We are proud to be a part of the unique Reston community, and being your Reston dentist is a privilege we cherish. We want to take the opportunity to share with you some of the unique history of the community we call home.
The Perfect Place to Live, Work, and Play
There are many people who have lived in Reston, VA who believe it the perfect place to live, work, and play — and that would be music to the ears of Robert E. Simon. Simon developed the community, which saw its first residents settle in 1964. During that first year, the continuing development was reported in some major publications, including Newsweek and Life Magazine. The New York Times highlighted the community in an article on the front page, calling it “one of the most striking communities” in the U.S.
Post—World War II Development and Reston, VA
Simon’s vision drew from the Garden City Movement, a method of urban planning introduced in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Following that influence, Reston is a planned community incorporating green space with residential neighborhoods and development of commercial areas. The community includes many parks, golf courses, bridle paths and lakes, in addition to a variety of shopping and dining venues. Simon would be pleased to know that Money Magazine ranked Reston as the Best Place to Live in Virginia in 2018. As your Reston, VA dentist, we couldn’t agree more!
The Road to Reston Had Some Bumps
Reston got its name from Robert E. Simon’s initials and its existence from his vision. But there were bumps along the way.
When Simon ran out of money to finance the development, and sales were lagging, he accepted a $15 million loan from Gulf Oil to pay off his debts. His unwillingness to settle for less than his high standards, however, meant that the price of a Reston townhouse could be as much as a single-family residence elsewhere in the county. In a power play, Simon was forced out by Gulf, which assumed control of his development. Gulf stayed true to Simon’s vision and eventually transferred the title to the Reston Homeowners’ Association for many of the recreational facilities — lakes, land, parks and facilities — which protected them from being overdeveloped. Today, rules remain to control residential density and to protect the tree canopy by limiting tree removal.
Ownership of Reston Changes Hands Again — and Again
Gulf sold the developed part of Reston to an investment firm 10 years later and sold 3,700 undeveloped acres to Mobil Oil shortly thereafter. Pledging to respect the ideals of Robert Simon, Mobil formed the Reston Land Corporation and turned to development of the remaining residential areas—now known as South Lakes and North Point villages— and other tracts, to complete Simon’s master plan. In 1996 Mobil sold its interest in Reston to Westbrook Partners, LLC, and in 2012 Boston Properties became the sole owner of the Fountain Square office and retail complex.
Reston Today
The Reston Planned Residential Community has incorporated features to create a residential environment that is the envy of many other towns. Our community has:
- Four man-made lakes — Lake Thoreau, Lake Newport, Lake Audubon, and Lake Anne
- 250 acres of wooded areas and open space
- Two golf courses — Reston National Golf Course and Hidden Creek Country Club
Tennis courts and bridle paths - 55 miles of walking and hiking paths
- Public swimming pools — with an indoor pool available all year at the Reston Community Center
- Ice skating all year at SkateQuest, a private indoor rink, and seasonally at an outdoor rink operated during the winter at Reston Town Center
- Many parks, including Lake Fairfax Park, which features an outdoor swimming pool, boat rentals, and campground and picnic areas
- Roer’s Safari — a 30-acre park that provides family-friendly access to a variety of animals, including goats, bison, zebras, and reptiles, to name a few
We can reach the center of each of our five villages with a short walk from our homes, which means we have easy access to retail and service vendors. The Reston Community Center in south Reston at Hunters Woods Plaza features a theater, meeting rooms, a ballroom and classrooms, as well as a heated indoor pool.
The Reston Community Orchestra and the Greater Reston Arts Center provide many cultural activities that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. In the fall we look forward to the Washington West Film Festival that offers a juried collection of shorts, documentaries, and feature films. We have events throughout the year that bring the community together through cultural programs, sports, festivals, and food festivals.
Reston Is Home to Many Companies
The 2007 census reported 757 different companies housed in Reston whose activities were described as “professional, scientific, and technical services.” And five out of the 20 largest venture capital firms in the Washington, DC area are also located in Reston. Those 5 firms manage $6.9 billion, which, at the time of the census, represented 53% of the capital managed by the 20 firms.
We Could Go On and On
If all these details aren’t enough, we can also point to the excellent public and private schools and public libraries in Reston, and the public transportation system and toll roads that provide access to the surrounding area. But we will leave that for another day.
We Want to Be Your Reston Dentist
A beautiful and pleasing environment wouldn’t be complete without excellent medical and dental care. Dr. Kazemifar and the entire team at Reston Serenity Smiles have created a dental experience that you will find provides excellent, state-of-the-art care. We are committed to excellence and continuing education so that our knowledge and skills are always at the highest level. Please contact our office for a consultation if you or your loved ones need dental care. We look forward to welcoming you into our Reston dental family.