Alcova Heights, Arlington VA 22204

Alcova Heights is a charming neighborhood just south of Route 50, between George Mason Drive and Glebe, with hills, and playgrounds, and parks, and lots of interesting homes.

There are currently 4 detached homes for sale in Alcova Heights, priced from $547,000 for an updated 4 bedroom/2bathroom rambler to $835,000 for a 5 bedroom/4.5 bathroom NEW construction craftsman-style home.

In the past 6 months, 6 homes have sold, with the median NET sold price being $562,500.  Call me at 703-362-7764 for more information about the market and implications for homes selling in the Alcova Heights neighborhood.

In comparison to other homes in the same zip code, the homes in Alcova Heights demand a higher net sales price consistently over time:

Again, let me know if you have any questions about the above data, which I compiled directly from the original MLS data:  Christine Rich, real estate pro with Long and Foster, at 703-362-7764.

Arlingtonians love their history, so here it is for this neighborhood:

About Alcova Heights

Source: Alcova Heights Citizens Association

Alcova Heights was given its name by real estate developer J. Cloyd Byars. “Alcova” stands for Alexandria County, Virginia. In 1921, Byars bought 142 acres from the Columbia Land Company and sold the lots for five cents a square foot. Byars laid out many streets, naming them Azalea Street (Quincy Street), Marconi Avenue (8th Street), Deepwood Avenue (9th Street), Springhill Street (Lincoln Street), Virginia Street (Monroe Street), and Linden Avenue (Oakland Street).

Byars’ home, which he also called Alcova, is the oldest in this community. It was built before the Civil War as a tenant farmhouse on the estate of William Young, who had bought the property in 1850. During the Civil War, Alcova, also known as “Spring Hill Farm” and “Columbia Place”, was occupied by Union soldiers and many buildings were destroyed. For “military purposes” all the fences were taken down, the animals confiscated and the main house burned. In 1878, the Young family received $3,198 in compensation for these losses. The Alcova house has undergone many changes over the years, and is now a County landmark.

By the time that Mr. Byars began developing the neighborhood, the population of the whole County was rapidly increasing and Alcova Heights became a popular spot to live. The trolley line was less than a mile from “Hunter’s Crossroads”, the intersection of Columbia Pike and Glebe Road. Telephone service had reached the community, and after 1928 water and sewer services were available.

Alcova Heights in 1921 was regarded as a very accessible community. It was bordered by two surfaced highways, Columbia Pike and Glebe Road. Trolley service to Washington, Rosslyn, and Alexandria was available less than a mile down Columbia Pike, at the intersection with what is now Walter Reed Drive.

Transportation was further improved when Bob May and his wife started a bus service – consisting of one bus and one driver, Mr. May – operating between their home in Barcroft and Washington. It was known as the Columbia Pike Bus Line, and the first Barcroft-to-Washington trip was made June 21, 1921. In 1924 service from Washington to Alexandria was added and the line became the AB&W Rapid Transit Company.

The nearest elementary school in the early 1920s was Columbia, located on Columbia Pike at Walter Reed Drive. For “higher education,” students traveled to Washington, until the opening of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School and Washington-Lee Senior High School in 1925.

Arlington Hall, now the site of the State Department Arlington Hall, was built in the 1920s as a select school for girls, Swidells Junior College. It went bankrupt in 1930, but managed to keep going until the Army took over the rural campus in the 1940s. The first headquarters of the Defense Intelligence Agency was in this installation. Many of the homes of Alcova Heights are built on the former grounds of this old institution.

Most of the single family homes in Alcova Heights were built between 1921 and 1950. There are least two Sears houses among them. Over the past 50 years, a number of additional single family homes have been added through infill development. The Dundree Knolls townhouse condominium along Columbia Pike was constructed in the mid-1980s.

On January 21, 1966, the Alcova Heights Citizens Association was organized. Until this time, Alcova Heights had been included in the territory of the Columbia Pike Citizens Association. There were 80 Charter members and Dr. Mosely served as the first President.

Throughout its history, Alcova Heights has been a popular place to live, because of its relatively inexpensive homes, large lots, easy access and recreational amenities such as Alcova Heights Park. These same factors are at work today ensuring that it remains so.

West Village of Shirlington announces their lowest prices ever

West Village of Shirlington

These West Village condos and townhomes are really very nice, and the developers are now trying to wrap things up.  They want to be outta there, and that’s always a good time for buyers to snap up some bargains.  One bedrooms that used to be priced as $359,000 are now going for $275,000.  Two bedroom condos were priced earlier at $427,000; now they’re priced at $353,000.  Those townhomes were initially priced at $505,000.  Now they are priced at $420,000.  And you can still negotiate on price.

We’re talking stainless steel, granite, modern fixtures, nice space, good layout, and walking distance to Shirlington.  These homes are located on Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington, VA 22204.

Perfect for First Time Home Buyers in Arlington.

The Arlington County Board just approved the master plan for Penrose Square, the first and largest of three new squares planned for Columbia Pike’s Town Center that are key to the County’s efforts to transform the Pike.

The 33,000 sq. ft. square will be located on the north side of Columbia Pike between South Cleveland and South Barton Streets in what are now the existing surface parking lots of the Adams Square and Fillmore Shopping Centers. The square will face south, fronting on Columbia Pike.

The square’s design was developed by a 12-member citizen Working Group appointed by the Board. The idea was to create a space that would draw the community together to socialize, dine, relax or recreate.
Main elements of the design include:

* Bosque (tree-covered) terrace with movable seats and tables
* Centrally located paved plaza
* Low seating wall and step feature
* Zero-depth, interactive water fountain
* Two mounded lawn areas that provide casual seating options
* Custom retaining walls along Columbia Pike and South Cleveland Street
* Public art features that relates to local history

Phasing it in

The square will be built in two phases. Phase I will consist of a 17,760-sq. ft. parcel which represents the eastern half of the square. Construction of Phase I is expected to begin in mid-2010 and has an estimated cost of $2.2 million.

Phase II will be provided by and coordinated with the future redevelopment of the Fillmore Shopping Center site. Although a construction date for the second portion of the square is not yet determined, it is projected to cost an additional $2 million.
They’ve been talking about the revitalization of Columbia Pike for as long as I can remember. Looks like something might actually happen about it!

There is a lot going on in 22204 — great neighborhoods, wonderful homes, terrific condos, and a fantastic variety of shopping opportunities.  I look forward to sharing more details about many of these terrific neighborhoods on this blog.