Post Article Features Wonders of Fairlington

This past Saturday, the Washington Post had a nice feature on Fairlington, written by Amanda Abrams.  The story, titled "Where We Live: Fairlington, in Northern Virginia," discusses the history of Fairlington as well as the charms of the neighborhood.

I learned a few things from the article, for example:

Despite wartime supply shortages, the buildings -- a mix of townhouses and apartments -- were made with sturdy materials: solid brick exteriors, oak floors and slate roofs. Photos from that time show steep-roofed, austere buildings clustered around central courts and surrounded by flat, largely treeless lots.
Fairlington became a conventional apartment complex after the war. In the 1970s, all of the units were fully renovated and converted into condominiums. Each unit belongs to one of seven condo associations.
Around 1990, though, homeowners began to worry about the sweeping development that was radically changing the character of other Arlington neighborhoods. 

The article also talks about how, to preserve Fairlington as it was/is, historic registration was necessary:

The community responded by seeking historic designation, a process that took a decade, including three years of particularly intensive work. Each building had to be photographed and all architectural elements documented. But the effort was fruitful: In 1998, Fairlington was certified by Virginia as a historic district, and in 1999 it received a federal designation. In 2000, the neighborhood's historic society was launched, an event whose 10-year anniversary will be celebrated in October.
The historic designation accomplishes just what the neighborhood's residents were aiming for: Homes cannot be modified externally, replacement features must match the old ones, and nothing new can be built within the area's boundaries.

So, now we know why Fairlington looks the way it does.  Having a federal designation is fantastic for the community and will ensure that the charms and beauty of the area will continue on.

If there's something hypnotic about the neighborhood's sameness, it's nonetheless a pleasant trance. The barren plots from the 1940s photos have become verdant yards shaded by massive willow oaks and large pink and purple crepe myrtles. Roll down a car window and the dominant sounds are the singing of birds and the loud trilling of cicadas. 

I think that is why I like living here!


Read Abrams's article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081207242.html