Fairlington Historic District

Fairlington is a World War II-era garden apartment and townhouse community straddling Interstate 395 in southwestern Arlington County, with a few buildings in Alexandria. Built between 1942 and 1944, it holds 3,449 units in two sections, North and South Fairlington, along with a firehouse, an elementary school later turned community center, an administration building, and a maintenance facility. Nearly all buildings are Colonial Revival in style, with red brick walls, slate roofs, six-over-six windows, and white wood porches, stoops and trim. Buildings face curving streets or form U-shaped courtyards with central parking. North Fairlington has taller buildings and more apartments, a result of Defense Homes Corporation pausing construction on 1,200 units to add three-bedroom apartments. Conversion to condominiums in the 1970s upgraded interiors with little exterior change. The district counts 1,024 contributing buildings and remains in excellent condition, retaining the plan and appearance of its wartime origin.