Westover Village is the commercial center for several neighborhoods we will tour today. Located along Washington Boulevard, between Patrick Henry Dr. and McKinley Street, the residential part of Westover is a pleasant combination of homes.
Many of the original 1940s two bedroom colonials have been expanded and renovated while a few have been replaced with new homes. Duplexes are located near Swanson Middle School, and garden apartments are sprinkled throughout the area. Some are market rate and some are used for APAH, Fisher House, Erdo and VHDA affordable housing.
In the last few years, some of the buildings have been replaced with townhouses. Among the neighborhood amenities are Arlington County Library, W&OD biking and walking trail, and Westover Park and Playground.
Just East of Westover lies Lacey Forest, bordered by the large Lacey Woods Park with acres of trees and the W&OD trail. The neighborhood originally had many summer cottages Washintonians used to escape the heat and enjoy the nearby Luna Park amusement venue.
A number of those cottages were razed for new houses, and they join the many Colonial, Cape Cods, ramblers, and split levels that were built between the 1940s and 1960s. The first FHA insured house was located in Lacey Forest, and Eleanor Roosevelt personally visited the new homeowners.
Moving north from Washington Boulevard are Wynnewood, Larchmont, and Tara. These areas were developed between the 1930s and 1960s, and many of the homes were custom built. They lend themselves to the expansions and renovations found throughout the area. Known for the tree canopy and rolling hills, the shady streets are ideal for walking and biking. Big Walnut park is at the northern edge of Tara and provides the best sledding hill in the area.
Years ago, a very wise woman persevered in the face of strong opposition to have medians built to slow traffic along Patrick Henry Drive. Today those medians are filled with tall trees, mature shrubbery and form a leafy entry to the Leeway Heights neighborhood.
Many of the homes are “Broyhill” colonials, and the original tracks houses have been transformed with creative additions and renovations. Newer splits and bi-levels were built in the 1960s and several streets of summer cottages remain, although often expanded. The tucked away Parkhurst Park is nearby as is Cardinal Elementary School and the Sunday Farmer’s Market.
A desirable mix of housing, amenities, schools, and parks make Westover Village and its surrounding neighborhoods a very popular part of Arlington’s 22205 zip code.
Please reach out to me if you want to learn more about neighborhoods in Arlington and around the region.
Betsy Twigg | 703-967-4391 | [email protected] | www.betsytwigg.com | www.McEnearney.com
McEnearney Associates — Arlington Office
Links & Recommendations
- Arlington County Library
- W&OD Trail
- Westover Park
- Westover Farmers Market
- The Italian Store
- Big Walnut Park
- Lost Dog Cafe
- Ayers Hardware
- Parkhurst Park
For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.