Neighborhood Spotlight: Annandale Acres
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| Beverly Street |
Annandale Acres is a mix of new and old and small and large
houses, but what really sets it apart from other neighborhoods are the large
lots. It’s always been zoned R-1 (one acre per unit), and residents several
times beat back attempts to rezone it for higher density.
houses, but what really sets it apart from other neighborhoods are the large
lots. It’s always been zoned R-1 (one acre per unit), and residents several
times beat back attempts to rezone it for higher density.
Annandale Acres might well be the oldest community in
Annandale—it was carved out of farmland in 1940—and while many of the houses
have been renovated, added on to, or replaced by McMansions, there are still a
few original houses left. The old farm house, on Auburn Street, is still there,
too.
Annandale—it was carved out of farmland in 1940—and while many of the houses
have been renovated, added on to, or replaced by McMansions, there are still a
few original houses left. The old farm house, on Auburn Street, is still there,
too.
And because the original buyers purchased lots and built
their own houses, there’s a long tradition of originality in the neighborhood. There’s
even a house shaped like a geodesic dome.
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| There are still a few original houses, like this one. |
Another strength is the neighborhood’s quietness, even
though it’s inside the beltway and close to central Annandale. The
only way to access Annandale Acres is from Backlick Road onto Beverly and
Auburn streets, so the lack of through-traffic—and the absence of
sidewalks—gives the neighborhood a country feel.
though it’s inside the beltway and close to central Annandale. The
only way to access Annandale Acres is from Backlick Road onto Beverly and
Auburn streets, so the lack of through-traffic—and the absence of
sidewalks—gives the neighborhood a country feel.
In recent years, Annandale Acres residents have been battling
flooding from heavy storms, which has gotten worse since houses were built
by UPIA LLC along Degroff Court on the other side of Backlick Road by UPIA LLC several
years ago.
flooding from heavy storms, which has gotten worse since houses were built
by UPIA LLC along Degroff Court on the other side of Backlick Road by UPIA LLC several
years ago.
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| Many of the old houses have been torn down and replaced by much larger ones. |
When those houses were proposed, Annandale Acres didn’t have
an active civic association, so residents didn’t have a voice at
Planning Commission hearings. When UPIA announced plans to build more houses
near Degroff Court in 2012, Carolyn Freeman and other residents reconstituted
the civic association to push for more robust stormwater controls. They weren’t
able to stop the houses from being built, but UPIA did put in a larger
retention pool to control drainage.
an active civic association, so residents didn’t have a voice at
Planning Commission hearings. When UPIA announced plans to build more houses
near Degroff Court in 2012, Carolyn Freeman and other residents reconstituted
the civic association to push for more robust stormwater controls. They weren’t
able to stop the houses from being built, but UPIA did put in a larger
retention pool to control drainage.
Other issues for the community association include keeping
an eye on building code violations and illegal overcrowding and opposing a Fairfax
County proposal that would have allowed residential studio units in
single-family neighborhoods. [The RSU proposal is still under debate, but the
Planning Commission agreed to restrict these units to higher-density areas.]
an eye on building code violations and illegal overcrowding and opposing a Fairfax
County proposal that would have allowed residential studio units in
single-family neighborhoods. [The RSU proposal is still under debate, but the
Planning Commission agreed to restrict these units to higher-density areas.]
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| The original farmhouse is still here. |
Now that the real estate market is improving, many of the
older rental properties have been purchased by young families, Freeman says,
“and people are showing more of an interest in being part of a neighborhood.”
older rental properties have been purchased by young families, Freeman says,
“and people are showing more of an interest in being part of a neighborhood.”
The civic association is planning several social activities
to bring neighbors together, including an Easter egg hunt and brunch in April,
a community yard sale, a National Night
Out cookout in August, and a Heritage Harvest festival next fall.
to bring neighbors together, including an Easter egg hunt and brunch in April,
a community yard sale, a National Night
Out cookout in August, and a Heritage Harvest festival next fall.
Freeman grew up in Annandale Acres, in a house on Calvert
Street her parents purchased in 1948. Freeman moved back to the old house in
2004 to care for her father and bought it in 2007. (Her sister, Nikki McDonald, was interviewed in the
Annandale Blog last month about old-time Annandale.)
Street her parents purchased in 1948. Freeman moved back to the old house in
2004 to care for her father and bought it in 2007. (Her sister, Nikki McDonald, was interviewed in the
Annandale Blog last month about old-time Annandale.)
Annandale Acres was established by Vernon Lynch, who bought a120-acre farm and sold it in
one-acre lots in 1940, Freeman says. The original houses were hooked up to the electrical
grid but there was no water or sewer service, so homeowners had to rely on well
water and septic tanks, she says.
Of course, everyone is hooked up the county water and sewer
system now, but there still is no storm drainage system, so some of the lower-lying
houses flood every time there is a heavy rain.
system now, but there still is no storm drainage system, so some of the lower-lying
houses flood every time there is a heavy rain.
The original “deed of dedication for the land” signed by
Lynch shows how Annandale was truly part of the South at that time. It
prohibits lots from being conveyed to anyone “not of the Caucasian race.” It
also bans home buyers from selling alcoholic beverages, operating a dance hall or
dog kennel, or raising pigs. Apparently other farm animals were allowed, as
Freeman remembers neighbors with cows and horses in their backyard.
Lynch shows how Annandale was truly part of the South at that time. It
prohibits lots from being conveyed to anyone “not of the Caucasian race.” It
also bans home buyers from selling alcoholic beverages, operating a dance hall or
dog kennel, or raising pigs. Apparently other farm animals were allowed, as
Freeman remembers neighbors with cows and horses in their backyard.
Annandale Acres
Snapshot
Snapshot
Number of houses: 120
Location: Along Auburn,
Beverly, and Calvert streets and Clemons Court.
Beverly, and Calvert streets and Clemons Court.
Fairfax County
district: Mason
district: Mason
Schools: Braddock
Elementary School, Poe Middle School, Annandale High School.
Elementary School, Poe Middle School, Annandale High School.
Recreation: Backlick
Park, Wilburdale Park, Audrey Moore RECenter/Wakefield Park.
Park, Wilburdale Park, Audrey Moore RECenter/Wakefield Park.
Home prices: $390,000
to $1.3 million.
to $1.3 million.
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| The dome house. |
Very interesting thank you. I'll look forward to reading about other neighborhoods in Mason District their history and development. It's fun.
Grew up in Annandale Acres in the 60's and 70's and owned the house till 2005. Too bad so much of it has changed.. And not for the good.
THIS WAS BUILT WHEN IT WAS A REPUBLICAN AREA!!!
This is a great neighborhood! A 'rural' community in an otherwise high density area! Great family environment with lots of trees and land for people to garden and kids to play!