lorton: Enjoy All That Lorton Virginia Has to Offer
- 01/09/10 08:19 AM
Located just a few miles from the main gate of Fort Belvoir the neighborhoods that make up the Lorton area have a long tradition with the military and military families in Northern Virginia. Lorton history goes back to our first Commander in Chief, George Washington. There are older neighborhoods such as Harborview which are just as popular today as they were when they were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over the last 10 years a "new" Lorton has emerged which has brought a renewal to southern Fairfax County.Most of the "new" Lorton growth came about when a prison complex … (4 comments)
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lorton: Speechless Sunday-The Long Walkway to the Dining Hall
- 01/03/10 10:42 AM
Prior to closing in 2002 this was one of the walkways that inmates used to get from the barracks to the dining hall and other prison buildings at the former reformatory.
The brick in many of the buildings were created and fired in a kiln on site. Now the buildings are used as part of the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center and are a great place to view local artists at work.
… (21 comments)
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lorton: Wordless Wednesday-A Peaceful Walk on a Winters Day
- 12/15/09 10:31 PM
Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Fairfax County is a 2200 acre established as a habitat for bald eagles in 1969. During the spring and summer bird watchers by the thousands come and spend time looking for eagles, blue herons and over 200 species of birds.In the winter time it is a great place to walk and enjoy solitude. The shoreline looks out across the Potomac River and Belmont Bay. The refuge is located just a few miles from Lorton and Fort Belvoir.When I took this photo I started humming the Mama's and Papa's song "On A Winters Day"
"All the leaves are … (14 comments)
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lorton: Don't Be Foooled-This Blue House is Really Green
- 11/24/09 10:13 AM
No there isn't a problem with your computer monitor the house you see is actually wrapped in blue insulation but the house is actually a green house under construction in Lorton VA.This home being built by the Speer family is utilizing all of the latest green technologies including both solar and geothermal technologies.
The south-facing roof will contain solar panels that will provide most of the electrical energy for appliances in the home. If the family generates more electricity than they need the will feed power back to the local electric company grid causing the meter to run backwards.Heating and cooling will … (10 comments)
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lorton: Perfection Awaits in This Lorton Detached Home
- 07/10/09 08:01 AM
If you have been waiting for perfection then this home is the one for you. Nestled in the small subdivision of Mason's Passage just minutes from the Lorton VRE, Lorton Station, Lorton Market, Fort Belvoir and the new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency this home offers you a terrific home and location all in one.Welcoming two story foyer leads you to a formal living and dining room. The nicely appointed kitchen opens to a spacious family room with a wall of windows and gas fireplace. Step out on to the deck and enjoy the privacy with woods and wildlife as your venue. … (3 comments)
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lorton: Gunston Cove-New Developments Just Minutes to Lorton & Fort Belvoir
- 07/07/09 02:17 PM
A few years ago new homes in Northern Virginia flew off the market. Buyer's camped out so that they could grab a great lot or a lottery number for a future section. Builders were in control and buyers happily paid what they asked. Then the market changed and builders were hit hard. Some local builder's lost properties to foreclosure and others just left projects half completed.Today in our area new construction projects are moving again and developments are seeing a resurgence of buyers. New incentives, pricing and amenities are bring buyers back again. In Lorton (VA) the delayed Gunston Cove developments … (6 comments)
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lorton: PCS to Fort Belvoir?-Put Lorton on Your List of Possibilities
- 06/19/09 01:15 PM
Located just a few miles from the main gate of Fort Belvoir the neighborhoods that make up the Lorton area have a long tradition with the military and military families in Northern Virginia. Lorton history goes back to our first Commander in Chief, George Washington. There are older neighborhoods such as Harborview which are just as popular today as they were when they were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over the last 10 years a "new" Lorton has emerged which has brought a renewal to southern Fairfax County.Most of the "new" Lorton growth came about when the Lorton Prison … (4 comments)
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lorton: Lorton Workhouse Arts Center-Have You checked it Out Yet?
- 01/26/09 08:21 AM
If not then you are missing your chance to be impressed by the transformation of the former prison site in Lorton VA. For over 100 years Lorton was an area that most residents of Northern Virginia went out of their way to avoid, especially at night. The prison site was eerie and the two lane road past the prison was dark. Now on Friday nights you can stop in for a flame working demonstration by renowned artist, dance a little cha-cha-cha with a Latin band or enjoy an art show while sipping a glass of wine. Want to learn how to … (10 comments)
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lorton: Welcome to Your Lorton Virginia On-line Relocation Guide
- 11/16/08 10:00 PM
This guide is geared towards "new" Lorton. Lorton neighborhoods have been around a long time. In fact the Lorton area has plenty of history that goes all the way back to our early famous neighbors, George Washington and George Mason. There are older neighborhoods which are just as popular today as they were when they were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over the last 10 years a "new" Lorton has emerged which has brought a renewal to southern Fairfax County.Most of the "new" Lorton growth came about when the Lorton Prison Complex was ordered closed in 1998. With just … (8 comments)
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lorton: A Step Back in Time-Riding the Rails from Virginia to Florida
- 11/16/08 07:33 PM
When my parents discovered having two fidigty children in the backseat of a car, one prone to car sickness, made travel to visit grandparents in Florida more of a chore than fun they turned to the train for a better way to go. As we grew older and a car trip or even an airplane would have made more sense we insisted that a train ride would be more fun. And they were. Looking out the windows as the countryside passed by, falling asleep to the clack of the rails and listening to the whistle blow as we passed through small towns … (2 comments)
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lorton: Harbor View-A Home for You and Room For Your Boat Too!
