POST WORLD WAR II-ERA STREET NETWORK DESIGN IN ARLINGTON
The character of Post World War II-era neighborhoods in Arlington was largely shaped by broad national trends not only in architecture , i . e . buildings and structures , but also in street networks and overall plan . The survey therefore not only focused on architectural style and building plan types , but also examined the overall plan / layout of each surveyed subdivision . When initially settled in the late nineteenth century , Arlington was a small regionally significant center of trade and commerce . The town ’ s rectilinear , grid-like compact layout centered on the railroad tracks largely reflected this status . During the early twentieth century , the emergence of the streetcar allowed for further development / expansion of the city ’ s boundaries , thus resulting in a pattern of linear corridors bordered by discrete residential neighborhoods . By the postwar period , due primarily to the automobile ’ s emergence as the country ’ s primary mode of private transportation , the city ’ s neighborhoods had evolved into separate autonomous suburban units that were located along main transportation routes and corridors .
The proliferation of large-scale suburban developments relied on and celebrated the automobile culture . The economic prowess of postwar industry and the notable increase in consumer buying power marked the postwar era and the associated built environment . Large-scale , generously spaced neighborhoods with associated community amenities were connected to business centers by an expanding highway system . An emphasis on separating commercial and residential development began with streetcar neighborhoods in the early twentieth century , but expanded further with more spacious postwar neighborhood layouts . Community design fell to the single developer as part of a ready-to-purchase speculative product . Planning layout , amenities , and landscaping were part of a home purchase package .
The following examples illustrate design terminology used in the documentation process during the Phase III survey of the city ’ s postwar subdivisions .
Curvilinear Street Network With Cul-De-Sacs
• Irregularly curving streets with cul-de-sacs creating pleasing , picturesque vistas
• Curvilinear streets creating variety for lot shape and size
• Meandering park-like setting
• Neighborhood is distinct and isolated from main thoroughfares
FINAL REPORT
ARLINGTON HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 2007
F – 24