Townhouses are also prevalent throughout the neighborhood and all the housing stock is walking distance to the Ballston metro.  As you start heading away from the metro there are less of the large apartments and more detached homes, some of which are brand new Craftsman style houses.  Many of the older homes in Virginia Square and Ballston were built back in the 1940s and they are popular with families as well as younger professionals moving into the area.  For the most part, Ballston offers less expensive housing than Clarendon, Courthouse, and the District of Columbia yet offers the same convenience to amenities that you would have in any of those areas.  Condos, townhouses, and single family homes aren’t cheap in Ballston but you can sometimes get more house for your money than further down in Clarendon.

Transportation options in Ballston - Virginia Square

         The bevy of transportation options is a main reason that people love Ballston and Virginia Square.  Since the area is so pedestrian friendly and there is a metro stop servicing both Ballston and Virginia Square, residents don’t need their car as much as they would in other neighborhoods.  If you were to drive though, Ballston is right next to I-66 and Route 50, which can quickly take you right into DC or the Northern Virginia suburbs.  Numerous Arlington Transit buses run through the neighborhood and taxis are everywhere, especially on the weekends.  Like Clarendon, Ballston and Virginia Square were named one of the 10 “Great Streets” in the entire U. S. because of their smart growth and planning strategies.  Parking can be difficult near the metro areas however the side streets in Ballston and Virginia Square are easier to find parking.  Additionally there is a massive parking lot within Ballston Mall that is very affordable for an urban area. 

Ballston & VA Square Boundaries

Ballston and Virginia Square are located on the Wilson Boulevard-Clarendon Boulevard corridor in the heart of Arlington.

Entertainment and Restaurants in Ballston - Virginia Square

            The Ballston area has a myriad of restaurants and shops.  Most of these are chains but the sheer variety gives shoppers and diners many options.  For great Italian food be sure to check out Tutto Bene or go to restaurateur Mike Codero’s Carribean Breeze for authentic latin food and salsa dancing.  Like many urban areas Ballston-Virginia Square also has a Starbucks, Panera, Chipotle and Cosi.  One of the biggest draws of the year to Ballston is the Taste of Arlington which brings over 15,000 people to the event every year and features food and drink sampling from numerous restaurants.  There is also a great farmers market to check out in Ballston that occurs weekly.  For all the hockey fans out there Ballston Mall is home to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex where the Washington Capitals practice and can also be used by others for skating, hockey, and broomball. 

Ballston & VA Square Nightlife

            Ballston has several popular bars and nightlife options including Bailey’s, Rock Bottom, Union Jacks, Front Page, and Carpool.  If that is not enough, then all the bars and restaurants Clarendon has to offer are just two metro stops away, some people even prefer to walk or take a short taxi ride.  Washington DC beckons as well and it is only a few metro stops past Clarendon to get downtown. 

Conclusion for Arlington VA's Ballston & Virginia Square neighborhoods

            Overall Ballston offers the best mix of city and suburban features.  Just blocks outside of the office, retail, and residential skyscrapers there are quiet single family streets and townhouse options.  The area is very pedestrian friendly and is situated right in between easy access to DC and Northern Virginia suburbs.  Since the neighborhood has so many things to offer it attracts a wide range of people of all ages that call Ballston home.