Included in a recent Speechless Sunday post was the photo on the right.  The question was did anyone know what this is?  A few people were on an interesting track when they said incinerator and jail. The photo shows the only remaining brick kiln used by inmates at the DC Reformatory formerly located in Lorton VA to produce the bricks used to build many of the structures and walkways at the reformatory.

In 1925 the brick kilns were considered some of the best on the east coast and in 1927 it is estimated the inmates made over 4.2 million bricks.  The kilns were located on the banks of the Occoquan River making it easier for bricks not used for the reformatory to be sold and shipped to DC.    Bricks were used to build a number of buildings in DC include Cardoza HS on Clifton Street NW now on the National Register of Historic Places. 

In addition to the paving the way with the bricks produced at the kiln the DC Reformatory at Lorton also helped pave the way for the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution.

The first parade to bring recognition to the woman's rights movement took place in Washington DC on March 9, 1913 with over 5000 participants marching on Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration day.  In 1917 the first women arrested in our area were sent to the DC Reformatory in Lorton. It was reported that they were physically abused, force fed and made to live in filthy conditions.  It was the action of these women housed a the reformatory between 1916 and 1920 which helped bring about the 19th amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote.

Today the remaining brick kiln and a memorial to the Woman Suffergists are located in Occoquan Regional Park located on the edge of the Occoquan River.   Stop by to enjoy not only the waterfront park but learn more about how inmates helped pave the way to a new future in Lorton VA.

If you are looking for a home in a neighborhood with top notch community amenities then you will want to include the community of Port Potomac in Woodbridge VA on your tour list.  The clubhouse was designed after the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg and provides Port Potomac residents with top of the line options for recreation.

Inside the clubhouse you will find a large gathering space with multiple seating areas and a full bar.  You can reserve the clubhouse for a private event and it is a neighborhood meeting place as well.   Head downstairs to the indoor pool and fully equipped exercise room. Outside is the summer pool as well as tennis and basketball courts for you to enjoy.  Need to walk off a little stress?  Then wander the meditation path and see if that will help.

Take a quick tour of the Port Potomac Clubhouse amenities.

 

If you are looking for a Port Potomac home to go with this great clubhouse then give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213 to discuss the available options.  If you are an owner in Port Potomac and need to sell your home I’ve sold two properties in Port Potomac this year and have another listing under contract

 Check out Current Port Potomac Listings

 

When my parents discovered having two figidty children in the backseat of a car, one prone to car sickness, made travel to visit grandparents in Florida more of a chore than fun they turned to the train for a better way to go.  As we grew older and a car trip or even an airplane would have made more sense we insisted that a train ride would be more fun.  And they were.  Looking out the windows as the countryside passed by, falling asleep to the clack of the rails and listening to the whistle blow as we passed through small towns were all part of the adventure.

Fast forward to today and families have to option of taking not only the train to Florida and their car as well.  The train runs from Lorton VA to Sanford Florida and back again.  The train trip takes about 17 hours and  children can keep themselves occupied with books & video games when they aren't looking out the window watching the scenery.  You can load your car up with all of the big luggage and just carry an overnight bag onto the train.  No charge for "extra bags."

Americans often overlook the option to take the train, where our European and Asian counterparts use trains every day.  When we visit my daughter in the UK the train is the way to get around the countryside and when we lived and traveled in the Far East the train was our preferred method of getting around the various countries we visited. 

So the next time you are thinking about a trip from Virginia to Florida or vice versa, bi-pass all the signs for South of the Border,cheap cigarettes and illegal fireworks and spend a little time on the rails with your family.  You will arrive less stressed and with the knowledge that your luggage will actually arrive at the same time you do.

Check out the Amtrak Auto Train Schedule and Fares: www.amtrak.com

Active Duty Military and Military Families may qualify for 10-15% off fares on various Amtrak routes.  Make sure you check for fare discounts before you book your trip.

Lorton neighborhoods have been around a long time. In fact the Lorton area has history that goes all the way back to before the Revoluntary War and Pohich Church still in service today was completed in 1774.  With a combination of older neighborhoods with large lots to the newer town center developement Lorton continues to attract new residents.

