Wesley Heights Neighborhood
Section: DC Neighborhoods
Author: Susan Isaacs, Washington DC Real Estate Strategist
Wesley Heights is as an affluent residential enclave renowned for its stately homes, tree-lined streets, and woodsy landscape.
About Wesley Heights
This elegant triangular neighborhood offers a tranquil escape from the city, providing a sense of privacy and seclusion. Wesley Heights is characterized by its expansive single-family homes seated on large, widely-spaced lots. The neighborhood is bordered on three sides by parkland and woods, creating an upscale residential oasis.
The demand for real estate in Wesley Heights is driven by its reputation for privacy, renowned schools, and its proximity to amenities in American University Park, Cathedral Heights, Palisades and Foxhall Village. Wesley Heights is located a short distance from the Maryland border, Sibley Memorial Hospital and Georgetown MedStar hospitals, as well as Observatory Circle and Massachusetts Avenue.
Why it’s desirable:
Large luxury homes
Highly-rated schools
Proximity to Cleveland Heights amenities
Parks, trails, woodlands
Platinum real estate values
Nearby:
American University Park
Spring Valley
Cathedral Heights
Palisades
Foxhall
Berkley
Observatory Circle
Wesley Heights History
Alliance Tract
Wesley Heights was originally part of a tract of land named “Alliance” owned by John Threlkeld of Georgetown. In 1890, a land speculation group headed by real estate broker John Waggaman and funded by Charles C. Glover purchased the land between Chain Bridge Road, Newark Street, 43rd Street, Fulton Street, Tunlaw Street and 43rd street. They named the new neighborhood Wesley Heights for Methodist leader John Wesley, in an effort to market to Methodist home buyers associated with planned United Methodist Church-affiliated American University, chartered by Congress in 1893. This seemed a successful strategy given that Glover and Waggaman were instrumental in the selection of the AU site.
Subdivision and Acquisition
The Wesley Height tract was divided into plots, some of which were sold to home buyers and investors before 1892, when Glover decided to acquire all the Wesley Heights plots between New Mexico Street and the then 43rd street to build his grand country manor, which he named Westover.
A Sad State of Affairs
The alliance between John Waggaman and Charles C. Glover didn’t end well for Wesley Heights. By 1908, Waggaman’s estate had filed for bankruptcy protection and Glover had to testify as a witness. It was revealed that most of woodsy Wesley Heights had been highly mortgaged and suspicions grew that Waggaman and Glover had benefited from “nefarious activities” surrounding the financing and acquisition of not only Wesley Heights, but other large land developments in the District.
In the aftermath of the bankruptcy scandal, Wesley Heights fell to neglect, occupied primarily by Westover and the few homes developed by Waggaman.
In 1897, Glover and other owners of Wesley Heights tried to sell Wesley Heights land adjacent to Nebraska Avenue and Loughboro Road to American University, but AU declined to purchase.
Westover’s Demise and Transformation
Westover occupied all 30-acres between today’s Massachusetts Avenue, Nebraska Avenue, New Mexico Avenue, Cathedral Avenue, and Glover-Archbold Park. The southern half of Glover’s estate, including the 1896 mansion with entrance at 4200 Massachusetts Ave. passed to his son, Charles C. Glover Jr. in 1920. Jr. named his portion “Orchard Hill” and built a large Tudor-style house.
Following Glover’s death in 1936, Westover was rented for use as the Irish Embassy, then sold in 1959 to the National Presbyterian Church. The church razed the mansion in 1967, but elected to build a new church on Nebraska Ave. instead. Orchard Hill was also razed in 1977 after Glover Jr’s death.
Today, Westover and Orchard Hill are residential developments. The Towers (4201 Cathedral c. 1960), The Foxhall (4200 Massachusetts Ave., the former entrance to Westover estate, c. 1971), Westover Place (c. late-1970), Sutton Towers (3101 New Mexico Ave c. 1979), Embassy Park (1981), Avalon at Foxhall (4100 Massachusetts Ave c. 1982), and the East Campus of American University (c. 2015).
Source: Wikipedia, Library of Congress
Wesley Heights Schools
Horace Mann Elementary School Public Grades PK3-5
Hardy Middle School Public Grades 6-8
MacArthur High School Public Grades 9-12
Jackson-Reed High School Public Grades 9-12
For a full, updated list of schools, visit EBIS.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys, legal experts, investment counselors, or CPAs. The content on this channel is presented for informational purposes only and derived from reliable sources, but should not be considered legal, financial, investment, transaction or real estate practice advice. Susan Isaacs and Compass, their principals and/or representatives, do not guarantee or warrant its accuracy, completeness, or applicability to any specific real estate transaction. Homebuyers should read applicable D.C. law and code as part of their due diligence, and seek help from licensed, qualified professionals for interpretation and application to their specific transaction.