All Blog Entries by Mark Washburn

Locals may still refer to the separate neighborhoods of Crystal City, Potomac Yard and Pentagon City individually, but the Crystal City Business Improvement District now officially has a new, more cohesive name. The old Crystal City BID is now known as National Landing BID.

Along with its new name, the BID also has a new logo and a newly rebranded website. The logo is reflective of the area, with yellow, blue and green colors to reference area parks and green space, as well as the nearby Potomac River and the Metrorail lines. All three neighborhood names are also incorporated into the logo itself.

Proponents first brought up the idea of making the name change some time ago. Part of that had to do with the BID’s expansion from Crystal City into

For urban amenities in a park-like setting, McLean Gardens delivers an exceptional setting for buyers interested in living in Northwest Washington. Originally built as temporary federal housing during World War II, to this day its considered one of the most coveted addresses in the DC area.

After serving its original role, McLean Gardens was later sold, managed as a rental property, and then eventually converted to condos in the early 1980s. At nearly two-dozen acres in size, the wooded community of McLean Gardens is filled with dozens of garden-style buildings, now home to flats, duplexes and lofts.

This pet-friendly community offers planned events and parties for its residents throughout the year, including barbecues, live music and holiday

Photo: BeyondDC

As its own little village in the city, Woodley Park offers up a range of options to its residents. It’s the kind of place that boasts the convenience of a city lifestyle, with the added advantage of plenty of nearby green space and a quiet setting.

Found to the north of Dupont Circle, Woodley Park is perhaps most notably bordered by Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. The location makes it just as easy to enjoy the miles of nearby biking and jogging trails as it is to experience the restaurants and cafes of Connecticut Avenue.

You’ll find bakeries, brunch worthy patios and historic hotels in Woodley Park. The neighborhood’s also distinguished by some more unusual additions, such as its jumbo-sized mural of Marilyn Monroe.

Showcasing decades of growth and development, Cleveland Park’s hidden historic district presents a full range of homes and buildings, some of which can be dated back to the late 1800s and turn of the century. That’s when electric streetcars first began connecting up Cleveland Park to downtown, and neighborhood growth really began to take off.

Spurred by its new status as a streetcar suburb, Cleveland Park grew rapidly. Historians suspect a number of homes in Cleveland Park may have been constructed as summer homes for those working in nearby Georgetown.

Some of the first homes went in along Newark Street, Highland Place and Macomb, not far from the spot where President Grover Cleveland once owned a home. The diverse neighborhood quickly became

It may not have the name recognition as neighboring Georgetown, but some might say Burleith is Georgetown’s hip baby brother. If you enjoy the offerings and convenience of Georgetown, the completely residential neighborhood of Burleith provides a seemingly more modest, and slightly more affordable alternative to its pricey neighbor.

Unlike the Victorian row houses of Georgetown and Dupont Circle, you’ll often find brick houses on corner lots, with modest, yet distinguishable, row houses constructed in between. Many of the homes of Burleith were built in the 1920s.

While this is the more traditional architecture of homes throughout the neighborhood, you will also find a range of other architectural designs, including some Tudors that date back to

Photo: howderfamily.com

For affordability in Arlington, you may want to take another look at the Nauck neighborhood. At home in southern Arlington County, Nauck partially borders neighboring Alexandria, Columbia Heights, Douglas Park and Four Mile Run.

Named after a former Army soldier and landowner, Nauck holds the distinction of being home to the oldest African American community in Arlington. While more diverse these days than in the past, some are still drawn to the area’s history, as well as its current offerings.  The community is also known as Green Valley.

The neighborhood is full of churches and long-standing businesses that have long been a part of the community for generations. While boasting a relatively easy commute into the city,

With private views directly overlooking Nats Park, the eNvy condominiums are a real treat for baseball fans. It’s not only Nats fans, however, that seem to be attracted to the new property.

From its envious floor plans to its added amenities, there’s plenty to enjoy about living at eNvy. The property’s rooftop deck may be a great way to take in a game, but it’s also a fun place to hang out with fellow residents, friends and family members while taking in views of the city skyline.

The building also offers its residents access to a two-story library, a courtyard and fitness center, plus it presents the opportunity for underground parking for an additional fee. Along with the nearby ballpark, the sophisticated property also sits close to a number

A brand-new condo building is now open to buyers in NoMa. Tribeca brings the addition of nearly 100 new condos opportunities to the neighborhood.  Rising up 13-stories above its surroundings, Tribeca offers your choice of a one- or two-bedroom condo. Priced starting in the $400,000s, the building offers the advantage of new construction in a great location.

Located along N Street NE, between First Street and N Capitol Street, the building sits less than two blocks from the closest Metro Station. It is also close enough to area grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s and a Harris Teeter, as well as many more options in the NoMa neighborhood, including coffee shops and retailers.

It’s just one of the latest additions to a neighborhood that is rapidly

For a century now the Northumberland has offered a sense of enduring luxury in Dupont Circle. First constructed in the early 1900s, the historic apartment building has served as home to countless prominent members of Washington society throughout the years, including judges, members of Congress, government officials and DC’s wealthy elite.

In 1920, the luxury apartment building turned into a co-op, making it one of the city’s oldest, co-op buildings today. Now featured in DC’s “Best Addresses” and on the National Registry of Historic Places, the seven-story building is easily recognized for its elegance and charm.

Many of the building’s original features are still evident today, as the building has retained its high standards for generations.

For urban vibes in a suburban setting, consider the modern condos of Cathedral Crest. Located in Cathedral Heights, this newer construction property is made up of two buildings, each of which houses six condominiums.

The boutique-like setting and surrounding neighborhood are no doubt a big part of the allure of moving to the property. Newer construction is rare in the neighborhood, but Cathedral Crest fills the void as it mixes with single-family homes, rowhouses, apartments, condos and co-ops.

This part of DC not only offers a quiet and peaceful setting, but it also offers easy access to countless restaurants and shops, especially along Wisconsin Avenue. While a majority of the units are more traditional condos, four of the available units