Declared “a delightful development” by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she visited in 1937, Buckingham Village stands among the first examples of planned garden-style apartments in the United States. Seventy years later Arlington County took the lead in preserving the special fabric of the Buckingham Village community, designating it as an historic property, and investing in the purchase and preservation of the housing through an innovative ground lease structure. In 2008, the County, in partnership with the neighborhood residents and stakeholders who were part of an extensive engagement process, selected Telesis and NHT/Enterprise to lead the preservation of Buckingham Village 3.

In addition to successfully preventing the displacement of existing residents, Buckingham Village 3 has become an even more diverse and inclusive community than originally planned. Fifteen apartments are fully accessible and all are affordable. The lead community organization BU-GATA provides an array of services and activities in the community center.