Walter Reed Gardens Historic District
Also known as: Commons of Arlington; 000-8824
Why it's listed
Walter Reed Gardens, also known as the Commons of Arlington, is a garden apartment complex in the Columbia Heights area of Arlington County, Virginia. Built in 1948 on about five acres, it groups eighteen brick buildings into four clusters around open courts, with the largest being a U-shaped court on South 13th Road. The buildings follow the Colonial Revival style, with American bond brickwork, wood door surrounds, pedimented entrances, and 6/6 and 8/8 double-hung windows. It was first designed with 147 one-bedroom units to attract single veterans and childless couples returning after World War II. A condominium conversion in 1982-1984 reconfigured the interiors into 134 units and later added a swimming pool, the only non-contributing resource. The complex was listed for its role in community planning and development and as a representative example of FHA-influenced garden apartments built in Arlington between 1934 and 1954. Its low buildings, moderate density and landscaped grounds set it apart from more urban apartment forms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a fine example of the small-scale garden apartment complexes built in Arlington County before and just after World War II. Its Colonial Revival style, open court layout and landscaped setting are characteristic of developments funded by FHA-insured mortgages. It represents a mid-20th-century approach to multi-family housing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03000451, listed May 22, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2900-2906 13th St. S, 2900-2914 13th Rd S, 1301-1319 S. Walter Reed Dr., Arlington |
|---|---|
| County | Arlington County |
| Listed | May 22, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000451 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1948 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as multiple dwellings; converted to condominiums in 1982-1984, with a swimming pool added afterward. |
| Acreage | 5.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.85921, -77.08666 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03000451.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.