A House Grows in Reston

In the late 1960s, Joe and Janet Hyman were intrigued by the mission and vision of this new place called Reston.

The couple visited a model home.  Their budget was for a single-family house was $40,000. Starters—1,500 square feet in South Reston backing to the parkland—cost $45,000.   But Janet was determined - eliminate the cathedral ceilings, forget the carport and leave the basement unfinished, she said.

"$39,500 and we signed," said Janet of that day in August 1968.

Forty-two years later, the Hymans sit in a house unrecognizable from the one the originally purchased.  Why?  There have been 13 additions, the house is triple the square footage and is home to eight people ranging from 8 to 72.

Three generations under one Reston roof.   Here's how it unfolded:

Once settled on Drop Forge Lane in 1969, Janet Hyman's first order of business was to find a preschool for her firstborn, Susan.  Wait lists abounded, so what does a budding Reston activist do?  Get friends together and open one. 

 "We knew RHOA (now RA) was building Glade Pool, so we petitioned for a community room over the bath house.  When asked what it would be for, we replied, 'a preschool,' " said Janet. 

The Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool, within walking distance of Janet's house, held its first open house in May 1970.  It still operates today. All three Hyman children attended the preschool, as well as Reston's Hunters Woods Elementary and South Lakes High School. 

Joe, a child psychologist, moved his business to Reston.  Janet was busy raising children, advocating in the schools, playing bridge and enjoying Reston's amenities, especially Lake Anne Village Center.  Once her children were grown, Janet, a licensed clinical social worker, returned to work full-time.

Fast forward to the mid-90s.  Susan, now married to Bill Sather and living in Manassas, was preschool hunting for her oldest son, Kyle.  In Susan's mind, nothing compared to Hunters Woods Preschool. The problem was, the long commute from Manassas, so Susan and Kyle spent several nights a week bunking with the Hymans. 

"We really liked being here and they really liked having us," said Susan. 

It made total sense to establish a multi-generational household.  It was a win-win situation.

 "We [Bill and Susan] couldn't have afforded to live in Reston, plus the other benefits such as the emotional support and the extra sets of hands have been invaluable," said Susan. 

"It works wonderfully," said Janet.

The family has added more bedrooms, living space and storage.  That has, of course, meant many visits to the Reston Association's Design Review Board (DRB). 

"We've had our problems" says Joe Hyman.  The trick, he said, was hiring an architect familiar with Reston rules.

Susan and Bill Sather now have four children; Kyle (17), Alec (14), Lilly (11) and Violet (8). 

The house grew, the family grew and Hunters Woods Preschool flourished. The school just celebrated its 40th year.  And who knows—perhaps another generation of Sathers will live on Drop Forge Lane someday.