The Carlyle Towers is a contemporary luxury three-building complex located across the street from the George Washington Masonic Memorial and just blocks away from the King Street Metro Station. Carlyle Towers are also only four blocks away from the Eisenhower Avenue Metro Station and Metrorail’s Blue and Yellow line which makes the Carlyle Towers a great location for travel. Carlyle is located near Old Town Alexandria.

The Carlyle Towers offers a living lifestyle you will enjoy, appreciate, and won't want to leave anytime soon. There are plenty of amenities that will enhance your living experience. There are not one, but two swimming pools. There are both his and her sauna rooms, a hot tub, and a swim-in-place pool. In addition to the Jacuzzi pools, there are tennis courts, a shuffle board court, putting greens, an indoor car wash area, and individual bike storage. The fitness and exercise room is complete with machines, free weights and treadmills.

The average square footage of units at the Carlyle is 1200. Each condo generally includes a living-dining combo, a master bedroom with full bath, kitchen with new applicances and of course a washer, dryer, dishwasher and microwave.

Carlyle Towers has a vibrant neighborhood community with many club activities. Here are a few of the interests represented by clubs here:

• book,
• garden,
• walking,
• dinner,
• investments,
• bridge.

A feature that grabs everyone’s attention is the community roof deck overlooking the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Many of the amenities mentioned above (such as the putting green) are found on the deck or near the deck (such as the hot tubs). Many units at the Carlyle have views toward the memorial.

Because of its central location in the Carlyle District, Carlyle Towers is close to many conveniences and services. For example, there is an AMC Hoffman Movie Theater complex only a couple blocks away at the Eisenhower Metro. Whole Foods Grocery Store is located nearby on Duke Street. There are numerous restaurants within walking distance and many more a trolley ride away. Some of those restaurants include Stella’s, Joe Thiesman's, the Carlyle Deli Market, and Eve’s Place. Old Town is filled with shops and restaurants like Hard Times Café, Misha's and Le Gaulois.

If you enjoy visiting libraries you might enjoy any one of three different libraries that are less than 3 miles from Carlyle Towers, Martha Washington Library, James Duncan Library, and Kate W. Barrett Library.

There are numerous schools within a 3 mile radius in the local area of the Carlyle Towers, T.C. Williams High (“Remember The Titans” movie), George Washington Middle, Francis C. Hammond Middle, Lyles- Crouch Elementary, Maury Elementary, and Jefferson-Houston Elementary. Education resources include

• Virginia Department of Education
• Alexandria City Public Schools
• 
  
• Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
• Bishop Ireton High School
• Browne Academy
• Bullis School
• Burgundy Farm Day School
• Episcopal High School
• Fairfax County Public Schools
• Holton Arms School
• Madeira School, The
• Maret School
• National Cathedral School
• Potomac School, The
• St. Albans School
• St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
• Sidwell Friends School

Another benefit of living at Carlyle Towers is that residents are eligible to join The Carlyle Club. The Carlyle Club hosts events such as weddings, cocktail parties, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, bat & bar mitzvahs, baptisms, birthday parties, private parties, and Quinceneras. The Carlyle Club will provide elegance and sophistication for your events. Entertainment of all sorts can be provided with a state of the art sound and light system, bands, orchestras, and comedy acts. Various platters and dishes include seafood, pasta, vegetarian/vegan meals, carving, and deserts.

Recently Carlyle Towers held a "Get Acquainted" in May at The Carlyle Club in the John Carlyle Square. The party’s purpose was to bring the residents of the Carlyle community together. The Carlyle Towers are managed by the CFM Management Services which serves the Washington D.C. metro area.

Carlyle Towers Condominium 1826 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 836-8666

Carlyle Towers Condo Mgt. 2121 Jamieson Ave. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 567-2312

To search available condos in Old Town

Your expert for condos and properties in and around Old Town Alexandria is Will Nesbitt of Condo 1 Alexandria.

