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County Historic Preservation Commission recommends designation of Timberlawn; property owners and historians support listing
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission recommended that the council amend the county master plan for historic preservation to include Timberlawn, a 1901 Arthur B. Heaton–designed estate linked to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and early disability‑services history.
The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 21 recommended that the County Council amend the Master Plan for Historic Preservation to designate Timberlawn as a historic site, citing both cultural and architectural significance.
Why it matters: The commission found Timberlawn meets multiple designation criteria under Chapter 24A of the County Code for historic and architectural importance: association with persons who influenced society (Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s work establishing Camp Shriver, a precursor to Special Olympics) and as the work of noted Washington architect Arthur B. Heaton in an early‑20th‑century Georgian Revival/shingle‑style design.
At the public hearing Geoffrey Haynes, vice chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, summarized Timberlawn’s history and the commission’s determination that the site meets criteria for designation. Haynes noted the property’s use by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and its civic significance related to disability awareness and the development of Camp Shriver in 1962.
Property owners who spoke in favor described an extended restoration and expressed a desire to preserve the house and its architectural character. “Living here has brought us immense happiness. It is more than just a home. It's a living connection to the past,” owner Luz Maria San Pedro said, noting research found the house dates to 1901.
The council closed the public hearing and will consider the recommendation; a Planning, Housing and Parks Committee work session on the item is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2025.
