A Garden Haven With a Storied Past

Situated on 32 carefully landscaped acres just off Wisconsin Avenue NW in busy Tenleytown, the McLean Gardens condominium complex is lovely all year, but certain seasons highlight its best qualities.

On hot summer days, the cherry and dogwood trees that washed the neighborhood with color in the spring now offer a sweeping canopy of welcome shade over the broad green lawns. Benches, an ornate fountain and several statues enliven the manicured streets, contrasting with the woodsy trails of Glover-Archbold Park that border the neighborhood.

As its name implies, gardens are encouraged in the community; homeowners apply for individual garden plots -- no vegetables, please -- around their buildings. As a result, the areas around the entryways are personalized and alive.

If there are no takers, the condo association provides landscaping for the entry area. "Nice little touches like that make it beautiful," said Joan Furlong, an enthusiastic resident since 1993.

An entrepreneur and professional gardener, Furlong owns a business that specializes in invasive plant removal; naturally, her own garden is particularly attractive. "We get kudos from the neighbors for making our courtyard so special," she said.

Furlong moved to McLean Gardens from Dupont Circle after hearing from friends that it was a great environment for single women -- in the middle of an urban area, yet safe. "When I saw the unit, across from the community garden with a view of the Cathedral, I was sold right away," she said.

After she married in 2002, Furlong and her husband, Stephen Tinius, moved to a larger unit. "We have always found life here to be so comfortable," she said. "There is a real sense of security."

Their courtyard is tucked away at the back of the community, fostering kinship with their neighbors. "Ten or 12 of us watched 'The Sopranos' together every Sunday night over potluck dinners."

As the treasurer of the McLean Gardens Condominium Association, Tinius is involved with the disbursement of a $4 million operating budget from condo fees. The money covers the costs of a professional management team; the landscaping, snow removal and trash collection; custodial services in common halls; recreational facilities; a monthly newsletter; and healthy reserves set aside for future needs.

Besides all that, Tinius pointed out that the community pool, barbecue areas and an elegant ballroom at the community center all add to the relaxing lifestyle.

From the outside, the buildings at McLean Gardens look like a typical garden apartment development, but inside it's a different story. The 720 units range from 506 to 1,695 square feet and have wildly varied floor plans; there are 27 in all. Some are traditional townhouse-style duplexes while others are chic studios with soaring loft spaces and skylights. Some have eat-in kitchens and walk-in closets, a few have spiral staircases, and all are equipped with washers and dryers and central air conditioning.

What is now McLean Gardens was part of a 3,000-acre tract granted to Colonel Thomas Addison and James Stoddert in 1695. Over the next two centuries, that land was subdivided and either passed down through families or sold off to investors.