Is Landmark safe?
Alexandria, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Landmark as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Landmark
“Go. Landmark is an active, transitional West End commercial and residential hub that is generally safe for visitors, especially those seeking authentic international dining. While car-centric and experiencing typical suburban property crime, standard situational awareness in retail parking lots is sufficient.”
The ongoing multi-billion-dollar redevelopment of the former Landmark Mall into the Inova Alexandria Hospital campus and mixed-use town center continues to drive municipal investment and active infrastructure upgrades.
About the area
Landmark is an evolving West End Alexandria community defined by high-rise residential complexes, bustling strip malls, and the major redevelopment of the former Landmark Mall into a mixed-use hospital center. It functions as a diverse cultural corridor renowned across the region for its authentic global dining.
- Multicultural
- Commercial Hub
- Transitional
- Car-Centric
Walking and biking in Landmark
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available near major intersections, with connections leading toward the Holmes Run Trail multi-use path.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates remain significantly lower than national urban averages with strong Alexandria Police presence
- Diverse culinary hub offering authentic Ethiopian, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern dining
- Significant capital reinvestment and modern infrastructure improvements underway
Cons
- Periodic vehicle break-ins and theft from autos in large commercial and apartment parking lots
- Heavy multi-lane traffic corridors on Duke Street create an uninviting pedestrian environment
- Higher rental density and transient traffic contribute to sporadic retail larceny
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, mostly limited to occasional panhandling near I-395 interchange ramps and major Duke Street intersections, with no substantial encampments present.
What Landmark is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with commuters and transit users along Duke Street, feeling orderly and safe.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling strip malls and steady vehicle traffic maintain a lively, secure environment.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Popular dining spots stay busy, though quiet outer parking lots warrant basic vigilance.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets clear out significantly, and walking through poorly lit commercial lots is best avoided.
Transit, parking and getting around
Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) operates frequent bus routes connecting to Metrobus and the Van Dorn Street Metrorail Station (Blue Line), situated approximately 1.5 miles south.
Parking is abundant and free in large retail surface lots, while residential complexes typically require visitor permits or assigned spaces.
Things to do in Landmark
- Sample authentic international cuisine along Duke Street and South Van Dorn Street
- Take a nature run or walk along the nearby forested Holmes Run Stream Valley Trail
- Explore diverse international specialty grocers and bakeries in local shopping plazas
Local favorites
- Nazret Ethiopian Restaurant · Ethiopian Restaurant · 4.5★ (780)A popular neighborhood staple serving traditional Ethiopian platters and fresh injera.
- Pho Viet Flavor · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.5★ (490)Casual strip-mall eatery known for aromatic noodle soups and crispy spring rolls.
- Savio's Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (560)Longstanding local favorite offering classic pasta dishes, pizza, and Italian entrees.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.