Living in Spring Valley
Spring Valley is an affluent neighborhood in far Northwest D.C., and one of the district’s most prestigious residential areas, filled with stately single-family homes on generously sized lots. The neighborhood has been home to diplomats and a handful of prominent politicians over the years, including Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon Johnson. It also encompasses most of American University’s campus.
Things to do in Spring Valley
Spring Valley is almost entirely residential, but along its eastern border on Massachusetts Avenue NW, sits Spring Valley Village, a cluster of Colonial Revival commercial buildings built by developers W.C. and A.N. Miller starting in the late 1930s. The complex was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It’s anchored by Crate & Barrel, and houses several other popular shops and restaurants. The Millers’ legacy continues in the area at the Spring Valley office of Long & Foster Real Estate, formerly W.C. & A.N. Miller, Realtors.
Washington REIT purchased the shopping center in 2014, and in 2016 announced a plan for outdoor plaza and 14,000-square-foot retail expansion that will be finished in 2018. Foxhall Square, on New Mexico Avenue NW, also offers shopping, dining and services. Nearby Wagshal’s deli and market has been a Northwest community favorite since 1925.
Housing in Spring Valley
W.C. and A.N. Miller were among the first to develop the Spring Valley neighborhood, starting in 1929, just as widespread ownership of automobiles were making commuting a possibility. The developer erected spacious homes in a variety of styles ranging from colonial revival to Cape Cod to ranchers. The residences were luxurious for their time and remain so today. Single family homes in the neighborhood routinely sell for $1 million and up.
Transportation to Spring Valley
Spring Valley is bordered by Nebraska Avenue NW, Loughboro Road NW, Dalecarlia Parkway NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW. The Tenleytown/AU Metro station is a short walk away. The N4 bus serves the area, and Capital Bikeshare has a station at Ward Circle on the American University campus.
