A street map from 1894 shows the land that later became Fort Stevens Ridge as being owned by Orlanda Gray.[5] The land was part of large stretch of undeveloped land, with only a small amount of development in nearby Brightwood at the intersection of Brightwood Avenue (later renamed Georgia Avenue) and Shepherd Road (near modern-day Missouri Avenue).[5]
In 1903, Gray still owned the land, but development had increased.[6] North Brightwood had been built in four square blocks surrounded by Brightwood Avenue, Nicholson Street, Eighth Street, and Peabody Street.[6] Peters Mill Seat had also been built in two square blocks surrounded by Brightwood Avenue, Madison Street, Eighth Street, and Nicholson Street.[6]
By 1919, the land was owned by the Fort Stevens Tract Company Inc.[7] Many of the surrounding streets had been renamed; Madison, Nicholson, Oglethorpe, and Peabody streets had been renamed Quackenbos, Rittenhouse, Sheridan, and Tuckerman streets, respectively.[7] The newly renamed Rittenhouse Street had been extended eastward and now connected the developments of North Brightwood and Manor Park.[7]
In 1920, real estate developer Harry Wardman and his business partner Thomas P. Bones bought the forested plot of land with the intention of building moderately priced housing, which was scarce in Washington following World War I. Wardman had already successfully built houses in other Washington neighborhoods such as Bloomingdale, Columbia Heights, and Mount Pleasant.
The area was favorable for several reasons. It was within walking distance to schools, shopping, churches, and parks. It was also convenient to public transportation, namely the Brightwood Railway, which traveled downtown along Georgia Avenue.
The land was originally zoned for single-family and semi-detached housing.[8] Wardman initially sought to rezone the land for what he called community houses, which were rows of three, five, or nine attached houses.[8][9] Residents of the nearby Manor Park, Brightwood, and Takoma neighborhoods objected to Wardman's plans to increase the density of the area, saying it would change the suburban feel of the neighborhood.[9][10] The zoning commission denied Warman's request to rezone the area,[11] and Wardman ended up to building semi-detached houses after all.
Construction began in July 1924,[12] and the first homes were completed by November 1924.[13] Because Rittenhouse Street was a major thoroughfare running through the middle of the land, Wardman built the first houses on Rittenhouse Street.[14] As the first houses neared completion, work began on houses on 7th Street and Roxboro Place.[15]
Each semi-detached house was built two stories high with six finished rooms, an unfinished basement, a front and back porch,[16] and a small yard in the front, side, and back.[17]
As Wardman developed more of the land, American culture changed. Increasingly, families were buying cars and desired garages. Wardman built street-level garages under the side porches of some of last houses built, in the 600 block of Somerset Street. The resurfacing of Georgia Avenue during the beginning of work on the development made the development more attractive to residents with cars,[14] and the nearby Georgia Avenue and Takoma Park trolley lines made it attractive to residents without cars.[16]
Wardman placed advertisements for the housing in local newspapers such as the Washington Post and Evening Star.[18] The advertisements centered on the houses' modern amenities as well as their low prices,[16] which were possible due to their mass production and Wardman's ownership of a planing mill and a woodworking company.[3] Wardman's advertisements highlighted the "select environment of a restricted community".[16] The first construction phases of houses were offered for sale from $6,750 to $7,150 each,[16] with payment plans available asking a $400 down payment and $65 each month thereafter.[19] The first model houses were located at 605 Rittenhouse Street[13] and 608 Roxboro Place.[20]
