Williamsburg
For a long time, Williamsburg—which hugs the northern edge of Arlington County along the Fairfax County line—flew under the radar, a quiet, modest community of ramblers and other 20th-century housing styles lining the sloping and wide Williamsburg Boulevard.
In recent years, however, the area has been discovered. It is now a prolific epicenter of residential construction activity, with modest mid-century homes being razed and renovated to accommodate modern lifestyles.
Over the past decade, Williamsburg has seen more new homes built (more than 120, according to county statistics) than any other Arlington neighborhood. Some of the new homes popping up from its low-lying streets are commanding price tags well over $1.5 million, and their lot sizes tend to be large by Arlington standards—routinely around 10,000 square feet.
“There is a big progression out of the [urban] neighborhoods among purchasers who are looking for large lots,” observes Arlington-based real estate agent Billy Buck of Buck & Associates. “The Orange Line is a big draw…but looking toward the future, it’s not unusual for clients to relinquish that urban lifestyle in exchange for more land and a larger building envelope.”
History buffs appreciate that Williamsburg preserves a bit of Civil War territory. Minor Hill Park is named for a hill where Union troops built an observation tower and performed hot-air balloon ascensions to gain intelligence about Confederate troop movements in Fairfax County.
In keeping with the building trend, nearby Bishop O’Connell High School has completed renovations to its track-and-field area, which is now open for neighborhood recreational use at designated times.
But one spot that remains largely unchanged is the quaint Williamsburg Shopping Center, built in the 1950s, which serves the community with a drugstore, bank, hair salon and homespun establishments such as Backyard Barbeque, where locals can enjoy pulled-pork with a side of slaw.
“The Bishop O’Connell area of West Arlington is, economically, [like] the new U Street corridor of D.C.,” comments Rob Morris, president of Morris-Day Architects and Builders in McLean. “Perhaps because properties remain more affordable than in other Arlington locations, the growth has been phenomenal. Builders, homeowners, developers…they jump on anything that comes on the market and the disparity between what was and what is becoming has never been greater.”
At A Glance
Average home price: $947,390
Average days on market: 64
Homes sold in 2012: 10
Neighborhood schools: Nottingham and Tuckahoe Elementary; Williamsburg Middle; Yorktown High
Closest Metro stop: East Falls Church
Notable landmark: Minor’s Hill is the highest point in Arlington County, which is nonetheless only about 460 feet above sea level.
Data provided by MRIS
Kim O’Connell, who writes frequently on architecture and preservation, has lived in Aurora Highlands for nearly 13 years. She has no intention of leaving, but enjoyed visiting all the other great neighborhoods for this piece.