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2212 Sweetbriar, Alexandria, VA

Refinished hardwoods throughout. Freshly painted walls. Plenty of space for the entire family! Bucknell Manor is a great community near Alexandria, Huntington Metro and many parks, services and shopping. Learn more about the neighborhood here.

3BR/2.5BA Duplex

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial

Parking 2 dedicated

Pet Policy No pets

Deposit $1,550

$1,550/month

RENTAL FEATURES

• Air conditioning
• Central heat
  
• Hardwood floor
  
• Family room
  
• Living room
  
• Basement
  
• Washer Dryer Laundry area - inside
  
• Deck and Yard
  
• Cable-ready
  
• High-speed internet
  

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Guest parking
  

LEASE TERMS

• 1 year lease. 
• Discount available for longer term

Interstate 395 doesn't have Metro train service but it carries a massive load of traffic none-the-less. In addition to its 8 to 10 lanes of traffic, 395 has an extra 3 lanes of HOV that switch direction depending on the hour of the day. 395 leaves DC between the Pentagon and Crystal City (both in Arlington) and on the way out to I-95 and the Beltway at Springfield, I 395 passes Shirlington, Landmark, East Falls Church and other neighborhoods. Traffic on 395 is nearly always heavy but only slows during rush hour.

With a mixture of residents and businesses, Bailey's Crossroads is a thriving, prosperous community. Bailey's Crossroads is located in the Mason District of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Bailey's Crossroads is located on what is now called Leesburg Pike. In pre-Columbian America Leesburg Pike was a buffalo trail and an Indian trail. The trail lead from the Potomac River to the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the colonial era, the land here was part of the original Fairfax land grant. That land was parceled out over time, and as a result George Washington owned land which now is occupied by the Skyline complex of condominiums. In 1809, Bailey's truly became a crossroads with the construction of the Washington Graveled Turnpike which is now know as Columbia Pike.

The name Bailey derives itself from New York entrepreneur Hachaliah Bailey, of Barnum & Bailey fame, who purchased land at the crossroads in the mid 19th century. He used the land as a place to house and display America's first elephant.

During the Civil War, Bailey's Crossroads changed hands several times and as a result nearby homes were used to garrison Confederate and Federal troops. Union President Abraham Lincoln ordered a large military review here after the Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run.

In 1913, the Alexandria Water Company built a reservoir named Lake Barcroft near here. (Barcroft Park is nearby in Arlington County.) By the second world war, the area had transformed into a bedroom community for Washington DC. By the 1950's the Seven Corners Shopping Center was considered a model of the American future by many. As a result, in 1953 US President Dwight D. Eisenhower brought Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the Seven Corners at Bailey's Crossroads. A few years later, the shopping center was enclosed and became Northern Virginia's first shopping mall.

The Skyline complex appeared in the early 1970s and is now home to Skyline Square, Skyline Plaza, Skyline House and more condominiums.

Schools located in or near Bailey's Crossroads include

• Bailey's, Beech Tree Elementary School,
• Belvedere Elementary School,
• Glen Forest Elementary School,
• Graham Road Elementary School,
• Parklawn Elementary School,
• Sleepy Hollow Elementary School,
• Timber Lane Elementary School, 
  
• Westlawn Elementary School,
  
• Gasgow Middle School,
  
• and JEB Stuart High School.

Bailey's Crossroads Revitalization Corporation is a group of individuals who want to help achieve a better community by involving themselves in activities such as traffic enhancements, streetscape, and residential landscaping. For more information about condos or real estate near Baileys Crossroads, please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo 1 Alexandria.

I recently received the following email:

I have a condo at the Fountains in Alexandria Virginia, I currently have a realtor who works for BRAND NAME Realty. I'm shopping around because I don't feel he is doing his best. All the condos in the past have sold except ours. Please call.

I edited the names and locations to "protect the innocent".

The question is ... what should I as a realtor do?

I don't like people who snake my clients and I don't want to steal other people's clients. If the realtor from the made up company that I named BRAND NAME REALTY, really isn't doing the necessary, then I would be not serving the public's interests if I didn't follow up.

