In this week’s Neighborhood Spotlight, join the Keri Shull Team as we do the unthinkable: actually shine a spotlight on a specific neighborhood! We’re starting off with an Arlington VA neighborhood that is renowned for its artistic scene and intimate atmosphere, Shirlington!

Every neighborhood of Arlington (and the other cities of the DMV) have unique features that make them easy to love. What do you love about your community? Let us know down in the comments below — we’d love to highlight them in future Neighborhood Spotlights!

And, as always, if you have any questions about Arlington real estate, please click here to contact the Keri Shull Team, Arlington’s #1 top-selling real estate team.

What is Shirlington?

Shirlington is a compact neighborhood in the southern part of Arlington, close to the county border with the city of Alexandria. In terms of geographical size, the neighborhood is a little less than 1 square mile, with a population of around 13,000. 

It is considered one of Arlington’s “urban villages,” a moniker that suits both the atmosphere and conveniences of Shirlington. The area is bordered by several accessible roadways — most notably the Shirley Highway from which Shirlington gets its name — that make navigating the DMV a relatively painless task. King Street defines the southwestern edge of the region, giving Shirlingtonians a short pathway to historic Old Town and all the conveniences you would get from living in Alexandria VA proper.

Unlike some of the more densely structured locales of Arlington and many Washington DC neighborhoods, Shirlington offers these conveniences without sacrificing any of NoVA’s natural beauty. Four Mile Run Park sits immediately north of Shirlington, and the neighborhood is rife with dog parks and other green spaces to enjoy. 

Shirlington Real Estate Market

As the DMV’s #1 real estate team, we would be abashed if we didn’t give you a bit of information about the current real estate market in Shirlington. Like the rest of Arlington, the market is blazing hot in Shirlington right now. Homes are selling quickly, and they are selling for a high price. So, if you are thinking about making a move to Shirlington, you’d be wise to work with an agent who can help you find off-market homes and negotiate for you. 

Shirlington is known primarily for townhouses and standalones when it comes to home types. There are condominiums for sale, but many of them are in “village-style” communities, as opposed to the Arlington condo buildings that characterize the Orange Line Corridor neighborhoods. 

Popular Condo Communities

The condominiums that are available can vary greatly in style. For example, here are two of the most popular condominium complexes in Shirlington:

  • Shirlington Village: located in the Village at Shirlington shopping center is Shirlington Village, a 176-unit condo community. Because of their prime location above the Village at Shirlington, these homes offer the absolute peak of convenient shopping and entertainment in the Shirlington Neighborhood.
  • West Village of Shirlington: across Four Mile Run is the West Village of Shirlington, another popular condominium community. These homes are arranged in garden-style condos, 2-bedroom cottages, and 3-bedroom townhomes. 

Both of these complexes offer owners easy access to local entertainment and outdoor activities!

The Culture of Shirlington

Shirlington is most known for its shopping and dining, but the neighborhood is a complete cultural center in its own right!

One great example of this is the Signature Theatre. Signature is a Tony Award-winning theatre troupe that calls the Village at Shirlington their home. They are most famous for their stagings of Stephen Sondheim’s musicals, although their curtains are drawn over all manner of theatrical performances. 

Located near the theatre is the Shirlington Branch of the Arlington Public Library. Built in 2007, this center of public knowledge offers a large collection of lending books and other community resources. 

What is there to do in Shirlington VA?

Much of Shirlington’s cultural assets are centered in the Village at Shirlington, a long-standing plaza that is renowned for being one of the country’s first large shopping centers. Along with the Signature Theatre and Shirlington Library, visitors to the Village at Shirlington can enjoy a slew of shopping and dining options. 

In particular, we recommend trying Palette 22, a tapas-style restaurant that explores flavors from around the globe. Palette 22 seamlessly blends both culinary and visual art in a way that makes for a unique dining experience — at this time, you can enjoy their atmosphere in a social distanced dining room or on their patio. Alternatively, Palette 22 is one of the best options for takeout food in Arlington VA, so you can enjoy their small plate meals in the comfort of your own home!

Schools in Shirlington

Like many areas of Northern Virginia, Shirlington has very good options for schooling. One example is Arlington Traditional Elementary School, which ranks highly in state test scores and was awarded a 9/10 by Greatschools.org.

How do I find a home in Shirlington?

Demand for homes can be fierce in Shirlington, and for good reason. The neighborhood offers: 

  • High Walkability
  • Easy commutes to central Arlington, Alexandria, and Washington DC
  • Excellent local shopping and dining
  • Plenty of options for outdoor recreation

This means that if you’re just relying on online search tools, you might have trouble finding (and more importantly, winning) a home in Shirlington right now — but there are other options out there! At the Keri Shull Team, we have hundreds of off-market properties that you cannot find online or anywhere else…and we want to give you priority access to these homes before they even go on the market!

And if you are selling a house in Arlington, it’s more important than ever to make sure you are taking the proper precautions to protect your investment. The best way to do that is to speak with a top-tier real estate agent and create a completely customized home selling strategy. 

So what are you waiting for? Just click here to schedule a time for a free, no-pressure Consultation with one of our Real Estate Needs Analysts!