Spring Real Estate 04-10-13 1

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2013 spring guide

Realtors aim to help buyers navigate a D.C. market short on inventory By CHRIS KAIN Current Staff Writer

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ith limited inventory keeping the D.C. residential market firmly in check, one local real estate office is urging clients to consider properties that have sat on the market for more than 60 or 90 days — particularly when they’re priced a bit above what they were expecting to spend. It’s an attempt to work the num-

bers in the buyer’s favor by identifying sellers more likely to accept less than list price, and by avoiding competition from multiple offers. “We’ve been going after those because then we can be confident that we’re not in competition,” said Kevin McDuffie, branch vice president for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dupont Circle. The technique works for singlefamily houses and condos,

McDuffie said, and at various price points. If something has been on the market that long in D.C., “it’s seriously overpriced,” he explained. But the sellers may finally have realized that they can’t get their list price — and they’re also more likely to accept contract contingencies they could probably rule out in more competitive situations. “For buyers, their best friend is a seller who overprices because then they can negotiate without fighting

for it,” said Keene Taylor Jr. of the Taylor/Agostino Group at Long & Foster Real Estate. “If a seller overprices, it’s more likely a buyer can wait them out.” Realtors use other techniques to help clients find a suitable home despite the constrained inventory. Some are encouraging homeowners to sell, sending out mailings telling them that buyers are interested in their properties. Realtors also focus on ensuring their clients are well-

Growth continues to shape Petworth

positioned to write competitive offers. In other cases, it may mean working on altering the prospective buyer’s expectations — an adjacent neighborhood with less competition, or accepting a home that will need some renovations. “For buyers, the key is to be as flexible as possible,” Taylor said. “With the low inventory, be as open as you can to a variety of locations, See Market/Page RE22

INSIDE

Home of D.C.’s first governor up for sale in Georgetown for $5 million

By DEIRDRE BANNON Current Staff Writer

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outed for years as D.C.’s next hot neighborhood, Petworth’s ongoing development has continued to produce a dynamic environment there, with an increasing number of stores, restaurants and bars going hand in hand with rising real estate values. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: the neighborhood’s strong sense of community. Bounded by Arkansas and Georgia avenues to the west, North Capitol Street and Rock Creek Church Road to the east, Kennedy Street and Missouri Avenue to the north and Spring Road to the south, Petworth was once the site of two family estates, dating back to the 1700s. In the late 19th century, it became one of the city’s first subdivisions, and the streetcar line that traveled up Georgia Avenue to Silver Spring at that time spurred the development of the Wardman-style row houses that still define the neighborhood. Development has increased at a slow pace since the housing bubble burst in 2008, but several new high-rise apartment and boutique condominium buildings have been erected in the past few years and are creating a new landscape for Petworth, particularly near the

Historic Dupont Circle carriage house, most recently a bar, to become private luxury home

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Adams Morgan redevelopment continues as builders tackle land shortage

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Bill Petros/The Current

Some residents see the increased development as all positive, while others say rapid gentrification is damaging the community.

Metro station on Georgia Avenue. Dan Silverman, who founded neighborhood blog Prince of Petworth in 2006 (which he recently expanded to PoPville, covering all D.C. neighborhoods), has lived in Petworth for 10 years. He says the best things about the neighborhood are “the people, the homes and the quality of life there.” “It’s a very friendly place — people are kind and welcoming if you are kind,” Silverman said. “You get to know your neighbors here. … A lot of people are fixing up

their houses, planting gardens, and you see people walking their dogs or pushing strollers around the neighborhood.” “Even though development is increasing, it’s still very neighborhood-y,” Silverman added. “It’s like a suburb in the city, with its tree-lined streets — it’s very close to Columbia Heights, which is nice, but when you want to go home to someplace quieter, you can do that in Petworth.” With businesses blossoming, Petworth’s real estate values have been rising steadily. The median sales price for single-family homes increased from about $177,000 in 2000 to $460,000 in 2010, according to the Urban Institute. A driving force in real estate See Petworth/Page RE8

For some agents, real estate is a family affair, finding work with relatives fosters communication

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2013 DC Design House in Wesley Heights set to open doors Saturday

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D.C. Council proposal would limit property tax increases resulting from higher assessments

THE CURRENT NEWSPAPERS NORTHWEST • GEORGETOWN • FOGGY BOTTOM • DUPONT

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The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

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Historic Italianate house in Georgetown has storied past

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n a rare opportunity in Georgetown, the historic, grand former home of Henry Cooke — builder of the Cooke’s Row homes on Q Street, and the District’s first governor — is on the market for $5 million. This eightbedroom Italianate manse, with five

ON THE MARKET Deirdre bannon

and half baths, five fireplaces and chandeliers in nearly every room, was built in 1868 and harkens back to an earlier era, while recent updates offer living spaces with modern amenities. Cooke built seven semi-detached houses along Q Street, but this home at No. 3023 is the one he created for his own family. A prominent figure in post-Civil War Washington, Cooke was appointed the first territorial governor of the District by President Ulysses S. Grant. The home, nestled in the city but with the spaciousness of a country estate, offers truly comfortable living. The same family has owned the property for the past 60 years. Before that, Navy Secretary Henry Latrobe Roosevelt lived there during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration and later Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney owned the home during Harry Truman’s administration.

The property is marked by its elegant long windows (most with the original glass), 13-foot ceilings and exquisite craftsmanship throughout. One of the home’s most stunning features is its curved staircase in the spacious foyer. From the first floor looking up, it spirals to the third floor in a sweeping oval shape. The dramatic design includes a dark brown wood banister and a scroll carved into the base, which is painted white. A double parlor off the foyer has two ornate glass chandeliers, two fireplaces and built-in bookcases. Hardwood floors span the length of this ballroom-like room; it’s easy to envision entertaining in the grand space. French doors at the far end, with windows on both sides and an arched transom above, lead to the solarium. This room features a marble floor and paned windows that stretch nearly from floor to ceiling, flooding the space with light. It overlooks the stone patio that leads to the garden at the rear of the property. A wide arched doorway in the solarium features wrought-iron gates in an intricate design, thought to have been imported from Italy.

Photos courtesy of Cathie Gill Realtors

This eight-bedroom Georgetown mansion is listed at $4,995,000. That dramatic entranceway leads to the dining room, which continues the motif of the solarium with its wrought-iron wall sconces. One might notice a small circle in the center of the dining room’s floor — it once functioned as a doorbell-like button, which when pushed by the host’s foot would alert servants that their services were needed. Almost every room in the house contains a similar button, though most are located along an interior wall near the doorframes. Although they no longer operate, the bells once connected to a panel in the butler’s pantry off the dining room, which would show which room was calling for service. The butler’s pantry is a wide galley-like room, which has been recently updated with granite countertops, a Bosch dishwasher, a SubZero mini refrigerator and a Thermador warming drawer. The home’s original wood cabinetry, many with glass doors, offers an

SELLING THE AREA’S FINEST PROPERTIES

abundance of storage space. Beyond the pantry is the large kitchen with the same elegant cabinetry, granite countertops and topof-the-line stainless steel appliances. It also features a contemporary chandelier and recessed lighting. The powder room on this level is tucked beneath the grand staircase, as is a coatroom. The second and third floors contain seven of the home’s eight bedrooms. The room at the top of the stairs on the second level could be used as a library or study, with its marble fireplace and walls lined with built-in bookcases. The master bedroom has double en suite baths, a fireplace and a dressing area with built-in closets. Two additional bedrooms on this level, including one that overlooks the garden, could be used as a sec-

ond dressing room or study. The top floor has three bedrooms and two full baths. Formerly the servants’ quarters, the open layout of one of the larger bedrooms could be reimagined into to a spacious playroom. A street-facing room at the top of the stairs was once called the trunk room, as it once served as the storage area for the family’s luggage. Perched high above the rooftops of Georgetown is what could be considered the home’s pièce de rĂŠsistance. Accessible via a narrow and steep stairway tucked behind a door on the third floor, a cupola affords a 360-degree view that includes the Washington Monument and the Potomac River. It’s arguably one of the best spots in the neighborhood for watching the See Cooke’s Row/Page RE21

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A Work of Art

Town of Chevy Chase, MD. Spectacular open flr plan. Elegant gourmet kit, fam rm w/limestone wall, frpl & entertainment center. 4 BRs, 3.5 BAs includes MBR suite w/spa like bath. Elevator, attached 2 car garage, tranquil screened porch. $2,349,000 Eric Murtagh 301-652-8971 Karen Kuchins 301-275-2255

Imagine!

