When wandering through Fairlington, the community may look like a scene taken straight from the 1950s, with uniform home styles and tree-lined streets. The Arlington, Virginia neighborhood was originally constructed as a housing project in the 1940s during World War II. The area has since been transformed into primarily a townhome and condo community with a great location, an active citizen’s association and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.   

Fairlington on a Map

Fairlington is situated at the very south end of Arlington, bordering Alexandria, Shirlington, and Claremont. The neighborhood begins at the intersection of I-395 and King Street, continues northwest up King Street, right along S Walter Reed Drive, south across S Buchanan Street, 28th Rd S, 29th Street S, and 31st Street S, then back along I-395 until it meets back up with King Street.

Homes for Sale in Fairlington

Since Fairlington was a WWII housing development, the entire neighborhood is made up of brick exterior townhomes and townhome-style condominiums. These homes were originally constructed from 1941-1943 for civilians and military personnel with a total of 3,400+ units when the community was completed. In the 1970s, the units were converted into condominiums, and not much has changed as far as how the homes look on the outside. In the 1990s, Fairlington was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Each home in the community was constructed in Colonial Revival style, with brick or stone exteriors, front entrances with porches or stoops and decorative wood molding.

Things to Do in Fairlington

Fairlington itself is a strictly residential neighborhood. For entertainment and dining, residents head over to neighboring Shirlington and Alexandria. The Village at Shirlington has a great variety of shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment options and is within walking distance of the neighborhood via the W&OD trail. As far as shopping goes, this area has an eclectic variety of stores, including Hardwood Artisans, Cheesetique and more. There is also a plethora of restaurants in the area that keep the locals well fed, including Copperwood Tavern, Best Buns Bread Company and Carlyle.

The charming streets of Old Town Alexandria are also just a quick drive, bus, or cab ride away, with plenty of restaurants, bars and entertainment. Local favorites include A La Lucia, Bastille, Coco Blanca and Maggie Jane’s. Stores vary from clothing boutiques to housewares and cooking supply shops. There is also a bustling art scene in the area, with the Torpedo Factory Art Center acting as the epicenter of Alexandria Art, with 82 artist studios.

The streets of Fairlington are lined with oaks, maples, elms and sycamores and give the whole area a nice atmosphere for a pleasant walk. There also are green spaces and parks nearby. Fort Reynolds Park is within the borders of the neighborhood and has 0.8 acres of space, plus an outdoor amphitheater. The Fairlington Community Center & Park is the center of recreation in the neighborhood and has a variety of available activities for residents. These include a playground, basketball courts, fields, picnic shelter and paved trails. The recreation center also has six multipurpose rooms, including art studios, a fitness room and a gymnasium.

Traveling Around Fairlington

Like many neighborhoods of Arlington, transportation via car is the easiest and most common way to get around the area. Commuters are close to I-395, Route 7, and Route 402. There are also several Metrobus routes that go throughout the neighborhood and into Washington, DC. Alexandria’s DASH bus service is also available on roads adjacent to Fairlington. The DASH and Metrobus lines also connect directly to Metro stations. Ronald Reagan National Airport is only 5 miles away.

Making Your Home in Fairlington

Fairlington is a community filled with a rich history, yet is surrounded by everything residents could ever want or need. It’s the perfect spot for those looking for a little less space but still want the amenities of an Arlington neighborhood close to the action.