February 2012

The recent opening of the new Living Social live events venue has drawn significant attention to the 900 block of F Street in the Penn Quarter.  Living Social has dramatically restored this 1890 Georgian Romanesque to its original grandeur.  The building interior looks like five floors just waiting for lots of interesting activities to happen.  

Located directly next door to the Living Social building is the Ventana Condominiums.  The Ventana was delivered in 2006 by Douglas Development and features 62 units in a 12-story building.  The modern glass and steel tower is fronted on F Street by three preserved row houses that effortlessly blend this development into the neighborhood.

Many Ventana residences offer 2-story living with lofts overlooking…

In a neighborhood recognized for having several of the most expensive developments in the District, the West End Flats take center stage for affordability.  Delivered in 2008 by Keener-Squire, this 46-unit project was the re-development of the Tiverton Apartment Building.  Unit layouts in this 5-story building include studios, one bedroom and two bedroom configurations.

Developer finishes included granite counters, stainless appliances including Liebherr fridges, hardwood flooring, travertine bath surrounds, radiant limestone bathroom floors, washer-dryers, custom closets and an intercom system with video entry.  The West End Flats is a pet-friendly building with low condo fees.  The ideal location of the West End Flats is across the street from…

Strivers' Section is a historic district in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The historic district includes about 430 buildings constructed in the late 19th and early 20th century.  Many of these buildings are single-family homes designed with Edwardian architectural style.

Strivers' Section is located in close proximity to Howard University and was home to many of DC's more affluent and notable African American residents including Frederick Douglas, architect Calvin Brent, Recorder of Deeds James Dacey and banker James Storum.  Today, Strivers' Section is a dynamic, diverse neighborhood and many of its homes have been beautifully renvoted and restored.

Here is a resource to…

As we celebrate President's Day here in the District, it is time to take a look at how the District has chosen to honor some of our past presidents.  Looking past the monuments, DC has honored past presidents with by naming neighborhoods after them including Adams Morgan, Fort Lincoln, Garfield Heights, Lincoln Heights and Washington Highlands. 

Contrary to popular belief, Georgetown was not named after George Washington, but either King George II of England or its founders George Gordon and George Beall.

Over the years, DC developers have honored past presidents by naming condo projects after them.  Here are several DC condo developments that were named to honor one of our nations presidents:

• Adams Alley
• Adams Row
• Adams Station
• The…

Reader quiz:  Where can you live within a few blocks of four Metro Stations, Downtown clubs and restaurants and countless office buildings?

If you answered 1010 Mass Ave you would be correct!

Ten Ten Mass is a stylish modern condo development located at the corner of 11th Street and Massachusetts Avenue in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of Washington, DC.  Busy Washingtonians who would rather enjoy their limited free time as opposed to spend valuable hours commuting are a natural fit for Ten Ten Mass.

Delivered in 2007, Ten Ten Mass is a 14-story building with a total of 163 condo units.  Developer finishes at Ten Ten Mass include custom wood cabinets, black granite, stainless appliances, floor to ceiling windows, maple hardwood floors and…

One of the terms most commonly used by Realtors when marketing a DC Mid-city listing is "Close to Whole Foods." 

In our thinking there are two kinds of close to Whole Foods……one is the spring Sunday afternoon eight-block stroll from U Street……the other is the two over-loaded (reusable) bags of groceries on a cold and blistery January night close.

While Cooper Lewis and the Metropole get the gold star for being on the same block as the P Street Whole Foods, there are several other condo developments that qualify for the two over-loaded (reusable) bags of groceries on a cold and blistery January night close including:

• 1441 Rhode Island
• Berret School Lofts
• Church Place
• Citta 50
• Cooper Lewis
• Lofts 14
• Lofts 14 Two
• Logan…

The most expensive condo to sell in the District during January 2012 was in Georgetown at 3303 Water located at 3303 Water Street NW #7H, Washington DC.  This 2 BR / 2.5 BA / 2,168 SF condo includes two parking spaces.  The selling price was $2.48M / $1,144 SF, which was 92% of asking price.

  Congratulations to Nancy Itteilag of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. for closing the most expensive condo sale in the District in January 2012.

Honorable mention for the second most expensive DC condo sold in January 2012 was also in Georgetown at 3303 Water located at 3303 Water Street NW #E4, Washington, DC.  This 2 BR / 2.5 BA / 1,848 SF condo includes two parking spaces.  The selling price was $1.7675M / $956 SF, which was 93% of asking price.

In the first half of the 20th century before World War II, Washingtonians ventured over to 14th Street in Logan Circle to purchase an automobile.  The grand condo development buildings that line 14th Street and P Street in Logan formerly housed car dealerships.  

One such building located at 1529 14th Street, was formerly a dealership for the long-defunct Nash Motors brand, and is now home to the Matrix condos.  In the 1950s, Nash Motors merged with Hudson Motors to become American Motor Corporation (AMC).  AMC was led by George Romney, father of current Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.  AMC had success in the market with the Rambler brand and later acquired Kaiser Jeep before selling out to Chrysler in 1987.

While you can no longer by a…

There are not many condo options more sought after than a two bedroom loft on the 1400 block of Church Street in Logan Circle. 

Often described was DC's loft district, Church Street buildings combine the gritty charm of early 20th century industrial buildings with the chic modern finishes of the 21st century.  Church Street is where exposed ductwork, industrial windows and concrete ceilings are purposefully married to sleek European cabinetry, stainless appliances and marble/limestone surfaces.

The 1400 block of Church Street is located in the thick of DC's famed Auto Row which dominated the storefronts of 14th Street in Logan Circle.  Several of the industrial buildings along Church Street provided ancillary repair services to the blossoming…

The Northumberland, located at 2039 New Hampshire Avenue NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, is featured in James Goode's Best Addresses.  Today, the Northumberland remains one of the best-preserved pre-World War I buildings. 

Designed by prominent architect Albert Beers and constructed in 1909 by the legendary Harry Wardman,  the Northumberland features a unique banded exterior facade.  The lobby of the Northumberland featuring 14-foot ceilings and walls adorned with muted-yellow Sienna Marble conveys a level of prestige that is impossible to replicate in newer construction.

Architected in a U configuration, the seven-story Northumberland has 67 units wrapping an interior courtyard.  Common building amenities include a 24-hour front desk, roof…