Watergate at Landmark Celebrates 50 Years of Pioneering Design and Community Spirit
Alexandria, VA – Watergate at Landmark, the first condominium community in Alexandria, celebrated its 50th anniversary this month with a joyful event honoring the past, present, and future of this iconic residential development.
Among the featured speakers was longtime community attorney David S. Mercer, who has represented Watergate since its inception in 1975. At the celebration, Mercer reflected on the property’s origins—sharing that he was fresh out of law school when he was hired to help close the first sales under Virginia’s newly minted condominium law.
“I had to ramp up quickly,” Mercer recalled. “There weren’t even classes on condo law.” He ended up handling the closings of every single one of the 1,462 units. Mercer himself invested in a unit back then and said, “I think I made more selling that condo than I did my first year out of law school.”
Mercer, who still serves as Watergate’s attorney today, also revealed a little-known fact that wowed the audience: a Disney engineer helped design Watergate’s extensive grounds, which feature resort-style landscaping, gazebos, fountains, and the community’s iconic waterfall pool.
Original Residents Still There
Eighteen of the original Watergate residents, most of whom moved in during the mid-1970s, attended the celebrations and shared warm memories of raising families, organizing community events, and seeing generations grow up along the landscaped paths.
One longtime resident remarked, “We came for the convenience and stayed because it feels like a little oasis in the city. It still feels that way.”
An Alexandria First—and a Lasting Success
Spread across 37 acres, Watergate was conceived as a self-contained residential resort—a bold vision at the time. It has always been a gated community.
Despite a challenging economic period for real estate in the late 1970s, Watergate at Landmark thrived—selling out its first buildings and remaining one of the most desirable condominium addresses in the region. It has consistently maintained a strong resident-led association and robust civic involvement.
A Community Still Growing Strong
Today, Watergate remains home to nearly 4,000 residents and continues to offer amenities that rival top-tier resorts: indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and pickleball courts, a fitness center, walking paths, and a café.
The 50th anniversary event included historical displays, photos from the early days, a proclamation from the City of Alexandria, and tributes to Watergate’s enduring vision.