Edgemoor, Bethesda, MD. Rare gem blt w/style & grace in 1921 & filled with possibilities. 13,800 sf lot in the heart of this prestigious neighborhood just 3 blks to Metro. 33’ living rm, music rm sep. office . $1,995,000 Ted Beverley  301-728-4338 Pat Lore 301-908-1242

Idyllic Classic

Chevy Chase, MD. Rolling Wood. Custom Tudor done to the “nine’s.â€? Light filled, gourmet kit opens to family rm. 4 BRs, 4.5 BAs includes MBR suite. Office w/sep. entrance, 2nd family rm. Patio, attached garage. $1,329,000 Delia McCormick  301-977-7273 Laura McCaffrey  301-641-4456

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American University Park. Classic AU Park 3 BR home. Main level BR w/en suite BA. Kitchen w/adj brkfst rm w/cathedral ceiling, sky light & greenhouse window. Sun rm w/three walls of windows. LL fam rm. Garage. $889,000 Mary Lynn White 202-309-1100

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West End. Exceptional light filled one bedroom fully updated. Kit. w/ SS appliances & glass tile backsplash. Refinished flrs. Roof deck, courtyard garden. Great location! $355,000 Ben Dursch 202-288-4334

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Wesley Heights. Dazzling, bright & spacious 1 BR penthouse at The Towers, a “Best Addressâ€? bldg. Classic kitchen, lge tile floored balcony. Amenities include pool, tennis cts, sauna. Walk to shops, restaurants. $295,000 Maryam Hedayati 301-367-7921

DUPONT 1509 22ND STREET NW 202-464-8400

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Planners tout accessory apartments as an answer to D.C. housing needs By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

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s the District’s population and housing demand continue to increase, the D.C. Office of Planning is pointing to a potential way to accommodate some of that growth: accessory dwelling units in singlefamily homes. Such units, the agency contends, could balance the city’s need for new housing with existing residents’ interests in preserving the feel of their communities — although not everyone is convinced of their merit. Those who haven’t intently followed the Planning Office’s long-in-the-works effort to rewrite the city’s zoning code may not be familiar with the term “accessory dwelling unit,� or “ADU.� But the idea is straightforward — a self-contained apartment within an existing house, or inside a home’s accessory building, such as a garage or carriage house. Under the proposal, such accessory uses could move forward with fewer regulatory hurdles. “It not only creates a smaller unit that by its nature is more affordable, but it also allows the property owner to supplement their income,� Jennifer Steingasser, deputy director

of the Planning Office, said in an interview. This would also allow older residents to age in place, either by earning money from part of their home or making space for a caregiver — earning it support of the AARP, according to Steingasser. Furthermore, she said, it creates a space in pricey communities for young adults or empty-nesters. Accessory dwelling units are now allowed only if residents seek approval from the Board of Zoning Adjustment, a process that Steingasser said is often costly and time-consuming. “Anything that delays the production of housing units is adverse to the ability to keep the units affordable,� she said. But for some residents, discouraging further housing production in single-family neighborhoods is a worthy goal. In many areas, they argue, increasing density alters the relaxed character that attracted residents in the first place — in particular, they say, families with more permanent roots to the District. One advisory neighborhood commissioner recently described liberalization of accessory apartments “a huge issue� for her area. To critics of the idea, it’s essential to have a voice at the table when their neighbors plan to incorporate an apartment into their home, garage or shed. This would protect against the

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impacts of a higher population and, in some cases, the aesthetics involved with converting an outbuilding into a housing unit, they’ve argued at public meetings discussing the Office of Planning proposal. Steingasser said she believes those types of fears are misplaced, because the proposed regulations include strict limits on the size of an accessory dwelling unit and the number of people who can live on any property that includes an accessory apartment. Only fairly large homes — with at least 2,000 square feet of living space — would be allowed to have an internal accessory apartment under the proposal, and it couldn’t be larger than 25 percent of the total home’s square footage. Homeowners could not add a second street-facing front door to the house to serve the accessory apartment, and no more than six people could live in the home plus its accessory unit. Only one accessory dwelling unit would be allowed per property. When the unit is in a garage or other exterior building, the proposed regulations would limit it to 900 square feet and a height of 22 feet. Although decks and balconies would be allowed, they could not face a neighboring home. And unlike a group rental home, which is

permitted as long as it doesn’t include selfsustaining apartments, the property owner would be required to live on-site. Homeowners who wanted relief from these provisions would be able to request it from the Board of Zoning Adjustment, which would consider design concerns and weigh the opinions of neighbors. By limiting the scale and population of the accessory dwelling units, the Planning Office is confident it’s protecting existing neighborhoods. The six-person cap is based on the size of a “family equivalent� — the household size many of the District’s homes were built for to begin with, according to Steingasser. “There is a capacity for more people to live back in the neighborhoods without overcrowding the neighborhood from its original design,� she said. The Office of Planning is still taking public comment on its proposals on accessory dwelling units and other zoning regulation changes at zoningupdate@dc.gov, and the agency will present draft regulations to the Zoning Commission in a series of public hearings later this year. The commission will ultimately vote on which provisions will be adopted, taking into account testimony from the Planning Office and from the public.

Dupont alley structure goes from bar to home By KATIE PEARCE Current Staff Writer

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fter hosting restaurants and bars for the last half-century, the historic alley property at 2123 Twining Court in Dupont Circle is set to become a private home. Originally built in the early 1900s as a stable and carriage house, the two-story brick building — last home to the Omega gay bar — sold for $1.9 million this winter. The two new owners intend to convert the space into their own four-bedroom residence, according to Ari Fingeroth of Federalist Builders, the firm undertaking the unusual renovation. The project will need a signoff from the city’s Historic Preservation Review Board, since the property is listed both on the National Register of Historic Places and as a contributing building to the Dupont Circle Historic District. Work will involve both restoring the faded or deteriorating historic features of the building’s exterior and doing “a full gutâ€? of its interior, Fingeroth said. Inside, he said, “there were no original features to salvage ‌ [of the] pretty unattractive rustic bar.â€? On the first level, the new owners will replace two bar rooms with a parking area, workout space and three guest rooms. Upstairs, Fingeroth said, additional bar space and a billiard room will be transformed into a large master bedroom suite and an open-plan kitchen, dining room and living room combo. Topping the 5,985-square-foot home will be a deck carved into an existing slice of the roof and “not visible from any public space except for an alley that exits on O Street,â€? Fingeroth said. The alley building, sited behind the 2100 block of P Street, was originally constructed in 1905 to serve as a carriage house, stable and servants’ quarters for the home of wealthy railroad executive Samuel Spencer, according to National Register documents. Steering the project was prominent “master builderâ€? John McGregor, who also constructed the Hecht Co. department store downtown and the First Baptist Church at 16th and O streets. Spencer, who lived nearby in his mansion at 2012 Massachusetts Ave., died in 1906 before seeing completion of the carriage house. His son and later grandson inherited the building, which was used mostly for car storage until it was sold in 1957. After that it housed several restaurants and bars,

Photo courtesy of Deco Design Studio

The 1905 property was built as a carriage house and stables for railroad executive Samuel Spencer. including the Frat House gay bar, which opened in the 1970s and was later renamed Omega. The building went up for sale last summer, according to an article from the Washington Blade. Though this type of property would normally attract developers seeking either a condo conversion or a “flip� job, Fingeroth said the new owners always intended to live there themselves. He described the buyers as “two guys who have been living in the city for a long time,� who were drawn to “the historic nature of the structure.� Tom Bower, president of the Dupont Circle Conservancy, said his preservation group reviewed initial drawings for the residential conversion last month, and generally supported them. “They seem to be handling things in a sensible manner,� he said of the project team, which also includes local architecture firm Deco Design Studio. The conservancy was slated to see slightly revised drawings last night. The Dupont Circle advisory neighborhood commission also expects to review the plans — probably in May, according to commissioner Kevin O’Connor. Construction began in January with interior demolition, according to Fingeroth, who said the project is now “basically in a holding pattern� while awaiting approval of the roof deck. He said the preservation office has expressed “some concerns� about altering the roofline, but his team will meet with staffers next week to refine plans. A preservation staffer said the office has received an application for the project, but no hearing is scheduled yet.

Wednesday, april 10, 2013 RE5

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The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Redone bungalow offers inviting master suite

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he first floor of this 1931 American University Park home, at 4713 Asbury Place, offers a traditional layout for a bungalow: living room and dining room set in front of a kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath. But a renova-

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tion during the sellers’ considerable tenure created a major difference upstairs, where a soaring master bedroom is filled with light. The expansion added a scattering of skylights to the sleeping quarters and its attached bathroom, bringing the sky right into this airy suite. A buyer will be able to gaze at the stars from multiple spots, including the soaking tub — where built-in speakers will add to the ambiance — and two-head shower. Yet the spacious suite, with a cathedral ceiling and room for a seating area, is also made cozy by the inclusion of a wood-burning fire-

place and natural wood accents. Realtor Susan Jaquet has dubbed it the “most inviting master suite in AU Park.� The home has a total of three bedrooms, one of which sits across the hall from the master on the second floor, where it would also work well as a small office or nursery. This second floor is accessed via a narrow staircase stretching up from a back room on the main level, which originally housed the home’s second bedroom and now serves as a mini-den. Like the secondary bedroom above it, the room looks out at the fenced back yard, where mature plantings stretch back to a rear alley. Building a further addition — as many neighbors have done — would be possible here without forsaking all yard space. The third bedroom sits on the main floor, where it would work well as a guest space, playroom or larger office should the buyer need only the upstairs rooms for sleeping. Painted lilac, it’s a peaceful spot with views of the greenery out-

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back. An updated full bath with tub and pedestal sink sits across the hall. Renovations there added large subway tiles on the walls but left the black-and-white basket-weave variety on the floor. The kitchen has had updates, but some buyers might do more, perhaps opening it to the dining room or replacing the floor tiles. New appliances are likely in store, but the cherry cabinets are in good shape and the granite countertops are brand-new. Sliding glass doors bring in light and open outside to a set of stairs with just enough room on the landing for a grill. The dining room can accommodate a four-person table, and three six-over-six windows make it a sunny space. A Tudor-style arch connects the room to the living room/entry, where the home’s second wood-burning fireplace provides a natural focal point. Threeover-three windows flank it on either side, and a custom mantel adds art deco-inspired touches to the space. Refinished oak floors

Photo courtesy of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Co.

