Georgetown

Photo: Bob ♫

Georgetown’s East Village is a favorite of families today, but a strong sense of community is just part of its appeal. The area is also filled with history.

Separated by Wisconsin Avenue, East Village appropriately sits to the east of the roadway, while West Village sits to the west. While some say the terms are primarily used for real estate, others say a rivalry between the two can be traced back centuries, to the time a group of Episcopalians split from a west side church and established another church on the east side.

Some grand homes in the area were constructed as far back as the early 1800s in East Village. Although the neighborhood is said to be a bit quieter than its western neighbor, over the years Rose Park in the

DC may be home to some of the nation’s priciest real estate, but some neighborhoods continue to attract buyers primarily interested in an all-cash sale. While the percentage of all-cash sales is down slightly overall compared to previous years, it’s still an attractive option for a large number of DC area buyers.

Looking at the first eleven months of 2019 alone, cash buyers made up about 17-percent of all homes purchased in the District. Previously all-cash transactions had been holding around 20-percent or even higher.

In other words, about one in every five homes or even nearly one in every four homes in recent years has sold for cash. Surprisingly, the majority of DC neighborhoods attracting all-cash buyers are some of the priciest.

Most

Photo: Bob ♫

You may not think much about it as you drive over or under Georgetown’s “Buffalo Bridge”, but the bridge actually has a history all its own. Also called Dumbarton Bridge or the Q Street Bridge, the landmark first went up in the early 1900s.

At the time, locals were looking for a way to reduce traffic along M Street and make it easier to travel to some of DC’s other fast-growing neighborhoods and to downtown. The problem, of course, was Rock Creek.

One idea was to divert Rock Creek through a tunnel, but that would likely have cost millions of dollars. The much cheaper alternative was to build a bridge stretching across Rock Creek Park, thereby connecting up Dupont Circle to Georgetown.

Crews considered moving an existing

Another multi-million-dollar property just hit the market in Georgetown, and this one has ties to a big name. The detached home once belonged to Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos and his wife.

One of just two homes on this particular block of 31st Street, the home is now on the market for close to $7 million. Originally constructed in the early 1900s, the six-bedroom, 6.5-bath home offers more than 7,000 square feet of living space.

Included in that is a generous amount of room for entertaining. The large home is said to have a grand foyer accented with herringbone-patterned flooring. The home also boasts high ceilings.

The red brick Colonial additionally offers such luxuries as a media room, a home gym and an elevator. In

Georgetown often conjures up thoughts of tree-lined streets, beautiful homes and, of course, the waterfront. Georgetown north of M Street, however, is actually two locations: East Village and West Village.

In terms of geography, East Village means the part of Georgetown running east of Wisconsin Avenue, while West Village sits to the west of Wisconsin Avenue. While some neighborhood rumors may reference socioeconomic differences between the two, in reality that’s hardly the case.

Former senators and political influencers have long called both sides of Wisconsin Avenue home. Some credit the creation of the two villages to a time when wealthy Episcopalians split off from St. John’s Church on the west side and established their own Christ Church on

Photo: Tyler

If you’re looking for a fun way to see DC in an entirely new light, consider taking a cue from Hollywood. Some of DC’s most iconic neighborhoods are routinely captured on film.

In fact, some reports suggest more than 300 movies show DC-area landmarks, perhaps most notably some of the District’s historic sites. The movie “Forrest Gump” used the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. You’ll also see it in the movie “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”.

If you want to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, you’ll find them at the National Archives Building. You don’t even have to leave home, though, to spot the building in the movie “National Treasure”.

Of course, the Watergate Hotel is an actual

Photo: DC Gardens

Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is getting a new greenhouse. The new project is part of an effort to further improve energy savings and sustainability of the campus and its gardens.

A New York-based architectural firm is spearheading construction of the new greenhouse. Crews plan to use energy efficient climate control and solar panels in its construction. They also aim to improve irrigation. It’s all reportedly part of a three-year plan to help benefit the estate and increase its offerings.

In phase two of the project, architects are additionally planning to renovate the property’s existing greenhouse. Constructed in the mid 1920s, it’s said the old greenhouse will retain its original design but be updated to help support the

DC Condo Boutique team member Jackson Verville represented the buyer of row house located at 1613 35th Street NW, Washington DC 20007 in the Georgetown neighborhood. This Federal-style home features 4 BR | 4 BA | 3,135 SF and closed on May 11th, 2019 for $2,400,000 | $766 SF. A detached two-car garage conveyed with this transaction.

This brick-front West Village home is in pristine condition and offers a turn-key experience. The stunning private gardens offer the perfect place to relax and unwind in this urban setting.

Graphic: ZGF Architects/Georgetown BID

Supporters of bringing a gondola to the DC area are once again bringing up the plan, hoping to someday make it reality. Some area business leaders and those with political ties believe its still a good idea, years after the plan first came to public light.

Initiated five years ago as part of its 15-year strategic plan, the Georgetown Business Improvement District proposed the gondola to connect Georgetown to Rosslyn. Georgetown doesn’t have a Metro, and proponents believe a gondola could not only be built faster, but with a much smaller price tag than other transportation solutions.

Just two years ago, a study took a closer look at the plan, maintaining the gondola was a feasible proposal. Stretching across

DC Condo Boutique team member Sharon Wildberger represented the buyer of an East Village town house located at 1670 32nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 in the Georgetown neighborhood. This brick-front home features 2 BR | 2.5 BA | 1,755 SF and closed on November 8th, 2018 for $1,015,000 | $578 SF.

This classic 3-story Federal-style town home is located on a quiet one-way street in the East Village just a block off Wisconsin Avenue. A secluded garden and brick patio offers a quiet spot to entertain and escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Tudor Place, Book Hill Park and Dumbarton Oaks park are steps away from this home.