Understanding the neighborhood.
Belle Haven is one of the most storied and prestigious neighborhoods in the Washington Metro Region. To fully understand and appreciate what makes Belle Haven so special, one should understand the geology and the history of the surrounding area.

The Geology
Washington D.C., like most cities on the East Coast of the United States, a little downriver from the Fall Line. The Fall Line is that point at which sea-going vessels can not traverse further inland. This is most usually marked by a "falls" or cataract where the water from the Appalachian Plateau (or inland continental highlands) drops down to the sandy soils of the Tidewater. In our region, this cataract is at Great Falls. Above Great Falls, the land is rocky and the geology is like that found in the uplands. Below Great Falls, the soils are sandy and the geology is like that found around the Chesapeake Bay.

This is most obvious at the falls itself, where a gorge or canyon parallels the Potomac on either side of the river. Along these ridges and on either side of the Potomac one will find the most valuable and prized lands in the area.

Mclean and Georgetown heights are on this prominence. The most valued land in Rosslyn is on the ridge. The Capitol itself is on the ridge, and Capitol Hill is actually the ridge, though its edges are softened by erosion and hidden under soil. The USMC Memorial is on the ridge. The Arlington House, Robert E. Lee's home at Arlington National Cemetery, is on the ridge. The Air Force Memorial is on the ridge. Arlington's prestigious “Ridge Road” peers down to Crystal City in the flats below. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is on the same geological feature. Follow this ridge far enough downstream and one will happen upon Belle Haven and eventually Mount Vernon. (Fort Washington is on the ridge in Maryland.)

Belle Haven's value is linked to the Fall Line.

History
This ridge spies down upon the River at every point, but also because it is so high, the ridge has views inland. For this reason, the ridge was critical to the defense of Washington DC during the Civil War. Union forts were placed at regular intervals and many of these forts survive today as public lands and parks. Fort Willard was just such a fort and it is now a park at the highest point in Belle Haven. During the War between the States the hill, all trees were felled to allow for a clear view of the surrounding countryside. Soldiers dug battlements and cannons were at the ready. President Abraham Lincoln visited Fort Willard to inspect Federal readiness.

After the war, the canons were removed and the fortifications were abandoned. Soon, the vegetation returned and by the 1930's the hill was mostly forest and brush. At that time the Belle Haven Realty company started developing land here. Except for a break during World War II, Belle Haven has been under-construction ever since.

The name Belle Haven is traced back to Scottish pioneers who settled this area along the Potomac River in the early 1700's. It is said that they named the area after a favored Scot, the Earl of Belhaven.  This early settlement thrived along the Potomac River as a port and was later renamed Alexandria. Alexandria is one of the oldest cities in America and was for many years a thriving port.

After the Civil War Alexandria descended into decline, but with the growth of the Federal government after World War I, came the rebirth of Alexandria. By 1960, Alexandria was a fairly metropolitan city and today Alexandria is linked to DC and the rest of the region as one of the largest and most affluent urban centers in America. The name "Belle Haven" was borrowed from the earliest name for Alexandria and Belle Haven has prospered as suburb of Alexandria.

Eventually Belle Haven came to be surrounded by high rises, strip malls and superhighways. Despite the fact that the world outside has changed, Belle Haven remains as quiet and peaceful as ever.

Property Values
The Belle Haven neighborhood now includes the original Belle Haven development as well as later developments such as Belle Haven Terrace, Belle Haven Estates and Belle Haven on the Green. There are subtle connotations of prestige depending upon the name of the subdivision and the location of the residence.

One must examine several defining factors when figuring value of a Belle Haven property. These factors are location, history and geology. Belle Haven's location is prime because of proximity to shopping, Old Town, the Metro, superhighways and more. But generally all Belle Haven homes have similar access to local services. "Belle Haven" proper remains the premier neighborhood because it is the oldest development in the Belle Haven neighborhood, but there are sections of the other neighborhoods which (for my money) offer everything one might find in Belle Haven, at perhaps a slightly lower cost. Historically, the best and largest houses in the Belle Haven neighborhood were all in old Belle Haven, but this is less true now as evidenced by the construction of massive new homes in Belle Haven Terrace.

In my humble opinion, I do not see old Belle Haven losing any value and there will remain a certain prestige attached to this neighborhood. However, I construction and changes that indicate that the Belle Haven neighborhoods are evolving. The value and prestige linked to old Belle Haven is saturating into other Belle Haven neighborhoods. I think this evolution will continue.

In the future, the defining factor in value will not be the name of the subdivision, but rather home's construction and the relationship of the site to the Fall Line. Of course, the name of the subdivision name is an indicator of when the property was developed and who developed the property. This will not change. While this is important for determining value, in my humble opinion, the geology/location is more important.

This is because some homes in old Belle Haven are found in mossy shaded slopes while other Belle Haven Estate properties are perched on the ridge looking out over the floodplain. Time will prove this opinion right or wrong, but for now most of the higher price tags are found in old Belle Haven.

For a personal tour of the neighborhood, contact me at any time.

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Here's a quick primer of some of the subtleties of Belle Haven:

• Belle Haven on the Green;
• Belle Haven Terrace;
• Belle Haven Estates;
• Belle Haven (aka "old Belle Haven" not to be confused with "Olde Belle Haven" townhouses in Belle View).

These homes were rebuilt fairly recently.

Belle Haven on the Green
In the late 1980's, 74 three and four bedroom townhouses were built at the foot of Fort Willard hill. Called "Belle Haven on the Green" because of the proximity to the Belle Haven Country Club, this a fenced community of luxury townhouses. Parking is at a premium, but the construction is mostly brick and the amenities are top-knotch. There are also town houses at Olde Belle Haven, a townhouse community in neighboring Belle View.

Near the entrance to Belle Haven and the BHCC
you'll find Belle Haven on the Green.

Belle Haven Terrace
Belle Haven Terrace as the name implies, is at the foot of Belle Haven. These homes were mostly built in the 1970's and 1960's after Belle Haven was developed. Because they aren't down in the floodplain, like Belle View, the homes of Belle Haven Terrace are virtually immune to flooding. The homes are mostly brick and are generally well-maintained. Several homes in Belle Haven Terrace have been knocked down and replaced by elegant, large manors.

Many homes in Belle Haven Terrace have stunning views.

Many homes in Belle Haven Terrace have been knocked down and rebuilt.

Belle Haven Estates
The "estates" of Belle Haven Estates were generally built after World War II but before Belle Haven Terrace. The homes of Belle Haven Estates are usually found at the ridge and thus many have outstanding views of the Potomac River, Belle View and Maryland. The homes here are all one of a kind and they are generally understated but luxurious none-the-less.

You won't find cookie-cutter homes anywhere in Belle Haven.

No internet graphic can really do justice to the views from Belle Haven Estates.

Belle Haven
Starting in the 1930's and continuing to today, Belle Haven homes were built with style and with an attention to detail not found in today's McMansions. Many of these were instant classics, and though they have been properly maintained, they have changed little since they were first built. A few have been added-on or torn-down to make way for large more elegant homes. Slate roofs are common in Belle Haven as the tasteful use of brick or stone.

Stately.

A cottage in the forest with slate roof and stone exterior is even more beautiful inside.

Features

• Choice of lifestyle: townhomes, cottages, houses, manors.
• Park-like historic setting.
• Surrounded by parks & well-tended grounds.
• Upscale neighborhood.
• Access to county services.
• Unsurpassed location.

This brand new beauty is on the slopes of Belle Haven Terrace.