After a long work day in the hot city, residents of Arcturus on the Potomac have only a short drive on scenic George Washington Parkway to the private dirt road that takes them through old growth trees to their riverfront homes.
“These people have very busy hectic lifestyles and Arcturus offers them a little haven, a little cocoon,” said Susan Gray Chambers, a Coldwell Banker realtor with a listing on Arcturus. “If you want to be a recluse for the evening you can be. I think that is what Arcturus is all about.”
The name Arcturus is ancient, given to the third brightest star in the night skies by the gods of Greece. The tiny neighborhood, Arcturus on the Potomac, conjures the same vastness of the heavens with spacious plots of land shaded by tall and olden trees.
Arcturus–set in the larger community of Wellington Woods–begins on the edge of the forested ground of George Washington’s River Farm. The neighborhood is made up of several private (some dirt) roads that run from East Boulevard to the Potomac River, they include Arcturus on the Potomac to the north, Clifton Drive, which ambles into Andalusia Drive, and Chahotkin Drive, a cul-de-sac that lies between Andalusia and Herbert Springs to the south.
The area has long been prized as a respite from the area’s steamy summers.
“All along the Potomac there are little tiny cottages that were summer homes for the elite in Washington,” said Chambers. “It is such a wonderful scenic place to live.”
The setting appears to be a big part of the appeal of the communities lining the River from Wellington to the end of East Boulevard. Local resident, John Dale describes the neighborhoods as “full of trees–little forested areas and enclaves of parks and quiet places–that is a great advantage of our area. It is a really nice community with a lot of history. It was once part of George Washington’s farm.”
George Washington purchased the land that he called River Farm in 1760 from William Clifton. Clifton is responsible for building the brick manse that houses the American Horticultural Society. When Clifton dwelled there, the area was called Clifton’s Neck and he operated an inn and ferry landing that is often mentioned in Washington’s diaries. Adjacent to Clifton’s inn was an old dueling ground that was used frequently, especially by Marylanders who ferried over to take part in the ritual that was still legal in Virginia.
Arcturus itself has only about 20 homes, all distinctive, all built in different eras with lots of land and tall trees surrounding them. There is a very non-obligatory voluntary neighborhood association called Arcturus Park Association that requests an annual $100 contribution for the upkeep of the roads and the shared waterfront park.
“It is a unique quiet neighborhood, not a cookie-cutter neighborhood, Chambers said. It is also appealing to families with small children, shed said, who are looking for less-traveled streets and big yards.
“We like it because it is a collection of older homes that are extremely well built and solid, unlike a lot of the homes being built today,” said Dale. He added that it is also easy to expand these homes.
Some houses require a stroll down to the water’s edge, some have winter water views, others have all-year water views and a few are riverfront.
The houses range in size from mansions to very modest cottages and the architecture is equally varied. There are colonials and Edwardian-era homes, farm houses and post-modern houses, homes styled after British turreted manors as well as mansions with a Mediterranean influence.
The lots are spacious and wooded and share private roads. All of that scenery and privacy comes with a price. The average price of a home hovers right around $3 million with listings ranging from $1.8 million all the way to as much as you would like to spend.
That’s a worthwhile investment to those who cherish privacy, Chambers said.
“It is mainly the privacy and feeling of seclusion because you don’t have people just driving down the road,” she said. “And the people that live down there will fight you with a heavy fist to not pave those roads because they don’t want people driving down there. It is their own little enclave, their own little commune and they want to keep it very quiet and unpretentious.”
Top reasons to live in Arcturus on the Potomac
George Washington’s River Farm
The seat of the American Horticultural Society is just a short walk from these homes. The scenic AHS holds numerous events for adults and children interested in gardening. The house can also be rented for weddings and other special events.
Easy Access
It only takes seven minutes to drive into the heart of Old Town Alexandria and its Saturday-morning farmers market, shops, restaurants and theaters. “There is very easy access to Washington DC without having to get on the Beltway or 395,” Chambers said.
Within walking distance is the Hollin Hall Shopping Center, a small 1940s era strip mall that is loved dearly by residents for offering all the necessities as well as some unusual extras. Dale touted the Variety Store “is like a five and dime from fifty years ago–full of things you would never find anywhere else.” There is an old fashioned neighborhood hardware store and, “We have two or three great restaurants all in walking distance of our little self-contained community,” he said. The commute to D.C. is easy too
Parks and History
The 105 acres of Fort Hunt Park were once farmland owned by George Washington, but the land was converted to a military installation during the Spanish-American War. Then during World War II, spies roamed the outpost as it was used as a top secret military intelligence facility. Eventually, the National Park Service acquired the land and now it is a recreation center with swings and slides, playing fields and courts as well as shelters for large gatherings. This nearby park is on the road to Mount Vernon and Woodlawn Mansions — two more historic sites worth visiting.
Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism
This beautiful, historic mansion with Potomac River views has a fantastic library with thousands of history books and numerous American artifacts. It is also located on 8 acres of what was once George Washington’s River Farm. Besides being a repository for the early history of the Colonies and the United States, the house and grounds are available for special events, conferences and retreats.
Arcturus on the Potomac at a Glance
August 2008
Average sold price for homes sold in zip code 22308: $1,040,636
Average list price for homes sold in zip code 22308: $1,159,107
Average days on market for homes sold: 63
August 2007
Average sold price for homes sold in zip code 22308: $648,125
Average list price for homes sold in zip code 22308: $686,081
Average days on market for homes sold: 55