This three-bedroom Asbury Place bungalow is listed for $849,000. cover this space and the rest of the first floor, while pine waits upstairs. Two six-over-six windows front the living room, looking out onto a wide porch with lots of room for fair-weather lounging — a particularly appealing feature now that spring has finally sprung in Washington. About a mile away each are the Friendship Heights and Tenleytown Metro stations, along with commercial areas that provide groceries, a library, shopping and other attractions. An English basement rounds out

this property. The space is unfinished but large, with plenty of room for storage — and upgrades could make it quite appealing, as six windows that sit just above ground bring in ample light. The three-bedroom, two-bath home at 4713 Asbury Place, which has gas-fired radiator heat and central air conditioning, is listed for $849,000. For more information contact Susan Jaquet of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Co., at 202-365-8118 or susanjaquet@aol.com.

Woodley Park rooftop deck brings questions By ELIZABETH WIENER Current Staff Writer

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onverting a historic row house to condominiums can bring big profits, heartburn from some neighbors, and a long trip through the District’s regulatory maze. For one Woodley Park developer, conversion plans also brought consternation at the Historic Preservation Review Board, where members urged for minimizing a planned roof deck. A developer known as Garfield LLC wants to turn a 1909 Harry Wardman row house at 2616 Garfield St. into three luxury, multi-floor condos. The building was sliced up into rental units as long ago as 1956, and is “very rundown,� according to the firm’s representative, Trent Heminger. Heminger told the preservation board April 4 that immediate neighbors support the plan because it will spruce the place up. But upscale condo buyers also expect outdoor space, Heminger said. The city Historic Preservation Office has already approved plans for two rear decks — pretty routine in row house neighborhoods — as well as interior demolition and a stair tower to connect the units to a rear parking pad. But for the top unit, the developer wants to add a roof deck — not so routine in Woodley Park — and an enclosed staircase to reach it. “It wasn’t that we wanted to break it up. It was already broken up,� Heminger said. “A lot of people in the neighborhood have put on decks,� he added — Woodley Park residents prize the long blocks of Wardman-built row houses, but sometimes find them a bit cramped even for single families. The proposal seemed problematic to Tim Dennee, an architectural historian for the city who produced an almost unprecedented 29-page staff report explaining his views. The report documents how rare — and typically unsightly — roof decks are in Woodley Park, particularly with enclosed stairs. Such roof decks “raise a new issue for Woodley Park,� he said. The neighborhood’s historic district includes 422 buildings. Of these, Dennee counted 10 or 11 with decks added on the uppermost roof, five of those on large apartment buildings and the rest on row houses. “There is no ready evidence that these were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Office,� Dennee wrote. “The first three are pretty poor in terms of their compatibility with the underlying buildings and their effects on the roofscape. The early decks are less prece-

Bill Petros/The Current

The owner plans to turn the row house, previously used as rental units, into three luxury condos.

dential than something to be avoided,â€? he opined. Dennee apologized for the “verbose report,â€? but said the issue of roof decks needs to be considered by the community. When the historic district was created in 1990, there was almost an “anything goesâ€? sentiment about work on the rear of houses, he said, “but that doesn’t address the question of what’s happening on top.â€? And the Garfield Street project raises a broader preservation issue, he said: “To what extent should the exterior of a row house designed as single-family be altered for the structure to serve as an apartment building?â€? Dennee acknowledged that the planned roof would not be visible from Garfield Street. “If you’re gonna do a rooftop enclosure, this is as good as you get,â€? he said. “But the question is whether these stair enclosures are suitable for Woodley Park.â€? Despite the call for community comment, no one but the developer showed up at the preservation board hearing. There was a letter from John Goodman of the Woodley Park Community Association, wondering what the fuss was about. “Woodley Park is overwhelmingly a rowhouse neighborhood. Therefore homes ‌ can typically be expanded only by going up,â€? Goodman wrote. The local advisory neighborhood commission, on a 4-1 vote with four abstentions, said it knew of no other enclosed staircase accessing a rooftop deck in Woodley Park, and urged the developer to find an alternative. See Woodley/Page RE21

Wednesday, april 10, 2013 RE7

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Thank You

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Wednesday, april 10, 2013

The CurrenT â– spring real esTaTe guide 2013

PETWORTH: Some residents uneasy about changes From Page RE1

values was the 1999 opening of the Petworth Metro station at 3700 Georgia Ave. Homes within a mile of the station have seen the most significant rise in value. Right now there are about a dozen properties for sale in Petworth, ranging in price from $250,000 for a threebedroom row house that needs updating to $749,000 for a recently renovated four-bedroom row house. “Properties in Petworth are often snapped up in a matter of days,� said Kevin Wood, a Realtor with William Sawyer & Co. “The neighborhood has the advantage of being close to the center of the city but prices are more affordable.� The changes have made Petworth more attractive to new residents. But those who’ve lived there longer aren’t all fans. “There is a lot of tension around gentrification and the cultural changes in Petworth,� said Joseph Vaughan, a Petworth advisory neighborhood commissioner. Longterm residents often feel that many of the newer residents don’t appreciate the community’s history. The main fuel for gentrification is the rising rent costs, according to Vaughan. He says many of his African-American constituents have historically lived in rental properties, so when new development leads to increased rents, units often become unaffordable. Some residents who had lived in Petworth for decades are pushed out, creating transience within the community. Newer and long-term residents often also differ in their interests, tastes, values and visions about how the neighborhood should grow,

which can lead to strong disagreements, Vaughan added. “The biggest thing the community can do is not to ignore or provide short shrift to the reality that we are in the midst of a cultural clash of perspectives because it is always there in every conversation I have in my community — and we work to bridge that at our ANC meetings,� said Vaughan. Those differences include the vision residents have for neighborhood parks. When Upshur Park was being renovated, some newer residents wanted to take out the basketball courts — a proposal that made others livid. New and old residents oftentimes also favor different types of businesses. To PoPville’s Silverman, Petworth has been able to attract a higher caliber of retail of late, which benefits all residents and visitors to the neighborhood. One of Silverman’s favorite spots is Qualia Coffee at 3917 Georgia Ave. “Not only is their coffee delicious, but they have a great back patio — it’s a cool place to hang out, and you always see people you know there.� Chez Billy, an upscale French Bistro at 3815 Georgia Ave. is another of Silverman’s favorites. The restaurant’s owners restored two historic storefronts to create a sophisticated Parisian environment complete with live jazz music. “A good indicator that the neighborhood is ready to grow is Chez Billy,� said Silverman. “If they can do it, many other restaurants can do the same — and I think they will.� A long-awaited development is the renovation of the neighborhood’s Safeway at 3830 Georgia

Ave. The new store, expected to be complete in summer 2014, will be one of the largest Safeways in the city. Above the grocery store, a mixed-use building will include five stories of residential apartments. “This is absolutely a net positive for the neighborhood,� said Silverman. “We will have a quality grocery store in the neighborhood. Not to mention, it will improve density, and hopefully that will bring more quality developments.� Golden Heart Yoga DC, at 4804 Georgia Ave., is a one of several new businesses in the neighborhood. Petworth residents Elizabeth Lloyd and Julie Eisenberg opened it in January 2012 because there weren’t any yoga studios nearby. Since then, they say, it’s become a community anchor. After classes, “students sit and talk over tea about current events or what’s happening in their lives — we see each other all the time, so there’s a real sense of community here,� said Lloyd. Being an integral part of the neighborhood helped when the studio needed support. Over the past month, Golden Heart has been burglarized twice — but after each incident, community members rallied around the studio to replace stolen items. “The robbers took everything, down to the cleaning supplies and toilet paper,� said Lloyd. “Now I can look around the studio and see what each neighbor brought to us, from the music to the candles to the computer.� “That’s the essence of Petworth,� Lloyd added. “We look out for each other, and respect and care for each See Petworth/Page RE22

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Photo courtesy of William Sawyer & Co.

This recently renovated four-bedroom Petworth row house is on the market for $599,900.

