“A welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of downtown” is what they say about this place. We are standing at Wesley Heights Park. This park is not just a green space. It is a connection to the history of the Wesley Heights neighborhood.
Wesley Heights is a small, affluent neighborhood in Washington, D.C. It is south of Spring Valley. The neighborhood’s development began in 1890. A land speculation group led by John Waggaman founded Wesley Heights. Charles C. Glover primarily funded it. The brothers William C. and Allison N. Miller further developed it during the 1920s.
Wesley Heights is bordered by Massachusetts Avenue to the east. Nebraska Avenue is to the north. Battery-Kemble Park lies to the west. Glover Parkway is to the south. Foxhall Road and New Mexico Avenue are the main roadways. These roads pass through Wesley Heights.
The Wesley Heights Zoning Overlay protects the original historic housing design. The District of Columbia Zoning Commission approved it on July 13, 1992. The Wesley Heights Historical Society urged its creation. Current homeowners must meet specific building codes. New housing development must also comply. The Wesley overlay covers areas west of New Mexico Avenue. It extends to Nebraska Avenue, Battery-Kemble Park, and Glover Parkway. The overlay restriction does not cover housing on the former Charles C. Glover country estate.
The area that became Wesley Heights was once part of John Threlkeld’s land. He was a resident of Georgetown. The tract of land was called Alliance. In 1890, investors bought the land between Chain Bridge Road and Newark Street. 43rd Street and Fulton Street marked the other boundaries. John Waggaman and Charles C. Glover named the new development Wesley Heights. They wanted to appeal to Methodist buyers.
In 1892, Charles C. Glover acquired all the Wesley Heights plots. These plots were between New Mexico Street and 43rd Street. He built his country mansion there. It was named Westover. By 1908, John Waggaman’s estate had filed for bankruptcy. There were suspicions about the financing of Wesley Heights.
During the 1920s, real estate developers W.C. and A.N. Miller revitalized the area. They bought plots in Wesley Heights. They began constructing homes. Their planned development was one of the first master-planned communities in the United States. It featured a shuttle to the Wisconsin Avenue streetcar. It also had a community club house.
Before the 1968 Fair Housing Act, restrictions existed. Religious and racial covenants were enforced for property deeds. These excluded African-Americans, Jews, and other minority groups.
Kate Field described Wesley Heights in 1894. She noted the view from Charles Glover’s estate. She wrote that it vividly recalled the neighborhood of Richmond, England. She said Westover commanded views of the Blue Ridge and the Potomac.
Today, Wesley Heights Park and the surrounding area offer a blend of history and nature. It provides residents with green space. It allows visitors to enjoy a quiet escape. It also serves as a reminder of the neighborhood’s past. A past shaped by land speculation, revitalization, and community planning.