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City of Alexandria neighborhood
Living in Potomac Yard
Potomac Yard is Alexandria's newest neighborhood, built on a former rail yard along Route 1. Homes date mostly from the 2000s onward, and a Metro station opened here in 2023.
The short answer
What is it like to live in Potomac Yard?
Potomac Yard is a newer neighborhood in the City of Alexandria, Virginia, built since the early 2000s on a former railroad yard between Route 1 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Housing is mostly townhomes, condos and apartments with associations. The Potomac Yard-VT Metro station (Blue and Yellow lines) opened in 2023 next to Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus. Some properties in the north and central areas pay an extra special district tax on top of the city rate.
- Jurisdiction: City of Alexandria, VA (independent city)
- Metro: Potomac Yard-VT (Blue and Yellow lines), opened 2023
- Typical homes: Townhomes, condos and rental apartments, 2000s to today
- Special tax: Tier I district: extra $0.20 per $100 on eligible parcels
- Anchor park: Potomac Yard Park along Potomac Avenue
- Public schools: Alexandria City Public Schools (verify boundaries)
Potomac Yard
What it's like to live in Potomac Yard
Potomac Yard feels planned because it was. The land was a railroad classification yard for most of the 20th century, and redevelopment brought a street grid, a long linear park and blocks of townhomes and mid-rise buildings where tracks used to be.
The neighborhood stretches from the Del Ray side of Route 1 east toward the Parkway, with Four Mile Run and Arlington to the north. One note on names: part of the old rail yard north of Four Mile Run is also called Potomac Yard but sits in Arlington County. This page covers the Alexandria side.
The north end is still changing. Virginia Tech opened Academic Building One, an 11-story, 300,000-square-foot building, at its Innovation Campus in early 2025 per Virginia Tech News, and more phases of North Potomac Yard are planned. When I walk the area with clients, I point out which lots are built, approved or still open, because that shapes views and street activity for years.
Potomac Yard
Homes and housing types in Potomac Yard
Nearly everything here is less than 25 years old, so buyers trade older-home character for garages, open layouts and newer systems. Almost every home sits in an HOA or condo association.
| Housing type | What you’ll find | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Townhomes | Three- and four-level homes with garages, some with rooftop decks | HOA dues and rules, roof deck waterproofing, special tax status |
| Condos | Mid-rise buildings near Route 1 and the Metro station | Reserves, FHA or VA approval, parking and storage |
| Rental apartments | Large professionally managed buildings throughout | Lease terms, renewal caps, parking fees |
| New construction | Ongoing phases on the north end | Builder contract terms, warranty, delivery timeline |
Prices track the newer stock, which tends to sit above older Alexandria condos and below many detached houses nearby. See my Alexandria market report or ask me for current Potomac Yard sales.
Potomac Yard
Getting around Potomac Yard
- Metro: Potomac Yard-VT opened May 19, 2023, according to WMATA. It is an infill station between Braddock Road and Reagan National Airport, one stop from each.
- Bus rapid transit: the Metroway corridor runs in dedicated lanes on Route 1 between Braddock Road and Crystal City and Pentagon City.
- Roads: Route 1 runs through the middle, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway is along the eastern edge.
- Bike and air: the Four Mile Run Trail connects to the Mount Vernon Trail, and Reagan National is one Metro stop away.
I cover how Metro access affects resale in Living Near Metro in Northern Virginia.
Potomac Yard
Parks, shopping and things to do in Potomac Yard
- Potomac Yard Park: the city lists an interactive fountain with 36 water jets set between two playgrounds, four pickleball courts, two tennis courts, basketball and a promenade trail at 2501 Potomac Ave (City of Alexandria).
- Four Mile Run Park: fields and trail access at the north edge.
- Route 1 retail: big-box and grocery stores along Route 1 handle weekly errands.
- Mount Vernon Avenue: Del Ray’s restaurants and Saturday farmers’ market are a short walk west.
- National Landing: Crystal City and Pentagon City shopping and dining are just north.
Potomac Yard
Owning a home in Potomac Yard
City tax plus a possible special district. Alexandria is an independent city with no county tax. The city’s real estate tax page lists a base rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value and a Tier I Special Services District that adds $0.20 per $100 for eligible properties in the north and central areas of Potomac Yard. A planned Tier II district was eliminated in 2018. Check the tax status of each parcel before you offer.
Associations. Budget for HOA or condo fees and read the resale certificate for rules on rentals, exterior changes and parking.
Development nearby. A proposed sports arena for North Potomac Yard ended in 2024, and other redevelopment continues. Ask the city’s Planning and Zoning department about approved plans near a home you like.
Flood. Blocks closer to Four Mile Run warrant a FEMA flood map review.
I’m not a tax advisor or attorney, so I suggest confirming tax and contract questions with a Virginia CPA or real estate attorney.
Potomac Yard
Is Potomac Yard a good fit?
- If you want a garage, newer systems and Metro within walking distance, the townhomes here line up well.
- If you fly often, being one Metro stop from Reagan National is hard to match.
- If you prefer an older house with a yard and no HOA, look next door in Del Ray.
- If you work in National Landing, Route 1 transit and the Four Mile Run Trail keep the trip short.
For the bigger picture on the Amazon HQ2 area to the north, read my National Landing guide.
Potomac Yard
Keep exploring Potomac Yard
Read more about Potomac Yard and the area
- National Landing and Amazon HQ2: What It Means for Homes Nearby
- Living in Del Ray, Alexandria: Main Street Living Near National Landing
- Living Near Metro in Northern Virginia: What the Silver Line Changed
- The Virginia Resale Certificate: Reading the HOA and Condo Disclosure Packet
- Alexandria Housing Market 2025 Review
Run the numbers
- Mortgage Calculator
- Rent vs. Buy Calculator
- Closing Cost Estimator
- Alexandria housing market report (updated monthly)
- More neighborhoods in Alexandria
Sources: WMATA: Potomac Yard-VT station opening; Virginia Tech News: Academic Building One opening; City of Alexandria: Potomac Yard Park; City of Alexandria: Real estate tax information. Details checked October 2026; confirm anything time-sensitive with the source.
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Potomac Yard FAQ
Questions about living in Potomac Yard
Is Potomac Yard in Alexandria or Arlington?
Both. Most of the residential neighborhood is in the City of Alexandria, south of Four Mile Run, while the northern part of the old rail yard is in Arlington County. Check the jurisdiction on the specific parcel.
What school district is Potomac Yard in?
Homes on the Alexandria side are served by Alexandria City Public Schools. Confirm the assigned schools for an address with ACPS's official boundary locator, since boundaries change. My guide at /school-boundaries-and-home-values/ walks through how.
When did the Potomac Yard Metro station open?
Potomac Yard-VT opened on May 19, 2023. It serves the Blue and Yellow lines between Braddock Road and Reagan National Airport.
Do Potomac Yard homes pay extra property tax?
Eligible properties in the north and central areas of Potomac Yard pay a Tier I special district tax of $0.20 per $100 of assessed value on top of the city rate. Not every home is in the district, so check the parcel.
Do Potomac Yard townhomes have HOA fees?
Nearly all do. Fees and what they cover vary by community, so review the budget, reserves and rules in the resale packet.
Let's Chat
Let’s find your place in Potomac Yard.
Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or investing, tell me what worries you most. We’ll talk through your goals and build a clear plan, with no pressure and no obligation.
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