The New Urban Suburbanite's Review of Tanglewood

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The InterCountyConnector Right-of-Way is right there Tanglewood Park along Schubert Drive Tanglewood Courtyard The 'Village Green,' along Schubert Drive looking North Beethoven Way
Beethoven Boulevard Looking Down Beethoven Boulevard Beethoven Boulevard and Memory Lane Back Down Memory Lane Homes along Gershwin Lane, giving Tanglewood a neo-traditional feel
Townhomes along Brahms Terrace Townhomes, resembling what one might see in the Kentlands Same Townhomes, from the Back Piggyback Townhomes in Tanglewood Piggyback Townhomes in Tanglewood
Many condominiums have private entrances Condominiums along Schubert Drive Tanglewood Entrance Tanglewood Colonial, ca.1985 - Elevation A Tanglewood Colonial, ca.1985 - Elevation B
The Devonshire, Coscan Homes, ca. 1987 The Mulberry, Greentree Homes, ca. 2002 - Elevation A The Bayberry, Greentree Homes, ca. 2002 - Elevation B
Tanglewood Sign
Tanglewood
Fairland Road at Brahms Avenue & Beethoven Boulevard, Silver Spring, Maryland
Tanglewood Area
Tanglewood Homeowners' Association
Stockbridge Homes Condominium

Tanglewood is a name that conjures up images of an old English village, but here in actuality it is named after the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Built in the mid 1980's, Tanglewood is a community of visually appealing homes and green spaces. Like any village, there is a village green (right next to the village pool), lots of trees, and homes for all the villagers.

Tanglewood was built throughout the 1980's by large, national builders such as Ryan Homes, Pulte Homes and Greentree Homes finished Tanglewood with four new single-family homes at the end of Schubert Drive (which were directly behind their homes at Cross Creek Club). Architectural influences range from traditional Colonials and Federals to many neo-Farmhouse and neo-Victorian designs which became very popular at the time due to the growing New Urbanism movement. Of the single-family homes at Tanglewood, there are many split-level and split-foyer models along with two-story models. Townhomes, piggyback townhomes and condominiums can also be found here in a variety of styles and arrangements which could fit any living arrangement or budget.

Single Family Homes have approximately 1,500 to as much as 3,000 square feet with prices from the mid $300's-mid $400's. Greentree Homes is still building at Cross Creek Club, adjacent to the community, where prices in the mid $500's. Townhomes (including Piggyback Townhomes) have approximately 1,000 to 2,000 square feet and are priced from the mid low to mid $200's. Condominiums have about 1,000 square feet and are typically priced around $100,000.

Tanglewood is home to a wide variety of people including many families with children. Community services include a Homeowner's Association which manages the pool and common areas. They also hold many events during the year such as a car wash and the yearly "Tanglewood Day," held at the beginning of summer. In addition, there is Tanglewood Park, a public park, at the centre of the development. As a resident of a slightly more sedate development, I find Tanglewood's little things, like bulletin boards listing important dates placed throughout, give it a real sense of community. Like other nearby developments, they control recycling, trash removal and general maintenance of common areas. Tanglewood is located right off of Columbia Pike, the major thoroughfare between Washington and Columbia. This places the community a short drive away from several shopping centers, schools and recreational facilities.

Tanglewood's quiet atmosphere and wooded setting may be threatened, like so many other communities in this area, by the InterCounty Connector. The "Master Plan Alignment" of the road would, if constructed, run directly behind the development. Not only that, but there would be a massive interchange at US 29 and the ICC right next door. Although it may not divide Tanglewood, it would severely lower the quality of life here by increasing sound pollution and destroy the thick wood that exists there now. In that wood exists the Little Paint Branch, a tributary of the Anacostia River that is integral to the ecological stability of the area.


Last Updated September 1, 2003