Petworth row house features traditional design and layout

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omebuyers looking for a classic Petworth property could find just what they’re looking for in this four-bedroom Wardman-style row house at 4409 3rd St., on the market for $599,900. Built in 1929, the home was recent-

home’s original exterior wall add a nice touch, while wall-to-wall windows bring in lots of natural light. The porch overlooks the fencedin backyard that features a stone patio with room for an outdoor table and chairs, a grill and a play area. An outdoor fireplace will convey with the sale. Behind the back gate is a private parking area off the alley. DEIRDRE BANNON Back inside, one half of the ly updated to add several amenities breakfast area opens to the wide while also maintaining many origigalley kitchen. Recently updated nal features, including the woodcabinets provide an abundance of work and traditional layout. storage space. Stone tile floor was The property’s curb appeal benalso installed recently. efits from its corner-like lot — the A powder room off the foyer neighboring and next to the house faces main staircase adjacent is another of the Webster Street, home’s updates, so the home’s a common one front and back among many yards, as well as traditional row the sleeping houses in the porch at the neighborhood. rear, all enjoy At the top of lots of light. Its staircase is a welcoming covlanding that ered front porch leads to three of offers ample the house’s bedroom for seatrooms. Here ing. again the Deirdre Bannon/The Current home’s charm Once inside, a spacious foyer shines through: with a pressed copper chandelier Previous owners installed a wall of shines a light on the home’s origiwindows and a glass-paned doornal wood floors that span throughway between the bedroom area and out the first and second levels. A the sleeping porch, simultaneously wide passageway leads to the large defining the two separate spaces living room, where current owners while also connecting them. The have a grand piano facing the front porch is furnished with an overwindows. sized loveseat, creating an ideal The adjacent formal dining reading area in the sunny space. room shows off several of the The master bedroom also faces home’s original features, including the backyard, and current owners a glass chandelier and chair rail converted this side of the sleeping molding. Perhaps most charming is porch into a walk-in closet. the architectural feature at the far A third bedroom faces the street, wall, where owners restored the with a triple-window looking out French door with paned windows onto the treetops and rooftops of on either side and a transom above the neighborhood. that leads to the home’s sleeping A full bath on this level features porch. a pedestal sink, natural stone floor, The porch was renovated and new light fixtures and a skylight. extended, and the space now serves The home’s lower level has also as a year-round sunroom and break- been fully renovated and includes fast area. Exposed brick from the See 3rd Street/Page RE21

ON THE MARKET

Wednesday, april 10, 2013 RE9

The CurrenT

W.C. & A.N. Miller’s Chevy Chase Office Congratulates our Top Producers!

Kimberly Cestari

Tamara Kucik

#1 Agent Company-Wide

Margaret Simpson/ Angela Wilson

#1 Group Company Wide

Michelle Munro Michelle Buckman Harrison Beacher/ Shari Sivertsen #1 Transfer Agent N Chevy Chase

#2 Transfer Agent N Chevy Chase

McElroy-Rychlik Team

#1 Team N Chevy Chase

#1 Team S Chevy Chase

Rebecca Israel #1 Agent S Chevy Chase

#2 Team N Chevy Chase

Ashk Adamiyatt #2 Agent N Chevy Chase

Maureen Cullinane #3 Agent N Chevy Chase

Traquel Butler

Marjorie Lee

Linda Herring

Susan Rao

Mintewab Bulcha

Erica Lee

Ana Maria Menendez

Jay Schlaffer

Albert Elliott

Gemma Morris

Dwight Pearson

Mary Jane Molik

Patricia Millar

Phyllis Thomas

Mike Sandifer

Kerwin Davis

Joan Wheeler

Peggy Virostek

Seaty Yoseph

Patricia Dading

Lori LaRue

Sheila Beasley

Carter Cusick

Edward Darden

Patrice Davenport

Judith Duarte

Barbara Finkelstein

Marcia Hillman Howard

Maggie Hudak

Jane Kratovil

Rita Liptz

Scott Noyes

Lauren Perry

Jean Wright

Nathan B. Carnes Branch Manager 202-321-9132 ncarnes@LNF.com

Chevy Chase North • 202-966-1400 5518 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20015

Griffin B. Holland Assistant Manager 202-243-3319 GHolland@LNF.com

RE10

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

125-year-old firm enjoys flying ‘under the radar’ By ALIX PIANIN Current Staff Writer

A

t H.A. Gill & Son Realtors, a century-old safe in the back of the office holds a small box of wedding bands collected over the past hundred years, given as collateral from homebuyers taking out a mortgage. John Gill, 90, and his son Nicholas Gill, 58 — the latest in a line of Gill sons at the firm — enjoy showing the rings to visitors as one of the last vestiges of how the real estate game used to be played. H.A. Gill & Son, run out of a small storefront at 1722 Wisconsin Ave., is easy to miss. But the firm has become something of an institution in the D.C. real estate world. With roots reaching back to the 19th century, H.A. Gill & Son is celebrating its 125th anniversary. As a real estate firm that happily flies “under the radar,� according to Nicholas, H.A. Gill currently employs 15 agents and about 10 staff members. The small size has allowed Nicholas and John to stay on top of every movement of the business. “We track everything. We don’t have managers managing managers,� Nicholas said. “That model has worked.� The size of the firm also gives it an edge in customer service, Nicholas said, as the staff is able to attend to clients directly. H.A. Gill doesn’t have any kind

Photos courtesy H.A. Gill & Son Realtors

Left, H.A. Gill founder Herbert (standing) and his son Theodore (left) at their firm, circa 1900; above, Nicholas Gill (left), his father John (center) and brother John Jr. of mass-marketing campaign, and most of their listings come through word-of-mouth recommendations. Though “we are not trying to be the company that everybody talks about,� Nicholas said, in their 100plus years in business, the Gills have managed to build up a significant client base through these personal endorsements. “Your clients are your best salesmen,� John said. “Even if you’re with a good company, you still need to have that network of cheerleaders who recommend you,� Nicholas agreed. “You can’t just rely on these strangers who call on you from the Web.� Realtors at H.A. Gill are licensed in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, though most of their market is in the District — particularly in

Georgetown, according to the Gills. At times when sales are comparatively weak, other areas of their business have been able to pick up the slack. H.A. Gill has more than 300 properties in property management, which it leases out. This side of the business can be a source of “steadier income� than fluctuating sales, Nicholas said. Originally founded by its namesake Herbert A. Gill in 1888, the firm was located for years in the now-demolished Evans Building on New York Avenue, where Herbert worked with his son. So it was perhaps inevitable that Herbert’s grandson, John, would eventually go into the family business. A lifelong D.C. resident, John is now the patriarch of the firm. Before settling into real estate, John flew tailgunners in World War II — he was a B-17 heavy bomber pilot who went on 50 missions and was once shot down over the former Yugoslavia. After the war, he studied economics at George Washington University and then

started work at the family firm. John soon grew tired of working with father and grandfather out of the downtown Evans Building offices, and eventually bought a building at 1880 Wisconsin Ave., where he built up his own crew of salesmen. They eventually outgrew the building — which John still owns and rents out — and bought and moved into the nearby property that currently houses the H.A. Gill offices. Since entering the real estate business, John said the biggest change he’s seen was the emergence of women Realtors, whom the firm began to hire in 1950. “When women came in, the men were very opposed to it and really hostile, I thought,� said John Gill. “Some of them — especially the older men — when the women came in, they just couldn’t stand it.� As for the state of smaller real estate firms today, John said that though they sometimes find themselves going head-to-head with larger businesses that employ more

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agents, he believes that “competition is withering.� The market for real estate agents, he thinks, may be becoming oversaturated. As for the real estate market itself, John said, “it’s either going up or going down all the time, every day,� but Nicholas said H.A. Gill is pleased with its current sales activity. While the firm has been “touched� by the rough economic climate of recent years, Nicholas said the D.C. scene has remained in good shape. “As long as Washington remains the seat of the government, our prospects are good,� Nicholas said. Nicholas has been working at H.A. Gill since 1977, and said he “always knew this is what I would do.� He is now the firm’s associate broker. While John still sells houses, he now primarily serves as a resource to other Realtors. “The salesmen call me a lot when they have some problem ... all of their problems I’m sure I’ve had,� he said. “I can be a great help to them in situations that get sticky.� As for celebrating their 125-year milestone, John said he’s hardly thought about it. “We probably won’t do much,� he said. “It’s just another day.� 2YHU \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH LQ VHOOLQJ KLJK HQG UHVLGHQWLDO UHDO HVWDWH LQ :DVKLQJWRQ ' & DQG 0DU\ODQG 3UHYLRXV FOLHQWV LQFOXGH PHPEHUV RI WKH 8QLWHG

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The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

