Hyde Park Condominium

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  Vic Socotra (guest)

  Hyde Park was the last of the great works in the Buckingham Community of garden apartements constructed by industrialist Allie S. Freed. Although he died in 1938, his widow Frances Freed carried on his vision of affordable rental dwellings for the burgeoning Federal Workforce. Built in the early 1970s, The Hyde Park was designed by the same firm that did The Chatham Condominium in 1964, only with some of the design quirks fixed. Taller by four stoires, the garage is deeper, the units larger, and the amenities more plush. A section of garden apartments was knocked down to make room for the Hyde Park, and a second tower was envisioned where the Harris Teeter now stands. The real estate slump in 1973 that put the whole Buckingham area on the skids killed the idea of the second tower, which was never constructed. Within walking distance of the Metro Orange Line, the Hyde Park is still genteel and desirable as a condominium residence in Ballston, the Community of Condos. The building is Frances Freed's last contribution to Buckingham. By the end of the decade, Buckingham had been broken up into several developments, some of which went condo, and others began a long decline that resulted in the destruction of Buckingham I-III in 2007 to make way for new high-density townhomes and two large new apartment buildings, constructed in what the developer calls a "historically sympathetic" manner.

  18 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  corker1

  Hyde Park is a royal park in London, England. It is close to Buckingham Palace, home of Queen Elizabeth II. The name of the building reflects its relationship to Buckingham Community.

  14 years ago | reply | hide comment
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  corker1

  Paradigm Corp. demolished Buckingham I and II in 2007. The company renovated and preserved Buckingham III, which is now an Arlington County Historic District.

  14 years ago | reply | hide comment