On the other hand, the other realtor might be doing a fine job.

Maybe the condo is priced too high. Maybe, the unit is in poor condition. Maybe the seller won't give easy access to buyers. I don't know. I suppose I have to call this potential client. If the story sounds like the guy from Brand Name Realty is doing all he can and that the problem is with the client or the property, then I should be frank and explain why the realtor deserves another chance.

If the problem is with the realtor, then I can offer my honest opinion and let the client make the choice.

How will BRAC affect area real estate? Well, one of the big pieces to that puzzle was solved at the end of last month when the announcement was made that Fort Belvoir was going to add the Mark Center to its list of holdings rather than heading for Springfield. Donald Carr Director of Public Relations for the US Army at Fort Belvoir contacted me in response to my recent post. He said, "of the total 19,300 jobs, 4,400 are coming to main post Fort Belvoir; 8,500 to the EPG (Engineer Proving Grounds); and, 6,400 to the Mark Center. Additionally, only about 500 of the 19,300 are actually new population incoming to the region."

This makes clear that there will probably be no great regional surge in home values as a result of these changes. In fact, many service members may opt to stay where they are and drive across town to new offices and locations.  The official press release regarding the Mark Center:

The U.S. Army announced today, Sept. 29, that the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va., will be the future home of the 6,400 personnel associated with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, Recommendation # 133. The decision puts in place the last piece of the Fort Belvoir, Va., BRAC initiative that sites more than 19,000 workers to the installation.

The BRAC 133 jobs - a collection of Defense Department-level agencies whose move is being managed by the Washington Headquarters Service - are the last remaining of those being realigned to Fort Belvoir.

"The decision concludes more than a year of work by hundreds of people in the Army, surrounding communities, and all levels of government to develop proposals and options for review by the selection board," said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment Keith Eastin.

Following completion of Fort Belvoir's BRAC Environmental Impact Study in Summer 2007, the Army's Record of Decision, or ROD, directed placement of all but the BRAC 133 jobs. The jobs originally would have been placed at Fort Belvoir's Engineer Proving Ground in Springfield, Va.

However, because another 8,500 jobs of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency were also placed there, significant concerns for traffic impacts in the area prompted the Army to agree to limit EPG to the NGA jobs, and to look elsewhere for the BRAC 133 jobs. In September 2007 evaluators began work to study alternative sites, including the General Services Administration warehouse site in Springfield and commercial sites in the region.

BRAC legislation and follow-on language in the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act allow the Army to purchase land in the National Capital Region to facilitate Fort Belvoir's realignment. "Any non-DOD site selected would have to become part of Fort Belvoir in order to comply with the law," Eastin said. The Army must now buy the Mark Center property to make it part of Fort Belvoir.

In arriving at the Mark Center decision, Eastin said the Army considered multiple factors, including project timelines, transportation management and site adaptability. "The Mark Center site resolves security issues, improves space requirements and mission relationships, and minimizes changes to existing living, working, and quality of life issues," he said.

"The Mark Center site minimizes to the greatest extent practicable disruption of current commuting needs and mission coordination requirements of the workers," said James Turkel, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who led the evaluation team. "It will also require little to no change in contractor support relationships, as well as changes to residency or schools requirements for the workers."

Eastin echoed the point. "The new commute for the realigned personnel supports their mission by keeping them in close proximity to the Pentagon agencies and senior leaders they support," he said.

Post officials said putting the jobs at the Alexandria City site reduces the number of jobs coming to Fairfax County's part of the post to 12,900 - 4,400 to Fort Belvoir's main post, and 8,500 to Engineer Proving Ground.

The Army must now purchase the Mark Center property to meet BRAC law and plans to make the purchase before the end of the year. Construction is scheduled to begin on the site in January 2009, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

River Farm is on Virginia's side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County just south of Alexandria. Originally together with nearby Collingwood, River Farm was a sprawling farm that was one of five farms that compromised George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate. Today, River Farm is twenty five acres of meadows, woods and landscaped gardens.

