Bowman Manor Townhomes: Where Reston’s Past Meets Its Next Chapter
Table of Contents
A Storied Hilltop, a Fresh Vision
Bowman Manor: A Snapshot of Reston History
Why the Plan Changed From Office Towers to Townhomes
EYA’s Design Playbook: Boutique Scale, Modern Perks
How the Community Fits Reston’s Planning DNA
Location, Location: Sunset Station, Metro, Trails, and More
What This Means for Reston Real Estate Values
The Approval Timeline and How Residents Can Engage
Tips for Future Buyers (and How to Stay in the Loop)
Final Thoughts: Preserving What Matters, Building What’s Next
1. A Storied Hilltop, a Fresh Vision
Drive up Old Reston Avenue and you pass an ivy-topped brick wall that hides one of western Fairfax County’s most intriguing properties. Behind that wall rises Bowman Manor, a three-story home built in 1899 by distillery owner A. Smith Bowman. For years the land surrounding the house carried two 1980s office buildings that never quite belonged. Now EYA has filed plans to replace those structures with a limited collection of townhomes while restoring the manor as the architectural star of the show.
Reston has always balanced growth with green space. This project promises to keep that tradition alive by blending small-scale density, preserved open space, and genuine historic character. For neighbors, it poses new questions about traffic, property values, and the next wave of “missing middle” homes. For future buyers, it offers the chance to live beside a landmark without sacrificing the conveniences of modern construction.
2. Bowman Manor: A Snapshot of Reston History
Long before the planned community of Reston took shape in the 1960s, Bowman Manor—originally named Sunset Hills—overlooked rolling farmland. Bowman, who founded the Fairfax Hunt Club, used the estate as a country retreat and social hub. Decades later, developers converted the manor’s interior to office suites, but its Queen Anne-style façade, wrap-around porch, and slate roof survived.
The Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites lists Bowman Manor as a protected resource, which means any redevelopment must leave the structure intact. That protection matters. Reston’s identity thrives on blending fresh construction with preserved assets such as Lake Anne’s Brutalist plaza and the Wiehle Avenue grain silos (now art pieces). Bowman Manor will soon join that short list of architectural icons that anchor new stories instead of making way for them.
3. Why the Plan Changed From Office Towers to Townhomes
In 2019 the property owner, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA), secured approval for two brand-new office buildings. Then came the remote-work revolution. By 2024 AAFMAA’s need for grand headquarters space had vanished, and retrofitting the aging offices made little economic sense. Housing, however—especially upper-end, elevator-ready townhomes—remained in short supply.
Enter EYA, known across the D.C. region for blending urban-style townhomes into walkable, transit-rich settings. Their pitch:
57 four-story townhomes, roughly 55 feet tall
Most with rear-loading garages; 15 with front-loading garages
Seven affordable dwelling units for income-qualified buyers
Optional private elevators for aging-in-place convenience
Two public pocket parks and new ADA-compliant sidewalks
Preservation of mature oaks that frame the manor’s lawn
The result? A boutique community that respects the manor’s viewshed and brings new life to underused asphalt.
4. EYA’s Design Playbook: Boutique Scale, Modern Perks
Architectural Styling
EYA’s concept borrows cues from the manor’s brick and stone detailing without sliding into faux-historic pastiche. Expect varied façades with oversized windows, Juliet balconies, and rooftop terraces perfect for sunset cocktails. Elevator shafts are pre-planned, another nod to universal design.
Interior Layouts
Standard plans call for:
Three or four bedrooms
Open-plan main levels with chef-style kitchens
Two-car garages plus driveway parking
Energy-efficient envelopes that exceed state code
Buyers can likely add loft level wet bars, home offices, or fitness nooks—standard EYA flexibility.
Community Spaces
A terraced lawn beside the manor forms the first pocket park, complete with picnic tables and preserved boxwoods. The second park, tucked behind the house, restores a formal garden footprint and offers shaded benches. Both parks will connect to Old Reston Avenue via a new sidewalk cut through the old stone wall.