RE11

Partnership offers assistance for moves closer to workplace

A

bought homes in the “primary target area,� within 2.4 miles of campus, and the other two got smaller grants for moving near a Metro station or a Metrobus line. “Our experience with the pilot program has been good,� Joiner said. “We have enjoyed our partnership with the District and hope it can continue.� Sam Swiller, associate director for real estate and economic development at Gallaudet, said initial funding would have covered grants for 10 employees. But “we increased it by 50 percent to allow for 15 employees to benefit from this wonderful initiative.� Swiller called the program “a

pilot program to bring workers closer to their jobs — and into the District — is showing promise at two universities partnering with the city to help staffers buy homes close to campus or major transit routes. Live Near Your Work, which the D.C. Office of Planning kicked off last spring, provides grants of $12,000 — half from the city and half from the employer — for down payment and closing costs for university employees buying a home in D.C. within about two miles of campus. Smaller grants go to those moving farther away from their job but near a Metro stop or major bus route. Although still in the early stages, the “LNYW� grants have already helped five employees at American University Bill Petros/The Current and six at Gallaudet Five employees at American University have University close on received grants to move near the campus. new homes, according great way to encourage Gallaudet to Art Rodgers, who is managing employees to become a part of the the program for the Office of community, support area businessPlanning. Nearly 20 more housees, reduce traffic and car-related holds are in the pipeline, getting homebuyer education and searching pollution.� Another Gallaudet staffer moved for homes, Rodgers said. from Rockville to Trinidad, which And even though $12,000 abuts the campus. “I save a lot of doesn’t seem like much in a hot money in gas and time! My health housing market, Rodgers said, it has improved by a lot of walking to can make a transit-friendly move the university,� wrote Rafael feasible. “The goal is to make it Fernandez, a webmaster for usable for a down payment,� he said. There are currently no income Gallaudet Technology Services. The Planning Office intends to limits for participants. The program is intended to meet evaluate the pilot program, probaseveral goals: cutting auto use, traf- bly after some 30 households have enrolled. The application form indific congestion and pollution; and cates the type of information being also helping to lure more full-time collected: how many vehicles residents to the District, expanding owned, how long it takes to get to its tax base. work, average monthly cost of Initial reports are enthusiastic. transportation, “how much stress?� Bruce Peters, an academic/ before and after the move. career adviser at Gallaudet, moved Planners will also evaluate from a rented room in Cheverly, financial benefits for the District. Md., to a house near campus with But Mayor Vincent Gray has help from a LNYW grant. That cut already indicated, in his latest “sushis commuting time from between tainability plan� for the city, that he 20 and 40 minutes on congested hopes to expand Live Near Your New York Avenue to a pleasant Work grants to other employers 10-minute walk, he said. Peters has already sold his truck, and when his once the pilot is complete. Income limits may be imposed as the prowife and son join him from gram grows, Rodgers said. Indianapolis, the family will sell its Perhaps the biggest hurdle so far two cars. has been finding affordable homes “We found a nice property that is only .4 miles from my front door near the two participating campuses. Initially, said Rodgers, “all the to my office,� he wrote in an email closings for Gallaudet were within to The Current. “I still have a car two miles. Then we got feedback that I last filled with gas after that it was hard to find homes there. Thanksgiving weekend, and the So they extended the target area to tank is still half full.� include Metro.� Ann Joiner, who helps adminis Swiller said expanding the proter the pilot program at American, gram to include homes within a half said three faculty and two staff mile of a Metro station or a quarter members have received grants to mile of a Metrobus route — but date. All but one already lived in still, only in the District — “aided the District, but three of them rentthe search for affordable homes.� ed their previous homes. Three

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RE12 Wednesday, april 10, 2013

The CurrenT

Wednesday, april 10, 2013 RE13

The CurrenT

KALORAMA, DC

This renovated home restored with modern conveniences reflects an early 1900s style. Grounds offer pool and detached 2-car garage. $4,250,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc7920926 MICHAEL RANKIN +1 202 271 3344

DUPONT CIRCLE, DC

This 3BR, 3.5BA end-unit row house masterfully combines indoor and outdoor living spaces into a single contemporary, urban oasis. $2,995,000 | ttrsir.com/id/20281170 ALEXANDER VENDITTI +1 202 550 8872

FOREST HILLS, DC

Elegant residence, built in 1921, expanded with a contemporary flair, and renovated in 2009. 20,000 sf level lot, with swimming pool. $2,750,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc7977497 JONATHAN TAYLOR +1 202 276 3344

INTRODUCING COREY BURR TTR Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to announce that it has acquired the sales division of Burr Residential Properties, the 45-year old Chevy Chase firm. Corey and his associates now work from TTR Sotheby’s International Realty’s Chevy Chase brokerage at 5454 Wisconsin Avenue.

KENT, DC

CHEVY CHASE, DC

CHEVY CHASE, DC

DUPONT CIRCLE, DC

GEORGETOWN, DC

ADAMS MORGAN, DC

This 5BR, 4.5BA brick home on a sought-after features grounds with multiple flagstone terraces and mature landscaping. $2,195,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc8045971 MICHAEL RANKIN +1 202 271 3344

6,300+ sf new 6BR, 5.5 BA Colonial located in the heart of Chevy Chase. Unparalleled craftsmanship and elegant entertaining spaces. $2,149,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc8039505 CLAUDIA DONOVAN +1 202 251 7011 RICHARD SEATON +1 202 907 8037

Rare offering. Gorgeous 5BR, 3 full BA home on nearly one-acre lot offers a secluded setting and grand wrap-around veranda. $1,675,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc7813356 TAD STEWART +1 202 431 5856

INTRODUCING THE NEW TTRSIR.COM Your gateway to the finest real estate for sale in Washington and around the world. We offer access to every home listed in the local multiple listing service, our firm’s private exclusives and the full, global inventory of Sotheby’s International Realty. Our unique lifestyle and amenities search allows you to sort through the clutter and find the one. And our My Portfolio tool keeps you informed when new properties become available that satisfy your precise requirements. PICTURED ABOVE: Dupont Circle, DC. $2.995M. ttrsir.com/id/20281170

Renovated and expanded townhouse, approximately 4,600 interior square feet, 5BR/4.5BA + potential in-law suite on 4 spacious levels. $1,750,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc7989172 JONATHAN TAYLOR +1 202 276 3344 MAXWELL RABIN +1 202 669 7406

Meticulously renovated 2-level Federal style home in the heart of Georgetown with 4 BRs, 2.5 BAs, open floor plan and 2-car parking. $1,299,000 | ttrsir.com/id/dc8042583 BRENT JACKSON +1 202 263 9200 ROB SANDERS +1 202 744 6463

2BR, 2BA with loft-style open living/dining space, high ceilings, exposed duct work. Washer-dryer, balcony, garage parking space. $549,900 | ttrsir.com/id/dc8024876 MAXWELL RABIN +1 202 669 7406

VIRGINIA BROKERAGE | +1 703 319 3344 GEORGETOWN, DC BROKERAGE | +1 202 333 1212 DOWNTOWN, DC BROKERAGE | +1 202 234 3344 MARYLAND BROKERAGE | +1 301 967 3344

ttrsir.com

©MMXIII TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, licensed real estate broker. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Equal housing opportunity. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Price and availability subject to change.

RE14

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

For some Realtors, it’s all in the family Arrangements can aid communication By ALIX PIANIN Current Staff Writer

F

or some local real estate agents, the key to business success has been keeping it in the family. Married couples and other family teams can have more comprehensive client coverage, quicker communication among partners, and more efficient day-to-day operations, some D.C. real estate agents say. “It’s not at all unusual. It’s a business that lends itself to family involvement,� said Realtor David Hammond, who works with his wife Nancy at Evers & Co. Real Estate. Married agents say they already have a built-in shorthand when speaking with one another, a familiarity that makes businesses com-

munications both more relaxed and efficient. When it comes to real estate, Nancy Hammond and her husband “have a built-in sounding board,� she said. “It’s a very complicated business sometimes. ... It’s an art more than a science, and it’s very helpful to have somebody that you can just bounce things off of to make sure your thinking is on track before your proceed.� But for the Hammonds, their business has been a balance of showing properties together, while also establishing a division of labor

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Above, Delia McCormick, John Gregory and James Gregory; left, Marjorie Dick Stuart and Bill Stuart with their son Rhett; below, David and Nancy Hammond that best suits their individual strengths. David mostly works from home, and Nancy goes into the office every day to tackle the administrative and contract work. “I think if we were sitting shoulder to shoulder all day long, that could be a problem,� Nancy said with a laugh. Family teams can also provide more complete coverage for clients, some Realtors said, because they can be aware of more of the details of the other’s current clients — and are obviously always close by. “[My husband and I] can be extremely helpful to each other on short notice because we live together,� said Delia McCormick, who works in a partnership with her husband John Gregory and son James through Evers & Co. “I know a lot of what he’s doing, so he can step in for me and I can step in for him.� McCormick also noted that a family-based team sets a consistent character for the sale, which can put potential buyers at ease. “We can set a common tone and a common high level of service,� she said. Jean Hanan, who works with