The gardens bloom all year from the daffodils and lilacs in early spring to the cherries and dogwoods of late spring. Magnolias in the early summer give way to the Crepe Myrtles in later summer. The asters of fall herald the brilliant fall foliage that promises a winter of holly and persimmon. The woods and river banks of River Farm provide habitat for many birds, including bald eagles and ospreys, as well as animals as small as lizards and as big as deer.

These and many other plantings make River Farm an excellent destination for a one day outing but also a lovely place to host an event. River Farm is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, excluding national holidays. In addition, from early April through September 25 River Farm is open on Saturdays from 9 am to 1pm. River Farm organizes special events and children's programs throughout the year. River Farm's ballroom, patios and gardens are a great place for a spring wedding or corporate get-away.

River Farm

7931 East Boulevard,
Alexandria, VA 22308
Toll-free: (800) 777-7931

The headquarters of the American Horticultural Society is also at River Farm. The American Horticultural Society strives to inspire Americans to appreciate the vital connection between people and plants so that we might become become better caretakers of the Earth. Both experienced and novice gardeners may find the many publications of The American Horticultural Society very useful. Here are a few of their resources:

• The American Gardener
• Tres Fromme's "Gardening by Design" series
• AHS Gardening Books
• Book Recommendations
• Heat Zone Map
• Heat Zone Finder
• On-Line Gardening Catalogs

A buyer recently asked me to do a comparison of condos that are at and around the Huntington Metro. For those who don't know the Huntington Metro is the last stop on the Yellow Line, in Fairfax County Virginia, just outside Alexandria. The Yellow Line is my favorite Metro line because it doesn't have many stops and the ride from Virginia to DC is generally pleasant with nice views of Alexandria and the Potomac. The Huntington Metro has plenty of parking, but it is surrounded by condos and townhouses that have easy access to Huntington's upper and lower levels. The upper level of the Huntington Station exits onto North King's Highway. The lower level of Huntington Station exits onto Huntington Ave. Both exits have plenty of support from buses, but the lower level has better support from taxis.

The condos that I selected for this comparison are Huntingon Club, Hunting Creek Club, the Midtowns of Alexandria and Montebello Condos. I selected these condos because they are within walking distance of the metro. Each of these condos offer different values for different folks. I'm going to break down some of the features of condos in general and then speak to the differentiators between these condos.

• Walk to Metro
• Amenities
• Size / Square Foot Price
  
• Appeal / condition
• Views / Balconies

• For sale --- Live data on all condos for sale in 22303 zip code.
• For rent --- Live data on rentals in 22303 zip code.

• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale less than $500,000 in 22303 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale from $300,000 to $700,000 in 22303 zip code.
• Homes for sale --- All homes for sale over $650,000 in 22303 zip code.

Here are some common questions to ask your agent, your mortgage broker and yourself when you are thinking of buying a condo.

• How much can I afford per month?
  
• Is the condo is my price range?
  

• Is the community that I like?
  • Where are the grocery stores, shopping malls, bars?
    
• Is there enough space for my needs?
  
• What is the condition of the condo unit?
  

• Do the common areas need repairs, renovations?
  
• How old is the condo?
  
• Is there a parking facility?
  • Is parking assigned?
  • Is there a fee to park?
  • Is there guest parking and if so where?
    
• Does the condominium have access to public transportation?
  • Metro or bus only?
  • Shuttle or Limo service?
• What are the chances that this condo will increase in value?
  
• What type of security system is in place?
  
• Does the condominium association allow pets? If so how many and what type?
  
• What are the condo fees and what they include?
• What is the condo association policy about renters?
• How much is in the reserve fund?
• Does the condo association have a certificate of insurance?
  

