2025 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 407

Commending Hollin Hills.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2025

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 20, 2025

WHEREAS, Hollin Hills, a historic neighborhood in the Hybla Valley of Fairfax County known for its commitment to mid-century modern architecture and innovative landscaping designs, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024; and

WHEREAS, Hollin Hills was one of the area's first new residential developments after World War II and traces its roots to 1946, when developer Robert Davenport purchased 225 acres of undeveloped land just south of Alexandria; the community took its name from the nearby Hollin Hall Plantation, which had originally been owned by George Mason; and

WHEREAS, Robert Davenport built several partnerships with investors to support the fledgling community and hired Charles Goodman, the architect who designed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; the neighborhood is still known for its unique aesthetics and commitment to architectural harmony; and

WHEREAS, rather than use a grid pattern, the developers of Hollin Hills sited houses to fit the area's rolling woodland hillsides to promote a sense of individuality and privacy while integrating the region's natural beauty into the plan; and

WHEREAS, in 1949, Charles Goodman unveiled the first of his unit designs that became the trademark of the Hollin Hills community, the split-level Unit No. 1; that same year, a one-story Unit No. 2 was completed and purchased by John and Kitty Nettles, the neighborhood's first homeowners; and

WHEREAS, the Hollin Hills Community Association, now known as the Civic Association of Hollin Hills, was established in 1950 to serve the growing community, and a lively community newsletter was launched in 1951; and

WHEREAS, in 1956, Hollin Hills purchased an additional 101 acres, which became known as the New Hollin Hills; the entire community now encompasses more than 450 homes built according to eight distinct unit plans, and despite being only 20 minutes from Washington, D.C., the neighborhood maintains a distinctly rural character through its flowing, park-like arrangement; and

WHEREAS, the last house built in Hollin Hills was completed in 1971, and the community commemorated the event with a block party in honor of the visionary leadership of Robert Davenport, who retired shortly thereafter; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, Hollin Hills formed the Design Review Committee to allow for modernization and enhancements to homes that are consistent with the neighborhood's character and heritage; and

WHEREAS, Hollin Hills has earned numerous awards and accolades for its design, including a Revere Quality House Award from the Southwest Research Institute in 1950 and two Test of Time Awards from the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Hollin Hills is listed on the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites and was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 2013; and

WHEREAS, over the course of its history, Hollin Hills has been home to government officials, journalists, authors, performers, artists, attorneys, and many others who have made a wealth of contributions to the Commonwealth and the nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Hollin Hills, a masterpiece of mid-century modern architectural design and post-war development, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Civic Association of Hollin Hills as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the community's history and contributions to the Commonwealth.