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her husband Tim through TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, said that being married allows the division of work to occur “naturally.� “We know how each other operates. We don’t always agree but ... we compromise, as you do in a marriage,� Jean said. “We really work like a relay team. It’s so easy for us to pass the baton from one to another.� Some husband-and-wife teams say they’re met with surprise when clients find out that they’re married. “The only reaction specifically to being a married team is some people say, ‘Wow, we could never do that,’� said David Hammond. But Marjorie Dick Stuart and her husband Bill Stuart, Realtors who specialize in Cleveland Park property, both grew up in family businesses, and have found that their own family operation — their daughter helps with marketing — appeals to prospective customers. “Our clients really like that we have a lot of family in our business,� said Marjorie, whose team is part of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Co. The next generation of Realtors — their own children — have also proved to be valuable assets, the agents said. Sons and daughters who come from Realtor families have already spent years watching their parents work, and some have been quick studies in the trade. When Delia McCormick’s son, James Gregory, graduated from college in 2009, she offered him a place in their business — and he immediately said yes. When it came time for him to try his own hand at the trade, “he was really natural,� she said. Some Realtors have also found that younger family members who are new to the trade are more comfortable directly seeking advice from them. It’s essential for a newbie to get tips in the business, they said, and that exchange can be easi-

er for two people who happen to be related. Ellen Abrams, a Realtor at Evers & Co., was in a position to mentor her daughter, Courtney, when she decided to pursue the residential real estate business about two years ago. “No matter how long you’ve been in this business, there’s always questions you need to run by someone,� Ellen said. “[Courtney’s] got instant answers, which is good because I think there’s a lot of times you’re out there on your own and you don’t necessarily have the luxury of picking up the phone ... and getting advice.� One of the other advantages of taking on children as business associates is the extended network of potential clients. Once Courtney Abrams had built up the experience needed to sell to clients on her own, she found many of her friends were at the age where they were looking to buy homes in the area. She also opened up her mother’s eyes to newer ways of advertising. “She knows all of the social media ... and she’s teaching it to me and my partners. It’s nice to have,� Ellen Abrams said, adding that her daughter had found many clients through Facebook. “You have to continue to reinvent yourself as the market changes.� But when business becomes a family affair, some said it can get difficult to keep shoptalk away from the dinner table. “Our business is such that it sort of blurs with our personal life,� said Bill Stuart. “The people we do business with are people we know [from the neighborhood]. If we don’t bump into a client at a restaurant, it’s sort of a surprise.� McCormick said she’s had the same experience. “We work a lot. At some point we have to draw the line and say, ‘OK, now we’re on personal time and we’re not going to talk about it,’� she said.

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

RE15

Adams Morgan faces continued condo frenzy By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

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hen Adams Morgan became a development hotspot starting in the early 2000s, investors had little trouble identifying prospective sites for new residential projects. At the time, the community’s Reed-Cooke area in particular was still dotted with vacant or underused properties — warehouses, parking lots and vacant commercial buildings that were easy pickings for developers. Wilson Reynolds, a longtime Champlain Street resident and an Adams Morgan advisory neighborhood commissioner, said seven such properties have been redeveloped on his block alone since 2000. Tanya Stern, chief of staff at the D.C. Office of Planning, said in an interview that the neighborhood has grown by 550 new housing units since 2001, and another 750 are predicted within the next five years. But with the low-hanging fruit now mostly picked, developers are tackling increasingly challenging spaces or settling for smaller-scale projects. And if the only easy way for Adams Morgan to grow is through conversions of single-family homes, some fear a threat to the neighborhood’s character and lower-income residents. “You start off with what’s empty,

what can be repurposed,� Reynolds said. “Those are the ones where developers are going to go to first. What’s replacing it is smaller infill projects — the infamous pop-ups that convert a row house into four condos.� Just two undeveloped parcels remain on Reynolds’ 2300 block of Champlain — a parking lot and a long-shuttered car dealership — and both already have zoning approval for new condo buildings. Elsewhere in Adams Morgan, developers have recently turned to more difficult projects as they scramble for remaining sites. For instance, the former Ontario Theatre at 17th and Columbia Road — a condo project promising 65 to 85 units — is incorporating the cinema’s marquee canopy and aspects of its lobby as a concession to preservationists. Another project proposes a 36-unit mixed-use condo project on the site of the Exxon station at Adams Mill Road and Lanier Place, a site that requires environmental remediation and that works around an oddly shaped lot. And as reported in The Washington Post, developer Doug Jemal has even built 39 apartments in the dome of the former skating rink above Harris Teeter at 1631 Kalorama Road — including some units that don’t have windows. Mark Adamo, a vice president at Perseus Realty — which is working

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on the Exxon project — said Adams Morgan has “pent-up demandâ€? for new housing, and the neighborhood’s condo units typically spend less than 30 days on the market. “Current market conditions lend themselves to residential condominiums due to the limited supply coupled with great interest rates for the buyer,â€? he wrote in an email. Investors are also snapping up Adams Morgan’s single-family homes, carving them into condos and often adding a third story, according to Reynolds. In one particularly controversial case — at 2012-2014 Kalorama Road — developers are proposing a large rear addition in order to create 17 condo units out of two row houses. “Some of those homes are still lived in by single families, or a single family with a basement apartment,â€? said Reynolds. “However, I can’t tell you the last time I heard about one of these town houses coming up for sale and a family moved into it instead of it being bought by a developer. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen ‌ but every time I turn around, there’s another set of fences, another Dumpster in front of one the houses.â€? The housing demand has also led to a demographic shift in Adams Morgan. According to data from the 2010 Census, compiled by the Office of Planning, the neighborhood has become richer and whiter,

Rendering courtesy of PGN Architects

Developers are building on increasingly challenging lots to meet Adams Morgan’s demand for condos. This proposal would replace an Exxon gas station on a site that requires soil remediation. with sharp increases in median income and fewer black and Spanish-speaking residents. The biggest population spike was in the age range of 25 to 34. There’s also been some concern that a new luxury boutique hotel, planned for the corner of Columbia Road and Euclid Street, will cement that demographic shift. But Stern, of the Planning Office, said the District’s inclusionary zoning laws have yielded dozens of legally required affordablehousing units in Adams Morgan. In large projects, at least 8 percent of the residential space must be subsidized for lower-income residents, and developers can increase the density of their projects beyond the normal standards if more of the

units are affordable. In total, 15 percent of the 550 units added in Adams Morgan since 2001 were designated as affordable, Stern said. But affordable units aren’t required for small projects like the conversion of a single home to condos. Reynolds said many longtime renters have felt the pinch as landlords renovate or sell their properties to cater to the Adams Morgan’s hotter status — a trend that’s likely to continue. And homeowners have faced rising property taxes. At the same time, Reynolds added, dividing a $1.2 million row house into four $600,000 condos makes Adams Morgan attainable for buyers in that price range. And the area’s popularity has brought amenities and reduced crime.

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RE16

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

These sales are among those recorded from Jan. 2 through March 5 by the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue and listed on its Real Property Sales Database.

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

■ 3284 Aberfoyle Place in Chevy Chase. Sold to Joel R. Elliott for $805,000. ■ 3127 Adams Mill Road in Adams Morgan. Sold to Christopher J. Kurz for $1,025,000. ■ 4400 Albemarle St. in American University Park. Sold to Emma ChanlettAvery for $950,000. ■ 3523 Alton Place in North Cleveland Park. Sold to Steven Schlein for $750,000. ■ 4236 Alton Place in American University Park. Sold to Eric S. Middleton for $750,000. ■ 6606 Barnaby St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Pierre-Louis H. Renou for $934,000. ■ 3823 Beecher St. in Glover Park. Sold to Lauren E. Crawford for $825,000. ■ 3850 Beecher St. in Glover Park. Sold to Luis F. Silva-Pinto for $952,500. ■ 3731 Benton St. in Glover Park. Sold to Neelima Grover for $1,030,000. ■ 3025 Birch St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Norman B. Piccioni for $655,000. ■ 4352 Blagden Ave. in Crestwood. Sold to Christopher J. Steinitz for $697,000. ■ 4510 Brandywine St. in American

The Current ■ Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

JUST SOLD University Park. Sold to Shreeyash S. Palshikar for $890,000. ■ 4601 Brandywine St. in American University Park. Sold to Adam Raviv for $1,360,000. ■ 4949 Brandywine St. in American University Park. Sold to Tyler B. Jamison for $625,000. ■ 712 Butternut St. in Brightwood. Sold to Rebecca S. Lipsitz for $490,000 ■ 2921 Cathedral Ave. in Woodley Park. Sold to David T. Pearson for $995,000. ■ 3001 Cathedral Ave. in Woodley Park. Sold to Daniel A. Mulvey for $1,950,000. ■ 3005 Cathedral Ave. in Woodley Park. Sold to Jeffrey Balkind for $1,925,000. ■ 3815 Cathedral Ave. in Cathedral Heights. Sold to Denis Clarke Trustee for $1,260,000. ■ 2720 Chain Bridge Road in Kent. Sold to Michael E. Leiter for $2,600,000. ■ 4048 Chancery Court in Burleith. Sold to Michael Kaufman for $1,260,000. ■ 3718 Chesapeake St. in Wakefield. Sold to Anne H. Morin for $725,000. ■ 4820 Chesapeake St. in American University Park. Sold to W.S. Herndon for $1,275,000. ■ 1752 Church St. in Dupont Circle. Sold to Michael D. Sisk for $1,525,000.