As with any home purchase, location, size and price are important. With a condominium you'll also want to understand the ownership scheme. This type of information is found in the "condo docs" or condominium documents. Most states, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, require condo doc disclosure before any purchase contract is finalized. The condo docs will contain detailed information on the ownership and property rights of the condo and its owners. The rules of the homeowners association are generally explained in the condo docs in plain English and not in legal jargon. It's important to read the condo documents to understand the annual maintenance and upkeep fees, as well as to obtain a full understanding of exactly how much control the association have over the regulation of the property.

Condominiums can be found all over the country, with more being developed each year. Condominiums are quite common in Northern Virginia and the National Capitol area. Some condos are new construction and a few are apartment buildings that were rental apartments before making the switch. In newly constructed condos, it's common to find a sales office onsite at the condominium.

In 1669 John Alexander bought the land that became Old Town from an English ship captain. John Alexander paid the tidy sum of 6,000 pounds of tobacco. Almost twenty years later, the town of Alexandria was formally established in 1749.

Today, visitors, tourists and travellers alike come to Alexandria VA to taste the quaint colonial and historical feel of this city not far from Washington DC. It's a place frequented by historical figures like George Washington and Robert E. Lee. Even for those like me, who were born in Fairfax and who have lived for many years in Alexandria, one never tires of the rich heritage of Alexandria.

Maybe that's because there's always something to do in Alexandria. A bike ride or a stroll along the Potomac Waterfront is pleasant, or perhaps a boat ride on the river. There are more than a hundred restaurants in Old Town alone. Standard favorites such as seafood, steak or Italian are here, as well as ethnic cuisine from around the world. For a taste of the colonial try Gadsby's Tavern, where George ate.

Alexandria is easily accessed by Metro and free trolley. The King St. trolley passes antiques shops, art galleries, boutiques and shops.  Take a walking tour of Alexandria, or visit the Ramsay House to get a feel of Old Town.

With the new US Patent & Trademark Office, Alexandria's proximity to the Pentagon and DC and it's easy access to Fort Belvoir and Bowling AFB, every day more people discover why this is such a great place to live and work. I work, play and live in and around Alexandria VA. I'd love to help you find a place but doubt I can top the deal that John Alexander got when he paid 6,000 pounds of tobacco for his homestead. Today, that much tobacco might set you back $9000! The good news is that 6,000 pounds of tobacco will cover your closing costs for most condos in Alexandria!

Founded in 1995, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Museum serves the public need to understand the importance intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. As you might imagine, intellectual property effects nearly every aspect of our daily life. The museum also underscores some of the innovations that have aided mankind by improving medicine, motor vehicles, and modern technology. The museum encourages and promotes future inventors to strive for excellence in invention.

If you're looking for the latest and greatest inventions get to the museum before Labor Day. Until then, twenty-five of the best inventions of 2007 can be viewed at the Modern Marvels Exhibit.

Art of Invention - Invention of Art Exhibit includes 70 works that serve a practical purpose. The first section is dedicated to inventors who pursued (or were inspired by) beauty. The section section of this exhibit features inventions that were a major factor and importance in science and industry. A few of these inventions are a part of both groups. For example the Hubble Space Telescope is an important scientific machine of discovery, but it also takes beautiful pictures of space. The museum also showcases inventions from throughout history chronicling some of the important steps we have taken in innovation.

The museum would not be complete without its own invention.  The USPTO Museum features a new system of video LED strip monitors. These can be arranged at will by changing display captions. In 2005 this innovative way to display content in a museum was issued its own patent.

The USPTO museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm; on Saturday from noon to 5 pm. The USPTO museum is closed on Sundays and federal holidays.

For metro riders, the USPTO is best accessed by the King St. Metro on the Yellow Line. The museum is located at the atrium of the Madison Building of the US Patent & Trademark Office at 600 Dulany Street which is on the periphery of Old Town, near the King St. Metro, in the Carlyle District. The Carlyle District is home to many upscale condos which have views of the USPTO, the Alexandria Lighthouse and more. For information about these condos in Alexandria please contact Will Nesbitt of Condo 1 Alexandria.