The Vision Behind an Alternative Planned Town
New York real estate developer Robert E. Simon Jr. died in 2015 at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped how Americans think about community living. In the 1960s, when most developers were churning out cookie-cutter suburban subdivisions, Simon took a radically different approach. He assembled 7,000 acres of woods and fields in Fairfax County, Virginia, 20 miles west of Washington, D.C., and created Reston, widely recognized as Americas first alternative planned town. His vision rejected the sprawl-oriented development model of the era and replaced it with something far more intentional: a community built around open spaces, racial integration, mixed-income housing, and architectural variety. For home builders and developers today, the story of Reston offers enduring lessons about how to design communities that people genuinely want to live in. This article examines Simons vision, the design principles that guided Restons development, and the practical takeaways for modern residential construction professionals. For more context on how community-oriented planning has evolved, see our article on building walkable neighborhoods through new urbanism.
Who Was Robert E. Simon Jr.?
Robert E. Simon Jr. was born in 1914 into a wealthy New York real estate family. He inherited a fortune and, notably, sold his interest in Carnegie Hall to fund his most ambitious project. In 1961, he secured financing and purchased approximately 7,000 acres of land in Fairfax County. His goal was to build a town that offered an alternative to the monotonous suburban developments spreading across postwar America. He named the town Reston by combining his initials (R.E.S.) with the suffix “ton” meaning town. The name reflected his personal investment in the project and his philosophy of creating a place with identity and purpose.
What Made Reston Different
At a time when suburban development meant identical houses on large lots with strict separation of residential and commercial zones, Simon proposed something entirely new. Reston was designed as a series of villages, each with its own center featuring shops, schools, recreational facilities, and a mix of housing types. The community was planned to be racially integrated and economically diverse, with homes available at different price points. Architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable described the result as “one of the most striking communities in the country” where “high and low buildings, commercial and residential construction that were all traditionally rigorously separated in suburban zoning now share the same space.”
The Design Principles That Built Reston
Simon worked with a team of architects and planners to create a community that prioritized human experience over automobile convenience. The design principles that guided Restons development have since influenced generations of community planners and home builders.
The Seven Villages Model
Reston was organized around seven distinct villages, each functioning as a semi-independent neighborhood with its own character and amenities. This model ensured that residents could access daily needs without traveling long distances.
Village features included:
- Village centers with retail and commercial space within walking distance of homes
- Community pools, tennis courts, and playgrounds in each village
- Schools located within the village boundaries to reduce commute times
- A mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments in each village
- Natural buffers of wooded areas and green space between villages
- Shared recreational amenities such as lakes, golf courses, and pathways
Lake Anne Village Center: The Heart of Reston
The first village center built was Lake Anne Village, designed by architect James Rossant. It featured a striking modernist plaza surrounding a man-made lake, with shops at ground level, apartments above, and pedestrian walkways connecting everything. The design was inspired by European village centers and represented a dramatic departure from the auto-oriented shopping centers typical of American suburbs. Lake Anne demonstrated that density and walkability could coexist with natural beauty.
Open Space and Environmental Stewardship
A defining feature of Reston was the preservation of significant open space. Rather than clearing all land for development, Simon insisted that large areas be left as permanent green space, including woodlands, lakes, and recreational fields. This approach improved quality of life for residents while increasing the long-term value of developed properties. Today, Reston maintains over 1,300 acres of open space, 55 miles of paths and trails, and numerous lakes and parks. The communities environmental features include four lakes, multiple swimming pools, a golf course, and dozens of tennis courts, all integrated into the natural landscape rather than imposed on it.
The Lasting Impact on Community Development in Home Building
Restons influence extends far beyond Fairfax County. The community helped establish the foundations of what would later be called new urbanism, a movement that emphasizes walkability, mixed-use development, and human-scale design. For home builders, understanding this legacy is essential when planning modern communities.
How Reston Shaped Modern Development
The principles Simon introduced have been adapted by developers across the country. Key contributions include:
- The integration of different housing types within a single community to attract diverse demographics
- The concept of the village center as a social and commercial anchor for neighborhoods
- Prioritizing pedestrian connectivity over automobile access in community layout
- Preserving natural features as an integral part of the development plan rather than an afterthought
Traditional Suburbs vs. Planned Communities vs. Reston Model
| Feature | Traditional Suburbs | Conventional Planned Communities | Reston Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing mix | Single-family only | Primarily single-family | Intentional mix of types and price points |
| Commercial integration | Separated by zoning | Separate commercial zones | Integrated village centers |
| Open space | Individual yards only | Some common areas | Large preserved natural areas |
| Walkability | Car-dependent | Limited sidewalks | Path network connecting all villages |
| Racial/economic diversity | Homogeneous | Often homogeneous | Deliberately integrated |
| Architectural variety | Uniform | Limited variety | Designed diversity |
Lessons for Mixed-Income and Mixed-Use Development
Reston demonstrated that mixed-income communities can be economically viable and socially successful. Simons commitment to racial integration at a time when many suburbs were actively discriminatory was both principled and practical. The community attracted a wide range of residents, from young professionals to retirees, creating a stable, diverse population base. Todays builders working on mixed-income housing development can draw directly from Restons blueprint. Similarly, master-planned resort community design has adopted many of the amenity-driven principles that Reston pioneered.
What Home Builders Can Learn from Reston Today
For residential construction professionals, the Reston story is not just history. It is a master class in how to think strategically about community development. The following principles remain directly applicable to projects of any scale.
Start with a Strong Vision
Simon did not build Reston by following market trends. He built it based on a clear, principled vision of what a community should be. Builders today can apply this lesson by defining the character and values of their developments before breaking ground. A strong vision guides every decision from lot layout to product selection.
Design for the Pedestrian First
One of Restons most successful features is its network of paths and trails that connect homes to village centers, schools, and parks. Walkability consistently ranks as a top priority for home buyers across age groups. Integrating pedestrian infrastructure from the start of a project costs less than retrofitting it later.
Mix Housing Types to Build Community
Reston proved that density and desirability are not opposites. By including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments within each village, Simon created a community where people at different life stages could live in the same neighborhood. This approach also helped the community weather economic cycles better than single-product subdivisions.
Preserve Natural Assets
The lakes, woodlands, and green corridors that make Reston attractive were not accidents. They were the result of deliberate planning to work with the natural landscape rather than against it. Builders who preserve trees, incorporate natural drainage, and protect viewsheds often find that these features become their strongest marketing assets.
The New Urbanism Connection
The ideas that Simon put into practice in the 1960s became the foundation of the new urbanism movement that gained traction in the 1980s and 1990s. Todays builders working on urban renewal and new urbanism projects are building on the same principles that guided Restons original design. Walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use centers, and diverse housing options are no longer experimental ideas. They are proven strategies for creating communities that retain value and attract buyers over the long term.
Final Thoughts
Robert E. Simon Jr. died at 101, but the community he built continues to grow and evolve. Reston now has more than 60,000 residents and remains one of the most desirable places to live in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Its success demonstrates that thoughtful community design is not a luxury reserved for high-end projects. It is a practical approach to creating lasting value in residential development. Builders who study the Reston model and adapt its principles to their own markets will find themselves better equipped to meet the demands of todays home buyers who increasingly seek communities that offer connection, convenience, and quality of life.