Charles Goodman’s landmark mid-century modern community — listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, 450+ homes on wooded Potomac hillsides, and one of the most architecturally significant neighborhoods in the United States.
Hollin Hills is where Charles M. Goodman first proved his vision at scale. Launched in 1946 by developer Robert Davenport, the community became Goodman’s laboratory for mid-century modern residential design: flat roofs, floor-to-ceiling glass, natural materials, and deep integration with the wooded Potomac hillside. Over more than two decades, Goodman designed more than 450 homes here — more than at any other single community in his career.
In 2021, Hollin Hills was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, formally recognizing what its residents have always known: this is not just a neighborhood, it is a landmark. The community remains remarkably intact, with the civic association actively working to preserve Goodman’s design language against teardowns and incompatible renovations.
For buyers drawn to MCM architecture, Hollin Hills is the origin point — the place where Goodman refined the vocabulary he would later apply at Carderock Springs. It offers significant historical and architectural significance at prices that, while strong, remain below Carderock Springs comparables in Montgomery County.
Hollin Hills was conceived in 1945 by developer Robert Davenport, who hired Charles Goodman to design a community unlike anything the Mid-Atlantic had seen. Goodman brought the principles of European modernism — Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus — to the wooded hillsides south of Old Town Alexandria, and spent more than twenty-five years refining his approach home by home. The result was the most significant collection of mid-century modern residential architecture in the American South. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 was the formal acknowledgment of what the architectural community had long recognized.
Hollin Hills is located in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County, just south of Old Town Alexandria, close to the Potomac River. The GW Parkway provides scenic access to DC (approximately 25–35 minutes). The Huntington Metro station (Yellow Line) is approximately 4 miles north. Reagan National Airport is roughly 20 minutes by car.
School assignments vary by address and can change over time. Buyers should verify any specific property’s assignment directly with Fairfax County Public Schools before relying on it.
Hollin Hills is a national-caliber MCM market. Buyers include architects, historians, and design professionals from across the country. Inventory is very low — the community is protective of its character and teardowns are community-resisted.
The NRHP listing adds a layer of cultural significance that supports values over time, but also means buyers should understand any applicable review processes for major exterior modifications. Work with an MCM-specialist agent and inspector.
Sellers benefit from a motivated national buyer pool that specifically seeks NRHP-listed Goodman architecture. Hollin Hills has a story that resonates far beyond the DC Metro — use it.
Condition and authenticity drive premiums here. Original Goodman homes in good condition consistently outperform renovated homes that have lost their MCM character. Present the architecture honestly and accurately.
Nationally significant, beautifully intact, and unlike anything else in Northern Virginia. Let me help you find your place in this landmark community.