The Chevy Chase/Ashland Park neighborhoods are tony; there’s no denying it. History plays a big part of the appeal, with some of the neighborhoods and Woodland Park designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers firm. Green spaces abound in the heart of Chevy Chase, with flourishes like triangular, tree-filled islands dotting the residential streets. The family of American statesman Henry Clay once owned the 600 acres land that came to be known as Chevy Chase, and 17 bucolic acres of Clay’s home, Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate, remain the neighborhoods’ crown jewel.
The area contains a mix of mainly sizable homes, some originally built in the early 1900s, with plenty of character and interesting architecture that includes a wide variety of styles: Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Bungalow, Tudor Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival, Prairie, Georgian Revival, Spanish Eclectic, French Eclectic and Italian Renaissance. These homes line well-manicured streets that are largely convenient to both downtown and the Richmond Road corridor.
The desirable area is often sought after by residents who appreciate older homes and easy access to the heart of Lexington, where they can find a plethora of restaurants, cultural events and activity. Whether it’s a beer at Lexington’s oldest bar, the Chevy Chase Inn (which opened in 1932 and wallows in the fact that its biggest change over the years has been getting a new sign) or enjoying raspberry chocolate chip ice cream at Graeter’s, this area has touches that residents make part of their weekly routines.
“Everything is self-contained,” said resident Marilee Varner, who is chair of event planning at Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate. “It’s also where I grew up, riding my bike to Wheeler’s Pharmacy and charging ice cream and candy to my parents’ account. It’s like a little Mayberry.”
Other neighborhood retail and culinary stalwarts include John’s Run/Walk Shop, Bourbon n’ Toulouse, Athenian Grill and Worlds Apart Luxury Clothing and Accessories. A new mega Kroger nearby that caters to a mix of professionals and college students provides an easy trip to pick up groceries, and new restaurants like Joella’s Hot Chicken and the forthcoming Louis’e Wine Dive keep the area jumping.
-Neighborhood description by Rena Baer
Chevy Chase/Ashland Park Residential Real Estate by the Numbers
Total single family residences: 3,121
Number of homes sold last year*: 119
Percentage of homes sold last year: 3.81%
Number of homes sold this year**: 126
Percentage of homes sold this year: 4.04%
Median sale price: $440,000
Median sale price percentage increase/decrease from last year to this year: -1.83%
* For the sake of this article, “last year” refers to the period between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015
** ”This year” refers to the period between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016