5. How the Community Fits Reston’s Planning DNA
Walkability and Open Space
Founder Robert E. Simon laid out Reston in village-style clusters encircled by greenbelts. The Bowman Manor plan honors that ethos by threading sidewalks through the site, linking to existing bike-share racks, and adding sharrows on Old Reston Avenue. Residents can stroll to Sunset Station, the forthcoming mixed-use hub across American Dream Way, or bike less than a mile to the W&OD Trail.
Connection to Reston Association Garden Plots
Gardeners will appreciate that the Reston Association Garden Plots at nearby Baron Cameron Park remain just a five-minute drive away. With raised beds, water spigots, and seasonal classes, the plots give townhouse owners room to grow tomatoes even if their rooftop terrace herbs run wild.
Keeping History Visible
Rather than hiding Bowman Manor in the back corner, EYA orients new streets so the house crowns the hill. Picture walking the dog at dusk, manor lights glowing above, as townhome windows frame the scene. It is the kind of daily “wow” moment that reminds residents why Reston protects its heritage.
6. Location, Location: Sunset Station, Metro, Trails, and More
Sunset Station—the reimagined former Fannie Mae campus—will soon deliver cafés, boutique retail, and work-from-home flex suites. Pair that with a 10-minute bike ride to Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, and you have car-optional living.
Other perks within a two-mile radius:
Reston Town Center shopping, dining, and the new Silver Line Metro stop
Lake Fairfax Park with its water mine, skate park, and miles of hiking
Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods for grocery convenience
Quick access to Dulles Toll Road for weekend getaways
For buyers who want suburbia without sprawl, this slice of Old Reston Avenue checks all the boxes.
7. What This Means for Reston Real Estate Values
Reston’s supply of new fee-simple homes inside the Reston Association border is scarce. With many clusters dating to the 1970s, buyers hungry for modern layouts often look west to Ashburn. Bowman Manor changes that calculus.
Comparable Townhome Prices: Recent sales at Tall Oaks and Union Towns hover around $950,000 to $1.15 million, depending on size and upgrades.
Premium for Historical Setting: Expect a 5 – 10 percent bump thanks to exclusivity, walkability, and views.
Resale Lift: Properties adjacent to preserved landmarks tend to outpace market averages, a trend seen at Lake Anne’s Chimney House clusters.
If you are weighing a sale nearby, keep an eye on these numbers; they may set a fresh ceiling for northwest Reston.
8. The Approval Timeline and How Residents Can Engage
EYA submitted its rezoning application in June 2025. Fairfax County staff will now:
Review completeness and post documents online.
Schedule Architectural Review Board and Planning Commission hearings (likely fall 2025).
Forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for a final vote, possibly winter 2026.
Neighbors can attend public hearings, submit written comments, and track updates on the county’s Land Development System. If you value tree preservation, traffic calming, or affordable housing ratios, now is the time to speak up.
9. Tips for Future Buyers (and How to Stay in the Loop)
Join the Interest List on EYA’s website to preview floor plans.
Review Reston Association covenants—yes, your new townhome will likely sit inside RA jurisdiction.
Budget for Cluster Dues: expect a modest monthly fee for snow removal, landscaping, and park upkeep.
Explore Garden Plot Availability at [Reston Association Garden Plots] for 2026; plots fill quickly.
Work with a Local Specialist. An agent who understands both Fairfax County zoning and Reston Association guidelines can flag resale restrictions and future assessments.
Curious which builders allow full-size elevators or how resale caps apply to affordable dwelling units? Reach out anytime. I monitor every hearing so you do not have to.
10. Final Thoughts: Preserving What Matters, Building What’s Next
Bowman Manor’s brick chimneys have watched Reston transform from hunt club countryside to one of Northern Virginia’s most vibrant suburbs. This latest chapter links that past to a future of smart growth, accessible design, and pocket-sized urbanism.
Whether you dream of a rooftop terrace beside a 19th-century landmark or simply enjoy seeing historic architecture saved from the wrecking ball, the Bowman Manor townhomes deserve a spot on your radar. As always, if you have questions about Reston real estate or the broader Northern Virginia market, let’s grab coffee and chat.
