The Story
Before it was Crystal City, it was Brick Haven, named for its abundant brick factories. Hundreds of people were employed to make brick of all kinds, living in houses built and owned by the brick companies.
The area was redeveloped in the 1960s, as its proximity to DC, the Pentagon, and the airport made it ideal for office and residential construction.
Its designers favored superblocks that limited road connections, separating transportation modes with elevated highways and underground pedestrian tunnels while employing an overall brutalist aesthetic. The name “Crystal City” was taken from one of the early apartment buildings, the Crystal House.
Crystal City’s Crystal Underground shopping mall opened in 1976. Billed as a “turn-of-the-century shopping village,” it featured antique leaded glass shop windows and cobblestone “streets.”
In 1977 the Crystal City Metro Station opened and the Virginia Railway Express station a few years later. Crystal City’s market reach was greatly expanded, positioning it as a significant regional employment center.