About Reston's Lake Anne Village Center

I love Reston Virginia. I love the free spirit and the felling of community that you get when you are out on a sunny day in the summer.

One of my favorite place is Lake Anne and the shops in the original portion of Reston highlighted by the fountain.

Kids love to play in the fountain. Parents love to gather around the fountain and enjoy the sounds of the kids splashing and frolicing in the fountain. The free spirit of Reston really comes to life at this one spot.

Nevermind the sign that has been hanging on the fountain for years. The Free Spirit of Reston Lives on.

Communities where you can enjoy the Free Spirit near Lake Anne in Reston:

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The Free Spirit of Lake Anne in Reston Virginia

Once upon a time, a little girl would set out regularly from her home to the local shopping plaza. It was within close walking distance and she was allowed to go there by herself or with a friend. This shopping plaza was a wonderful place, filled with many different stores, fountains, food and friends. It was really the center of the community--and her world. She would spend her money on candy at the drug store, jewelry at Pier One Imports, jeans at the Pants Corral (or something similar) and Little House on the Prairie Books from the Hallmark.

One day she went off to college and in her humanities course, Fine Arts, she came upon a photo of the shopping plaza of her childhood. It turns out that this shopping plaza, Washington Plaza in the Lake Anne section of Reston, Virginia (now called Lake Anne Plaza), was a famous place! Who knew? She pointed it out to all her friends, but no one really seemed to care.

Sometime after college, she and her new husband bought a house in Reston, just a couple of miles from Lake Anne Plaza. They raised their children with visits to the cement play structures she remembered from her childhood and strolls around the lake. They took out paddle boats, and saw the fountain (kids were not allowed to play in it anymore). When the kids got older, they all visited the Saturday Farmer's market.

Now days, she and her husband visit one of their favorite restaurants, Jasmine Cafe, to sit outside and enjoy the views. They go regularly to the Farmers Market and try to visit the local merchants as much as they can. There is even a branch of the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, now!

This little girl was, of course, me. Lake Anne has changed over the years, and its role in my life has evolved, but I still love to visit this special shopping center. The stores of my youth have taken on new owners and roles. It is still a lovely place to visit for a special dinner, quiet afternoon or with the kiddies for a fun outing.

Lake Anne is as lovely and unique today as it was when I was growing up there in the 1970's.

This perspective of this photo is very similar to the one I saw in my college Fine Arts textbook.

How Reston got its name

Melody: How did Reston get its name…from being a restful place to live? How come its design is so unusual?

Steve: No Melody, Reston is a peaceful place to live…but the name Reston was derived from the initials of Robert E. Simon, the man behind the outstanding design, vision, and creation of Reston.

That is a sculpture of him above sitting on a bench a Lake Anne Center.

I will write about the history of Reston from time to time, since it is an intriguing topic for anyone interested in real estate development and the thought process that goes into designing a livable community…rather then just slapping up some buildings, selling them and running off to do it again somewhere else.

The following quote is from the Washington Post 2004:

“Robert E. Simon Jr. is the pioneer behind the groundbreaking planned community of Reston, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year.

Reston’s European-style plaza, clustered townhomes, centerpiece lake, and contemporary architecture are studied by planning and architecture students across the country.

Named by the American Institute of Certified Planners as a national planning landmark, Reston is a classic study in community planning. Simon, who turns 90 next month, moved back to enjoy his creation 11 years ago.”

Source: Washington Post, Mar 25, 2004

What was he thinking?

Melody: Do you have some quotes from any speeches made by Mr. Simon which give some background into his thought process?

Steve: Yes …..the following quote is from his Genisis speech in 1961:

“This brings me to 1961. A representative of the Washington real-estate firm of Shannon & Luchs was given the assignment to sell a 6,750-acre parcel of Virginia countryside.

He spoke to Jim Lannegan in New York, hoping to interest Roger Stevens, but instead Jim called a friend of his, Henry Wrightson. “Henry, do you know anybody that is interested in 6,000-odd acres in Virginia?”

Henry replied, “Maybe, if you come on up and see me.” The person he had in mind, of course, was me.

The project was really out of my area, but it seemed such a marvelous opportunity. The location was perfect.

The foundations were just being laid for the magnificent Dulles Airport terminal building and construction crews were scratching away at the runways.
An airport like that in what seems like a desert will cause the desert to flower.

And Dulles Airport was being put into Fairfax County, then the single, fastest-growing county in the United States.

The property was about 18 miles from Washington, the nation’s capital and fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country. On top of this, the terrain was beautiful. It was an irresistible challenge, so I didn’t resist. What should be done with the land? With a parcel this size, the only conceivable single use was a bedroom community; and that, to me, was a repulsive idea.

We began to think about a “New Town.” Of the many definitions of a New Town, I prefer the one given by Ada Louise Huxtable in the New York Times: a New Town is a large-scale development with residential, commercial, industrial, cultural and civic functions. In other words, a well-rounded community.

Melody: Is Mr. Simon still alive…I hope so...... he sounds like such a good guy?

