About Fairlington Commons
Fairlington Commons is located in Arlington, VA and consists of 229 townhome and condominium units. Originally built for the defense workers and their families, it is still a significant example of community planning for publicly financed housing presenting a feel of a small community within a urban setting.
Fairlington streets are lined with mature, lofty, and majestic trees, manicured lawns and well-maintained buildings that are just a few of the characteristics which make Fairlington retain the feel and look of a traditional small town.
Location and Transportation
Fairlington's location, just minutes from the Nation's Capital and Historic Old Town Alexandria, is ideal for those seeking a quiet and tree-lined refuge from the hustle and bustle of the larger metropolitan area. Shopping centers and schools are within walking distances. Public transportation is ample with Alexandria and Metro buses providing regular links to the District of Columbia via the subway system stations in Alexandria, downtown Arlington and the Pentagon. Fairlington is immediately adjacent to Interstate 395, which leads directly to DC and to points south, and only a couple of miles from Washington's beltway (I-495).
Recreation
Each of the seven Fairlington condominium associations, in cooperation with Arlington County, provides residents with a variety of recreational opportunities. Whether it is beautifully manicured landscapes which encourage walks, bike paths along a major thoroughfare, or a dog park, Fairlington fits the bill when it comes to outside activities. In addition, the community is replete with swimming pools, play areas for children, tennis courts and basketball hoops. Our green, tree-lined, open spaces welcome residents to spend quiet hours of relaxation. Association-maintained gardens and prim landscape design are further enhanced with gardening wonders installed by individual home owners.
Available facilities include the Four Mile Run bike path, which merges with the Custis Lee Trail, and thus offers bikers the ability to go all the way to Purcellville in the Blue Ridge foothills. In addition, we have Utah Field within the community which provides opportunities for softball and soccer (reservations required).
Two community centers, the Fairlington Community Center (run by Arlington County) and one operated by the Fairlington Villages Condominium Association in North Fairlington, offer meeting room facilities and a variety of classes and community activities.
Designation as a Historic District
The Fairlington community was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1998 and to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This listing recognizes that a property is of significance to the nation, the state or the community. Fairlington has the rare distinction of being a nationally significant property. It is a notable example of community planning and publicly financed housing built for defense workers and their families during World War II. It was designed by renowned architects Kenneth Franzheim and Alan B. Mills and represents the best of residential construction.
Other than the limitations already authorized through the Condominium bylaws and enforced through the Board authority, homeowners are not be subject to any additional restrictions on the use of their property because of Fairlington's listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register. Specifically, state and federal standards governing historical designation "do not restrict an owner's use of his or her property in any way nor does it prohibit any owner from altering or demolishing any buildings, nor does it restrict subdivision or sale." State and Federal Historical Designation is purely an honorary act that simply recognizes the importance of our state and national historic resources.