- 10/27/08 09:55 AM
Just a few minutes from the main gate of Fort Belvoir is the quiet neighborhood of Harbor View. If you are looking for a Lorton neighborhood with mature trees, large half acre (or more) lots and no cookie cutter homes then Harbor View is a neighborhood you want to check out.
The community offers something unique in Northern Virginia. For boaters the neighborhood features a boat launch ramp and storage facility in the community. With direct access to the Occoquan River from Massey Creek the boat launch is a popular place for residents to gather. Harbor View Recreation Club works to … (10 comments)
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lorton: Lorton Workhouse Arts Center-An Insiders View
- 09/13/08 10:01 AM
One of the benefits of being actively involved in the Occoquan River Communities is the opportunity to get a "sneak peek" at one of the biggest success stories in redevelopment in Lorton. The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center is getting ready for the grand opening the week of September 19th -27th with multiple events planned throughout the week. The week starts with a classic concert concert-pianist Pedja Muzijevic and culminates with the grand opening gala featuring Tony Award winning singer Barbara Cook.
Artists who have studio space are just moving in and getting themselves settled. The staff is putting in long hours … (7 comments)
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lorton: Reminders of Prison Life in Lorton VA
- 09/03/08 01:01 PM
With the grand opening of the new Lorton Workhouse Arts Center only a few weeks away the final preparations for the new gallery and artist's studios is almost complete. While touring the grounds recently to look at the progress and talk with the center director I came across another reminder of how far the prison site has come in the last few years.
Tucked away at the back of the prison site on buildings that have not yet been renovated is a reminder of the prisoners who once counted down the days until they were released. Art work still painted on … (4 comments)
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lorton: Fort Belvoir Neighbors-Gearing Up for the Big Changes
- 08/29/08 06:13 AM
The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) team has continued to put in place the plan for moving over 21,000 military and civilian jobs to Fort Belvoir by 2011. Popular neighborhoods close to Ft Belvoir including Kingstowne, Lorton and Springfield are already beginning to see some of the changes to the infrastructure that will help accommodate the huge influx of new personnel.
For buyers who are part of the relocation the opportunity to purchase homes in popular neighborhoods close to the base has never been better. With lower prices and the VA home loan program being one of the few 100% financing … (6 comments)
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lorton: Spring Hill in Lorton VA-Giving New Meaning to the Term Active Adult
- 08/28/08 11:55 AM
You have to smile when you see it, a big children's playground right behind the community center in the active adult neighborhood of Spring Hill. Is there an expectation of some child like behavior among the homeowners in the community? Forget playing bridge or shuffleboard just hang out on the monkey bars and zip down the slide!
In reality the developers of Spring Hill were smart enough to realize that homeowners in the neighborhood were going to be entertaining their grandchildren or great grandchildren and it would be nice to have a place for them to enjoy themselves without having to … (4 comments)
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lorton: Spring Hill-Where Old and New Fences Meet in Lorton VA
- 08/26/08 12:33 PM
Have you ever had one of those moments when you are showing houses that you are struck by something you hadn't noticed before? You are driving through a neighborhood you have shown dozens of times and landmarks that you pass everyday but for some reason on this particular day you suddenly see them from a different perspective?
That happened to me today while showing new construction in the over 55 community of Spring Hill in Lorton. The community is one of the newer communities that grew out of the revitalization plan for the former prison grounds located nearby.. Today as drove … (0 comments)
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lorton: Nike Missiles and Lorton Prisoners-Not Your Usual Cell Mates
- 08/24/08 11:21 PM
My friends accuse me of making some of these little facts about Northern Virginia up. Nope the stories are all real....well okay the one about the hook hanging on the car door at Lake Accotink....not so much.
However the story of the Lorton Prison being the site of the Army's premier showcase for the nationwide Nike program unveiled in 1954 is true. One of the big issues that the government faced when it was trying to build defenses against the threat of a nuclear attack was acquiring the land necessary to develop the missile defense sites. Most people think of the … (8 comments)
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lorton: Grab a Ticket to Ride the Virginia Rail Express from Lorton & Belmont Bay (LOCALISM FEATURED)
- 08/19/08 04:43 PM
When the Virginia Rail Express (VRE) first began operations along the I-95 corridor in 1992 there were questions as to whether the lack of housing near the train stations would derail the long term plans for the commuter rail. Since that time a new supply of "whistle stop" towns has sprung up close to the tracks including Lorton Station and Belmont Bay. The train has also made the older community of the Town of Occoquan take on a new life as well.
Lorton Station was built around the Stream Valley Park a 100 acre site that is dedicated to the founder … (10 comments)
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lorton: The Washington Business Journal Likes Us and So Will You
- 08/15/08 11:43 PM
The latest edition of the Washington Business Journal (WBJ) has named Town of Occoquan and the Occoquan River Communities in the top 13 communities to watch in the DC Metro area in the future.
Having recently posted about New Urbanism in Northern Virginia it was interesting to see the WBJ cover some of the same thoughts expressed in my post. Stating that Gen X and Gen Y buyers are looking to finding live, work and play neighborhoods with good transportation options to Washington DC.Occoquan was selected due to its historic charm and it's location between Fort Belvoir and Quantico. In addition to the … (4 comments)
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lorton: Another Piece of Fairfax County History is Being Restored
- 08/14/08 08:41 AM
Last fall I jokingly posted a picture and wondered what was for sale the house or the dune buggy. It was of course the dune buggy. The house was actually the old Country Store on Gunston Road and it is now being restored. The store went through a number of changes over the course of its history including being a Cracker Barrel in 1987.
However the history of the store goes back much further and based on descriptions in local historical records it may originally have been the Church Vestry for the original Pohick Church now the site of Cranford Methodist … (6 comments)
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