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■ 4869 Colorado Ave. in Crestwood. Sold to Courtney E. Morris for $1,255,000. ■ 826 Crittenden St. in Petworth. Sold to A and M Homebuyers Inc. for $300,000. ■ 1502 Crittenden St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Karen C. Lawson for $417,000. ■ 1314 Decatur St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Joshua J. Hertzberg for $600,000. ■ 827 Delafield Place in Petworth. Sold to Teferi Zewdou for $267,000. ■ 4450 Dexter St. in Berkley. Sold to Momo 4450 LLC for $2,475,000. ■ 2719 Dumbarton St. in Georgetown. Sold to Naima Hasci for $1,100,000. ■ 2907 Dumbarton St. in Georgetown. Sold to Mary M. Handel for $1,100,000. ■ 3010 Dumbarton St. in Georgetown. Sold to Michele E. Williams for $1,900,000. ■ 3140 Dumbarton St. in Georgetown. Sold to Henry A. Dudley III for $1,250,000. ■ 2112 Dunmore Lane in Berkley. Sold to Michael D. Trager for $3,150,000. ■ 8030 Eastern Ave. in Shepherd Park. Sold to William R. Scott for $340,000. ■ 2910 Edgevale Terrace in Woodland Normanstone. Sold to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for $5,495,000. ■ 703 Elder St. in Brightwood. Sold to Alfred V. Johnson for $396,000. ■ 2907 Ellicott St. in Forest Hills. Sold to Stephen Bumbaugh for $1,250,000. ■ 4323 Embassy Park Road in Wesley Heights. Sold to Brendon L. Biddle for $735,000. ■ 2148 F St. in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Home for the Hatchet Inc. for $700,000. ■ 728 Farragut St. in Petworth. Sold to Focuswork LLC for $203,500. ■ 913 Farragut St. in Petworth. Sold to John Gattorn for $479,000. ■ 724 Fern Place in Brightwood. Sold to Nathalie Vacroux for $459,000. ■ 3823 Fessenden St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Tara N. Rice for $958,000. ■ 4315 Fessenden St. in American University Park. Sold to Todd D. Boley for $818,750. ■ 1219 Floral St. in Shepherd Park. Sold to 1219 Floral LLC for $340,000. ■ 916 French St. in Logan Circle. Sold to Clemens Kochinke for $810,000. ■ 3812 Fulton St. in Massachusetts Avenue Heights. Sold to Fernando de Olloqui for $1,810,000. ■ 721 Gallatin St. in Petworth. Sold to James R. Spencer Jr. for $345,000. ■ 1206 Gallatin St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Marc S. Powell for $585,000. ■ 4518 Garrison St. in American University Park. Sold to Lyle E. Brenneman for $550,000. ■ 4527 Garrison St. in American University Park. Sold to David M. Lord for $890,000. ■ 7137 Georgia Ave. in Brightwood. Sold to Cathedral Development LLC for $218,000. ■ 1333 Hamilton St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Ward A. Huff for $605,000. ■ 3835 Harrison St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Donald H. Gips for $2,275,000. ■ 4209 Harrison St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Michael G. Wolf for $1,199,000. ■ 2109 Huidekoper Place in Glover Park. Sold to Jarrett Blanc for $840,000. ■ 4806 Hutchins Place in the Palisades. Sold to Hutchins DC LLC for $1,100,000. ■ 4829 Illinois Ave. in Petworth. Sold to Steven L. Hollingworth for $610,000. ■ 1881 Ingleside Terrace in Mount Pleasant. Sold to William L. Gans for $530,000. ■ 3620 Ingomar Place in Chevy Chase. Sold to Abram Goodrich for $803,000.

Georgetown manse sells for $8.6 million

The former Georgetown residence of Jacqueline Kennedy’s mother, Janet Lee Bouvier, sold last month for $8.6 million, according to a news release from Washington Fine Properties, which represented the buyer and seller. The mansion at 3044 O St. dates to 1870 and offers more than 11,000 square feet of living space. Features include 12 fireplaces, nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a three-car garage and a deep south garden with a swimming pool. The Queen Anne-style brick home has been available only four times, according to the release. The first owners were Dr. Armistead Peter, previous owner of Tudor Place and descendant of Georgetown’s first mayor, and his wife Martha Custis Kennon, the great-great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. During John F. Kennedy’s presidency, Hugh Auchincloss and Janet Lee Bouvier purchased the property. Other prominent owners have included Louis Mackall, a Georgetown attorney; and Laughlin Phillips, former CIA officer, founder of Washingtonian magazine and former board chairman of the Phillips Collection. The most recent owner — Donald Roth, a former World Bank executive and the founder of a private equity firm — bought the home in 2001 for $3.75 million, according to media reports and public records. The buyers’ names have not been disclosed. Realtor Kimberly Casey, who represented the buyers with colleague Daryl Judy, said the transaction — along with two others so far in 2013 involving $7 million-plus properties in Georgetown — points to the market’s strength. “The fact that there have been three sales in Georgetown over $7 million this year, where there were only two in 2012, says a lot about the confidence in our market,” Casey says in the release. William F.X. Moody, Robert Hryniewicki and Adam Rackliffe represented the seller. ■ 3718 Ingomar St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Ilari Lindy for $925,000. ■ 523 Ingraham St. in Petworth. Sold to Eleanor M. Gease for $355,500. ■ 639 Ingraham St. in Petworth. Sold to Michael L. Hasenfratz Jr. for $445,000. ■ 3921 Ivy Terrace Court in Hillandale. Sold to Joan M. Gartlan for $1,300,000. ■ 1351 Juniper St. in Shepherd Park. Sold to Lucius T. Outlaw III for $700,000. ■ 4835 Kansas Ave. in Petworth. Sold to Aul C. Dupnick for $358,000. ■ 1318 Kennedy St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Brendan Gotowka for $640,000. ■ 4334 Klingle St. in Wesley Heights. Sold to Ivaylo G. Guenov for $885,000. ■ 4410 Lingan Road in the Palisades. Sold to Farzan Neisany for $737,000. ■ 625 Longfellow St. in Petworth. Sold to Erik Lindsjo for $459,000. ■ 4452 MacArthur Blvd. in the Palisades. Sold to Emeka Nwandu for $1,025,035. ■ 4456 MacArthur Blvd. in the Palisades. Sold to Warren P. Price for $978,100. ■ 4458 MacArthur Blvd. in the Palisades. Sold to Arum K. Sharma for $976,100. ■ 5836 MacArthur Blvd. in the Palisades. Sold to Michael O’Connor for $755,336. ■ 2747 Macomb St. in Cleveland Park. Sold to Robert Epstein for $900,000. ■ 4532 Macomb St. in Wesley Heights. Sold to Brad G. Welling for $1,195,000. ■ 1300 Madison St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Sara J. Lee for $549,000. ■ 4040 Mansion Court in Hillandale. Sold to George J. Arkedis for $1,425,000. ■ 4050 Mansion Drive in Hillandale. Sold to Monica A. Gonzalez for $1,275,000. ■ 4039 Mansion Drive in Hillandale. Sold to James J. Tier for $1,350,000. ■ 3907 McKinley St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Doron F. Ezickson for $1,350,000. ■ 3222 Military Road in Chevy Chase. Sold to Mohan R. Wikramanyake Sr. for

$734,000. ■ 3934 Military Road in Chevy Chase. Sold to Alyssa M. Katzenelson for $1,035,000. ■ 3820 Morrison St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Eric D. Greshekter for $960,000. ■ 2802 N St. in Georgetown. Sold to Walter Arensberg for $929,000. ■ 3249 N St. in Georgetown. Sold to the Conklin Revocable Trust for $7,550,000. ■ 3304 N St. in Georgetown. Sold to Rooney Real Estate Co. LLC for $3,640,000. ■ 3326 N St. in Georgetown. Sold to WSD Capital LLC for $1,275,000. ■ 5300 Nebraska Ave. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Matthew Bonesteel for $715,000. ■ 5616 Nebraska Ave. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Christopher M. Browne for $1,100,000. ■ 2606 Northampton St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Dymphna van der Lans for $765,000. ■ 2703 O St. in Georgetown. Sold to Fiona Macaulay for $1,260,000. ■ 3414 O St. in Georgetown. Sold to John H. Carlson for $450,000. ■ 2722 Olive St. in Georgetown. Sold to Carlos Gabriel Di Bella for $985,000. ■ 2446 Ontario Road In Adams Morgan. Sold to 2446 Ontario LLC for $850,000. ■ 4435 P St. in Foxhall. Sold to Patrick B. Nickerson for $925,000. ■ 3615 Patterson St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Evan R. Goldstein for $720,000. ■ 6629 Piney Branch Road in Brightwood. Sold to Natalia BanulescuBogdan for $430,000. ■ 3113 Quebec Place in Cleveland Park. Sold to Andrew D’Anna for $877,000. ■ 3312 R St. in Georgetown. Sold to 1501 Moran Road LLC for $1,795,000. ■ 5327 Reno Road in Chevy Chase. Sold to Timothy P. McCormack for $1,420,000. ■ 1620 Riggs Place in Dupont Circle. See Sales/Page RE18

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

RE17

To ready homes for sale, real estate firm turns to in-house interior designer By DEIRDRE BANNON Current Staff Writer

