My family and I have lived in the Greenwich Forest neighborhood of Bethesda since 2006. The house we purchased was a fixer upper (that’s an understatement) and it was only the third house we looked at! We immediately fell in love with the neighborhood, a charming and unrivaled “In-Town” allure, with many mature trees and a collection of Tudors and Colonials full of character. The bonus is that Greenwich Forest is situated within a mile of the Bethesda Metro and Bethesda’s bustling urban core and approximately 2.5 miles from DC, this unique neighborhood stands out as one of the area’s most timeless and distinctive in Bethesda.
My three kids and our dog have enjoyed the Greenwich Forest Park, which features a huge park for dogs and kids to run around, a toddler playground, basketball court and tennis courts. The Beth-El Synagogue on Old Georgetown Road is within walking distance, so is the Bethesda United Methodist Church, the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Suburban Hospital.
Constructed primarily between 1929 and 1941, the homes in Greenwich Forest showcase Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival architectural styles, predominantly overseen by Morris Cafritz—an influential real estate magnate, civic leader, and philanthropist.
Greenwich Forest draws inspiration from renowned developments such as the Country Club District in Kansas City and Shaker Heights outside Cleveland, Ohio, as well as local projects by W.C. and A.N. Miller in Wesley Heights and Spring Valley, two of the most premier neighborhoods in Washington DC.
Aiming for aesthetic harmony, Cafritz prioritized preserving the natural beauty of the landscape. Greenwich Forest boasts gently rolling hills and a diverse array of trees, including chestnut, oak, poplar, dogwood, and various others. The absence of sidewalks, along with strategically placed garages at the side or rear of houses, minimizes street parking, contributing to Greenwich Forest’s natural and scenic allure. Houses are thoughtfully set back and spaced to prevent a congested ambiance.
Today, Greenwich Forest stands as a highly coveted and affluent community, mere minutes from Downtown Bethesda. It successfully maintains a balance between privacy and a serene, tree-lined environment in the face of surrounding areas experiencing increasing overdevelopment and congestion. Despite contemporary renovations and expansions, homes in Greenwich Forest have retained their proportional relationship to the lots, and the majority of residences remain unaltered. In a bid to preserve the neighborhood’s distinctive character, residents sought and obtained historic designation for some distinct homes in 2012, safeguarding them from potential demolitions.