The newest Lorton growth came about when the DC Reformatory located in Lorton was ordered closed in 1998. With just over 3200 acres the prison complex gave Fairfax County developers an opportunity to create an entire new vision for the land and its usage.  With a Virginia Rail Express Station already in place in Lorton (1994) the area was poised for growth.

To the east of I-95 a new town center Lorton Station has grown up around the VRE station. Currently featuring multiple restaurants, a pharmacy and a variety of small shops. In the summer time Fairfax County has a Sunday Farmers Market in the VRE parking log. Just down the road Lorton Market offers a large Shoppers Food Warehouse, UPS store, emergency medical center and banking. All of shopping options make it easy for homeowners to stay in the neighborhood for just about everything they need.

A new high school,  South County Secondary School and Laurel Hill Elementary School were opened in the last few year.  The Laurel Hill Golf Course an 18 hole championship course operated by the Fairfax County Park opened in 2007 and with a 9000 square foot club house it has become a terrific place for Lorton residents to gather. Bike paths and walking trials connect different sections of the community and also connect with the Fairfax County Cross County Trail.

The jewel of the redevelopment is the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. The site has retained the old brick reformatory buildings and revamped them into a blend of artist's studios, classroom and performing arts center.

With it's convenience to Fort Belvoir, easy access to I-95, community VRE station and community amenities it is easy to see why the "new" Lorton has become a re-development success in Fairfax County.

Search for Your New Home in Lorton VA

If you are interested in learning more about relocating to the Lorton area give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213.  We can meet up for coffee at Lorton Market and talk about about whether this is the right time for you to make a move. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about the home buying process property in today's market.

 

 

This structure represents a portion of history in Northern Virginia.  When this structure was built it was discovered this area was the site of Revolutionary-war burying ground, which meant the remains of soliders found there needed to be moved. 

Despite the negative connotations to its history the evidence of what it did can still be seen not only a few blocks away but also in DC as well.

 

Do you Know What It Is?

 

Northern Virginia Agents let others see if they can name this structure and it's purpose before jumping in!

 

 

Today another of my listings in the planned community of Port Potomac went to settlement.  This is my second settlement in Port Potomac in Prince William County for a military family using the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) benefits this year.

In this case the entire transaction has been conducted via the phone and Internet.  I've never met the Army officer who owns owned the home.   They learned they were eligible for the program after they had moved to their new duty station in Georgia.  This isn't the first transaction I've completed this year where I've never met the owner.  In fact I have 7 other properties either settled or in progress where I haven't met the owners face to face.

Each settlement for military families using DoD HAP benefits is a huge relief for the owners.  Without the program they would be facing either a short sale or the prospect of becoming long-term landlords waiting for the market value of their property to return to a break-even position.  Fortunately for thousands of military families across the US the program exists to help with the financial burden.

Though I would love to meet each of the families I represent it is far more important to be able to see the SOLD sign go up in their yard.  If you are a military family living in Port Potomac or anywhere in the Northern Virginia area who meet the qualification for the DoD HAP program give me a call at 703-346-2213.  Let me show you how I've helped 21 military families in our area navigate the process of DoD HAP benefits to get their homes under contract or sold this year.

Tucked just off the intersection of two major roads in West Springfield is the neighborhood of Charlestown.  With tree lined streets, community parks and easy access to shopping and commuter routes, this neighborhood is well worth checking out.

Most descriptions of the townhomes in Charlestown talk about the "dramatic curved staircases" which greet you when you open the front door.  What they don't tell you is how much space the townhomes have to offer.  There are a variety of models to choose from and the largest models the Concord and the Hermitage offer close to 2600 SF with a first floor den and full basements.

One of the benefits of the Charlestown neighborhood is the outside maintenance that the HOA provides. Besides the lawn care, trash pickup and snow removal the HOA also paints the exterior trim of the townhouses on a three year cycle, replaces the roofs when needed and the brick walls that run around the perimeter of the backyards.

Carlestown is located in the West Springfield HS Pyramid, both the elementary school and HS are within walking distance.

