This article is part of a series on the neighborhoods of Arlington, Virginia, that aims to help landlords become more familiar with the types of tenants the neighborhood attracts and what the neighborhood offers residents. This article discusses Shirlington’s character and features, which can help you find and retain better tenants for your property.
Facts and Figures
Understanding Shirlington’s demographics can help effectively market your property to prospective tenants. In Shirlington, 44 percent of homes are owner-occupied, and renters occupy 45 percent of homes. On average, there are two residents per home, and only 18 percent of households in the neighborhood have children. Residents spend a median of 2.6 years in the area, which has an annual residential turnover of 30 percent.
Neighborhood Atmosphere
Shirlington is a wonderful neighborhood that appeals to young professionals, families, seniors, and other types of renters because of its urban character and eclectic charm. Widely considered Arlington’s arts and entertainment district, Shirlington offers residents a wide variety of interesting and fun activities. Shirlington’s proximity to Washington, D.C., along with its access to parks and trails, also attracts prospective renters to the neighborhood. Rental housing in the neighborhood had great proximity to restaurants and shops, and tenants are sure to find unique entertainment selections in the area.
Neighborhood Features
The dining and nightlife choices in Shirlington include Copperwood Tavern, T.H.A.I. in Shirlington, Carlyle, Cheesetique, Busboys, and Poets, and The Curious Grape, among many other establishments. In addition, the Shirlington Library, Signature Theatre, and the AMC Loews Shirlington 7 movie theater provide residents with multiple entertainment opportunities in the neighborhood.
Major Transportation
Shirlington is quite walkable, offers some bike infrastructure, and has various transit options. Although there isn’t a Metro station in the neighborhood, there are connecting Metrobus and ART bus routes through the Shirlington Bus Station. Some of these include Metrobus routes 7A, 7F, 7Y, and 22A, among other routes. Carshare and bike-share programs are also available in the area. WalkScore.com has given Shirlington a Walk Score of 74, a Transit Score of 52, and a Bike Score of 65.
Unique Neighborhood Events
The Celtic Festival is held annually at The Village in Shirlington. The event includes live music, traditional Celtic dancers and pipe bands, and gastronomic options from multiple restaurants participating in the festival. For more information about the Celtic Festival, you can look at the event’s Facebook page.
The Shirlala Music Festival is held on Thursday nights from June to August at the Signature Theater Plaza in Shirlington. The event includes wine tasting and live music.
Wags and Whiskers is an annual community event oriented towards animal lovers, who can participate in contests, demonstrations, and other fun activities with their pets. The event is held at The Village in Shirlington. Event attendees, who are interested in adopting a pet, can also learn more about the process through the organizations that participate in Wags and Whiskers.
The Washington Post and Arlington’s Car-Free Diet have additional data and information about Shirlington that would help potential landlords. An experienced property management company with Shirlington’s expertise can also help you with leasing and management plans tailored to your property to help you become a more successful landlord without all the work.
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