Steve: Yes Marnie Mr. Simon is alive and living in Reston at Lake Anne, where it all started. You can kind of visit him at the Lake Anne Plaza….his life size bronze sculpture sits on a park bench there. You can sit beside him after learning more about the very cool history of Reston at the Reston Museum.

Here is a video of Lake Anne and Reston's visionary below:

Visit the Reston Museum and then sit beside Bob Simon (Reston's creator)

Reston History: Where is the Reston Museum?

Sandy:What suggestions do you have for how to spend a few hours on Saturday afternoon in Reston?

I like discovering the history of things, by the way.

Steve: Well Sandy, how about the history of Reston? Head on down to the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Plaza.

Afterwards, you can sit bench-ingly with the good looking founder of Reston with a water view backdrop.

Sandy: Is the Reston Museum where you get some of your historical insight?

Steve: Actually Sandy, the one time I did not check a historical reference found on line through the Reston Museum's info. site, my blog post was politely commented upon by a member of the museums board of directors.

She suggested that I send history buffs to visit the museum and site so that they could get the TRUE scoop on Reston's amazing development.

Sandy: My boyfriend Charlie does not want to do the museum thing ...is there some place he can swill beer while I am at the museum?

Steve: Sandy, you are in luck. Lake Anne Village Center has got everything both you and Charlie need for a swell afternoon.

He can relieve the weekly stress... bending an elbow, quaffing fine libations while you uplift your mind at the museum.

Afterward, you've got great dining choices within a couple hundred feet of the museum or wherever Charlie is drinking.

Sandy: Steve, you sound like a nice guy.

Would you and your wife like to help me find a home to buy in Reston?

Steve: Thanks Sandy, we would be happy to help.

A good place to start is by seeing what homes are out there that you might like.

You can do that by setting up your own automatic home search at http://janandsteve.listingbook.com/

No one will bother you and all the listings that meet your specifications will come to an electronic organizer that you can access by email at your leisure.

If you want, we can do it for you just email us your specifications.

If you need to sell a property before buying a home in Reston we can make that happen as well.

Hopefully we can relieve the major stress from that process and help you get into the new place without making yourself crazy.

How Reston got its name

Marnie: How did Reston get its name…from being a restful place to live?

Steve:No Marnie, Reston is a peaceful place to live…but the name Reston was derived from the initials of Robert E. Simon, the man behind the outstanding design, vision, and creation of Reston. That is a sculpture of him above sitting on a bench a Lake Anne Center. I will write about the history of Reston from time to time, since it is an intriguing topic for anyone interested in real estate development and the thought process that goes into designing a livable community…rather then just slapping up some buildings, selling them and running off to do it again somewhere else.

The following quote is from the Washington Post 2004:

“Robert E. Simon Jr. is the pioneer behind the groundbreaking planned community of Reston, which celebrates its fortieth anniversary this year. Reston’s European-style plaza, clustered townhomes, centerpiece lake, and contemporary architecture are studied by planning and architecture students across the country. Named by the American Institute of Certified Planners as a national planning landmark, Reston is a classic study in community planning. Simon, who turns 90 next month, moved back to enjoy his creation 11 years ago.”

Source: Washington Post, Mar 25, 2004

What was he thinking?

Marnie: Do you have some quotes from any speeches made by Mr. Simon which give some background into his thought process?

Steve: Yes …..the following quote is from his Genisis speech in 1961:

“This brings me to 1961. A representative of the Washington real-estate firm of Shannon & Luchs was given the assignment to sell a 6,750-acre parcel of Virginia countryside. He spoke to Jim Lannegan in New York, hoping to interest Roger Stevens, but instead Jim called a friend of his, Henry Wrightson. “Henry, do you know anybody that is interested in 6,000-odd acres in Virginia?” Henry replied, “Maybe, if you come on up and see me.” The person he had in mind, of course, was me. The project was really out of my area, but it seemed such a marvelous opportunity. The location was perfect. The foundations were just being laid for the magnificent Dulles Airport terminal building and construction crews were scratching away at the runways. An airport like that in what seems like a desert will cause the desert to flower. And Dulles Airport was being put into Fairfax County, then the single, fastest-growing county in the United States.

The property was about 18 miles from Washington, the nation’s capital and fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country. On top of this, the terrain was beautiful. It was an irresistible challenge, so I didn’t resist. What should be done with the land? With a parcel this size, the only conceivable single use was a bedroom community; and that, to me, was a repulsive idea. We began to think about a “New Town.” Of the many definitions of a New Town, I prefer the one given by Ada Louise Huxtable in the New York Times: a New Town is a large-scale development with residential, commercial, industrial, cultural and civic functions. In other words, a well-rounded community.

Marnie: Is Mr. Simon still alive…I hope so...... he sounds like such a good guy?

Steve: Yes Marnie Mr. Simon is alive and living in Reston at Lake Anne, where it all started. You can kind of visit him at the Lake Anne Plaza….his life size bronze sculpture sits on a park bench there. You can sit beside him after learning more about the very cool history of Reston at the Reston Museum.

Want to take a tour of homes you like in Herndon, Reston or Sterling? Please drop us a line and we will make the arrangements.

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