Chesterbrook Woods:
Younger Families
Mean Change

By Louie Estrada
Washington Post Staff Writer
May 27, 1995

A remnant of the Beall family farm still stands at the intersection of Chesterbrook and Kirby roads in McLean, but it is mostly a reminder of what once was.

In the past 40 years more than 550 homes have been built near there in a development called Chesterbrook Woods. Now, with the passage of time and a generation of residents, the neighborhood is undergoing a rebirth as new families move in.

The once heavily wooded landscape and open farmland were transformed, mostly in the 1950s but even today, into an enclave of modest ramblers and large estates with substantial yards, connected by winding roads that are free of sidewalks.

At its inception, Chesterbrook Woods attracted young families who worked in the District but wanted a solitary place to retreat after work and on weekends, said Don Baer, a retired Naval officer, who moved there with his wife and two children in 1954.

Over the past 40 years, the residents have matured along with the community. Gone are the farmlands and thick stands of mulberries and laurels that are native to the area. There still are enough towering oak and dogwood trees lining lush green lawns that give a hint of its former days, filtering the sun on a summer's day and casting webbed shadows on the children playing in the streets.

Dwindling also from Chesterbrook Woods are the area's original homeowners, opening the way for a new generation of families to enjoy the area's quietude.

Today the community is nearly filled. Construction, however, is underway at Chesterbrook Farms, a collection of custom-designed luxury estates that sell for more than $700,000, said Lynn Ello, a sales representative at Randolph Williams Inc., one of the area's builders.

"Chesterbrook Woods is in a state of transition," said Betsy Brand, president of the Chesterbrook Woods Citizens Association. "There have been a number of new families moving in, younger couples with children."

The gradual increase in newcomers is one of the few noticeable changes. For the most part, the community has remained a bedrock of stability. It is an attractive neighborhood for move-up buyers, said Shahrzad Miller, a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors.

Miller, who lives in nearby Black Oaks, has been selling homes in the area for 10 years. "The real estate market in general is slow, but homes in Chesterbrook Woods tend to move pretty fast," she said.

The reasons behind the community's appeal remain much as they were since it was founded: proximity to the District, privacy and a family atmosphere.

As a result, Chesterbrook homes are considered pricey. Depending on whether homes have undergone upgrades, most houses in the community range from $300,000 to $450,000, Miller said. Some custom homes cost as much as $1 million.

She said the community's short drive to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the District via Chain Bridge is the repeated reason people have for moving there. Many of the residents are professionals who work in the District and want a short commute to their jobs, but also want a sense of seclusion and safety in where they live, Miller said.

The security of the area stems from the limited number of through streets, said Baer, who heads the neighborhood watch program, now in its 18th year. There are not a lot of access routes that encourage crime, and suspicious cars are easy to spot.

About 250 homes participate in the watch program, which includes patrols at night, Baer said.

Beyond security, local schools play a major role in the demand for housing at Chesterbrook Woods, Miller said.

The reputation of Chesterbrook Elementary was behind the decision of Gail Clements and her husband, Richard Elliot, to move to Chesterbrook Woods from North Arlington in 1989.

"We wanted a place where our kids could run and play," she said. "But it was more important to us that the school system have an excellent record with students and academic programs."

But with summer just about here, the community pool also is an attraction. Clements said that the pool acts as a summer magnet with its youth swim meets.

Another way to meet up with neighbors is a leisurely walk on the scenic Dolley Madison trail, so named because it is believed the wife of President James Madison fled on this path when British troops burned the White House in 1814.

"This is an area that is very family oriented," Clements said.

The citizens association, the activities of which have diminished somewhat in recent years, is trying to capitalize on the trend, organizing Halloween parties, softball games and other events.

"We're trying to do more community events," Brand said. "We heard that in years past there were block parties; we're slowly getting back to that point."

© The Washington Post Co.

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