There are two shopping centers close enough to walk to.  One features a Giant Food store and CVS and the other Whole Foods and Walgreens.  While you are at the shopping center you can stop by Starbucks, Austin Grill or Chicken Out for bite to eat.

Need to head to DC?  Commuting to the Pentagon is as simple as stepping outside your door and walking 2 to 3 blocks to Forrester Blvd.  If you aren't picked up by a commuter looking for slugs then you can grab the 18G Metro Bus.  If Fort Belvoir or NGA are your destination then the commute is also 30 minutes or less depending on stoplights!  You can access the Fairfax County Parkway for the trip to other parts of Fairfax County just a few miles away.



Recreation activities are right outside your door.  The community offers tot lots scattered throughout the courtyards and Lake Accotink Park has a back entrance off of Carrleigh Parkway.  You can ride your bike or walk to the park. Take advantage of the 3.75 mile trail around the 55 acre lake for you can canoe or rent a paddle boat to explore. Lake Accotink also has a wonderful old carousel operating during the summer months which is a delight for young and old.

If you are looking for a quiet established neighborhood with tree lined streets in a central West Springfield location then give me a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about the available options. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about whether now is the right time for you to buy a home in the Charlestown neighborhood in West Springfield VA.

 

Charlestown in West Springfield Homes for Sale

 

 

Last week was a long one for this Realtor®.  I'm tuckered out from all the craziness but there is one thing that will always lift my spirits.  Sunrise on the Occoquan River in Belmont Bay.  This morning as it came up from behind the trees it was hard to believe that we are headed into the last week of July.

I hope you find your inspiration for the week and if you are on the east coast a place to stay cool until the heat wave breaks.

No one will dispute that a heat wave is on in Northern Virginia.  However there is a place to hang out that won't cost you any money and will give you a chance to see wonderful photos by local artists.

The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center 2nd Annual Juried Photographic Competition is underway and on display through August 15th, 2010.  The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center is the crown jewel of the redevelopment of the buildings and land that once were part of the DC Correctional facilty that was located in Lorton VA.

For local artists the center provides a place for studios close to home and for residents a place to enjoy classes, exhibitions, art walks and performances.

If you want to stay cool over the next few weeks then make sure you stop by the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center and take in the photos on display.

Not able to get to here.  No problem the photos are available for you to view right here.

Less than a mile from the gates of Fort Belvoir and the 5300 homes that make up Kingstowne, you can hear a rooster crow announcing a new day at Nalls Produce and Nursery. Started as a way for the Nalls family to sell off some of the extra produce from their family garden today Nalls Produce and Nursery is a 5th generation roadside market in Alexandria, VA.

As you approach Nalls Produce on Beluah Street you can't help but be drawn in by the display of fresh flowers and vegetables out front. Once you've pulled into the parking lot and start to explore the grounds you will not only hear the resident rooster but you will see the family of chickens peeking around underneath the flower trays. Of course one of the first questions that visitors ask when they see the free roaming chickens is what happens if they try and cross the road? Not to worry since the chickens have plenty of bugs and feed they haven't tried to do the impossible and get across busy Beluah Street.

 

The summer produce at Nalls is a site to see. Artfully displayed in wagons, a tribute to way they first started selling produce, the fresh vegetables are reasonably priced and all locally grown. The prices are far better than grocery store and in many cases less than the local farmers markets as well. You will always find a great selection throughout the season. In addition to the produce you will find a fresh jams, honey and a variety of sauces for your cooking as well.

Back outside you can wander through the rows and rows of beautiful hanging baskets, flowers and trees. Nalls Produce and Nursery sells a great selection of plants labeled for buyers who need shade, full sun or even deer resistant plants. While you wander through the plants you will encounter butterflies and an occasional hummingbird as well.

If you are looking for great produce, beautiful plants and a local business to support then look no further than Nalls Produce and Nursery on Beluah Street in Alexandria, VA. 

When you are done at Nalls Produce and Nursery give call Cindy Jones at 703-346-2213 to help you find a new home to plant those new flowers and a kitchen to cook your veggies.  I'll be glad to show you the variety of homes available around Fort Belvoir.  No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home.