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hen preparing to sell a home, the staging of a property can sometimes make or break a sale. Realtors typically work with homeowners to pick the right furnishings — whether by bringing in new dĂŠcor or by rearranging what the homeowner already has — but it’s not always an easy process. One local firm has taken it a step further: Beasley Real Estate recently hired an inhouse interior consultant, Ruth Gorland, to help clients ready their homes for the market. Gorland, who brings more than 25 years of experience to the position, not only promises to enhance the way a home looks so it might sell more quickly, but also works with clients to ease their transition into their next home. Some might be downsizing from a family home and need to dispense with some furnishings, while others are looking to buy items for a larger house for their growing family — and Gorland is able to assist with it all. It’s part of a big-picture “lifestyleâ€? philosophy that Jim Bell, Beasley’s founder and managing director, came up with for the firm. When working with sellers, Gorland “knows how to get a house ready for market and she’s very good at it,â€? said Bell. “Coming from a design perspective, she can say to people less is moreâ€? with their furnishings, and encourage them to depersonalize the home and pick paint colors to enhance the space. “When people are looking to purchase a

property, it’s not just about price or location or the materials a house is made of — it’s about showing people how they could live in that space, and that’s what Ruth does,â€? said Bell. Having Gorland on board also frees up the firm’s Realtors so they’re not running around town trying to stage properties. Clients are also often short on time, so “when you have someone who can hold your hand and help you out in this way, it’s an enormous relief — our clients are absolutely loving it,â€? said Bell. “More importantly, Ruth positions the house professionally to go to market — and the more buyers that like the house, the higher the price will be.â€? So how does Gorland make this happen? In her first assessment of a home, Gorland takes her cue from the architecture, the neighborhood and the property’s price bracket. “I think about how someone would want to live in this house, and while maintaining the integrity of the home, I work with the homeowner to evaluate what needs to be done with furnishings and other dĂŠcor to enhance the space and make it attractive to buyers,â€? she said. Gorland said she also hopes to help educate clients on the best placement of furniture and other design elements to help improve their environments. “Some people are afraid of designers, but I’m not trying to sell them anything — I just want to share my expertise about what might work best in their home,â€? she said. She often encourages homeowners to keep things as sparse as possible, and to put personalized items away.

“When buyers walk in, I want them to be able to say, ‘That’s exactly how I would arrange the seating,’ or, ‘This is where we could have our breakfast,’� said Gorland. “The goal is for the property to look like no one is really living there but for the buyer to think, ‘I want to live here.’� In keeping with Beasley’s lifestyle philosophy, Gorland’s work isn’t just about the sale but about helping clients afterward as well. When homeowners are selling in order to downsize to a smaller home, Gorland will work with them to assess their new space, what they might need there, and how their existing furniture would work best there. If needed, she’ll also work with clients to take items they want to sell to auction houses or consignment shops. If a client has just bought their first home, Gorland will work with them to bring in the right furnishings “soup to nuts� at their budget level. “I talk with clients about how they live — do they like to have dinner parties, or do they prefer to hang out and read or watch TV, or do they have pets?� Gorland said. “People are often so busy, they need someone to help them — and if someone is doing it with you, it can be done in half the time,� she added. Since early February, Gorland has worked on readying seven properties for the market for Beasley’s agents, and all have sold within a week or two, and with multiple offers. Last month Beasley also hired an inhouse landscape architect to similarly help its clients with the design, planning and selection of exterior amenities. Bob Bell (no

Photo by Deena Gorland

Ruth Gorland of Beasley Real Estate stages properties that are on the market, and also helps clients transition into their next home.

relation to Jim) works with clients on a variety of projects to enhance urban outdoor space, whether it’s a one-acre historic site in Georgetown that could serve as a venue for a garden party, or a small condominium balcony where a client could enjoy a morning cup of coffee. “There are a lot of different facets when focusing on lifestyle,� said Jim Bell. “We want to help people live comfortably in their homes and make it their own.�

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RE18

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

SALES From Page RE16 Sold to David L. Gilchrist Trustee for $1,315,000. â– 1231 Rock Creek Ford Road in Brightwood. Sold to June Lendore for $350,000. â– 4808 Rockwood Parkway in Spring Valley. Sold to Christopher J. Cannova for $2,300,000. â– 3400 Rodman St. in Cleveland Park. Sold to Justin L. Faulb for $900,000. â– 3311 Rowland Place in Cleveland Park. Sold to Andrew D. Eskin for $1,500,000. â– 1227 S St. in Logan Circle. Sold to Fatemeh Roshankar for $601,000. â– 4628 Sedgwick St. in Spring Valley. Sold to Janne E. Nolan for $750,000. â– 539 Shepherd St. in Petworth. Sold to Sarah L. Drew for $654,000. â– 1909 Shepherd St. in Crestwood. Sold to Lloyd M. Mitchell for $1,200,000. â– 707 Sheridan St. in Brightwood. Sold to Wendy Harman for $389,000. â– 1306 Sheridan St. in Brightwood. Sold to Luke R. Meixner for $515,000. â– 1316 Sheridan St. in Brightwood. Sold to Brian Smoluch for $359,000. â– 5142 Sherier Place in the Palisades. Sold to Tania Kaddeche for $1,500,000.

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013 â– 14 Snows Court in Foggy Bottom. Sold to William A. Crane for $450,000. â– 717 Somerset Place in Brightwood. Sold to Teshale B. Gadissa for $270,000. â– 723 Somerset Place in Brightwood. Sold to Roberto Merino for $325,000. â– 1790 Sycamore St. in Colonial Village. Sold to Michael J. Reed for $700,000. â– 1227 T St. in Logan Circle. Sold to Teresa Walrath for $855,000. â– 432 Taylor St. in Petworth. Sold to Brooks Range LLC for $340,000. â– 725 Taylor St. in Petworth. Sold to David B. Hauver for $520,000. â– 1617 Taylor St. in Crestwood. Sold to Terry H. Miller Jr. for $580,000. â– 1624 Taylor St. in Crestwood. Sold to Alan Field for $1,062,000. â– 5025 Tilden St. in Spring Valley. Sold to David W. Bowker for $2,280,000. â– 808 Tuckerman St. in Brightwood. Sold to Stefan Gibson for $420,000. â– 2818 University Terrace in Kent. Sold to Cheshire Homes LLC for $850,000. â– 1234 Van Buren St. in Brightwood. Sold to Luke E. Jones for $330,000. â– 3251 Van Hazen St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Matthew Miller for $875,000. â– 3256 Van Hazen St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Christopher J. Spiro for $850,000. â– 1518 Varnum St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Mark A. Seltzer for $540,000.

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Located in upper Northwest Washington, The Westchester is situated in a beautiful park like setting and is close to shops, restaurants and public transportation.

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â– 1605 Varnum St. in Crestwood. Sold to Thomas W. Sietsma for $1,270,000. â– 1722 Varnum St. in Crestwood. Sold to Daryl A. Muller for $805,000. â– 728 Webster St. in Petworth. Sold to John P. Osteen for $539,000. â– 1617 Webster St. in Crestwood. Sold to Brickyard Development LLC for $600,000. â– 7950 West Beach Drive in Colonial Village. Sold to Pamela A. Gibbs for $769,000. â– 6025 Western Ave. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Michael G. McManus for $1,265,000. â– 3025 Whitehaven St. in Observatory Circle. Sold to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for $6,250,000. â– 3718 Windom Place in North Cleveland Park. Sold to Kate R. Bowers for $740,000. â– 2745 Woodley Place in Woodley Park. Sold to Ruth Madden for $1,099,000. â– 4106 5th St. in Petworth. Sold to Shana S. Blenzer for $629,900. â– 4618 8th St. in Petworth. Sold to Joseph F. Callahan for $585,000. â– 5023 8th St. in Petworth. Sold to Adam Morrow for $415,000. â– 5418 8th St. in Petworth. Sold to Beverly L. Goggans Trustee for $450,000. â– 5730 8th St. in Petworth. Sold to Claudia L. Baker for $499,900. â– 7011 8th St. in Brightwood. Sold to Jeremy Emmi for $525,000. â– 4421 9th St. in Petworth. Sold to Scott C. Freeman for $693,000. â– 5320 9th St. in Petworth. Sold to Lillian Suh for $439,900. â– 6810 9th St. in Brightwood. Sold to Marjorie C. McCollough for $495,000. â– 6203 12th St. in Brightwood. Sold to Hazel Broadnax for $336,310. â– 7615 13th St. in Shepherd Park. Sold to Nantucket Holdings Ltd. for $370,000. â– 7707 13th St. in Shepherd Park. Sold to William B. Griffith for $594,900. â– 4523 15th St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Amy L. Madigan for $654,000. â– 5333 16th St. in 16th Street Heights. Sold to Virginia Savely for $1,095,000. â– 7600 17th St. in Colonial Village. Sold to Lena Patmon for $878,000. â– 1816 19th St. in Dupont Circle. Sold to 1816 19th St. LLC for $1,500,000. â– 2334 19th St. in Adams Morgan. Sold to James Ratliff for $1,327,500. â– 2430 20th St. in Adams Morgan. Sold to Joshua B. Goldberg for $1,210,000. â– 1528 26th St. in Georgetown. Sold to Dana Bahaddou for $619,000. â– 5731 26th St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Jason R. Parish for $810,000. â– 1337 28th St. in Georgetown. Sold to Gregory M. Luce for $800,000. â– 2823 28th St. in Woodley Park. Sold to Meaghan Smith for $1,330,850. â– 1406 30th St. in Georgetown. Sold to Anne Hance for $1,549,000. â– 2601 30th St. in Woodland Normanstone. Sold to Frank White Jr. Trustee for $5,150,000. â– 3410 30th St. in Cleveland Park. Sold to Elizabeth J. Armington for $890,000. â– 5525 30th St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Rupsha 2013 Inc. for $550,000. â– 6606 31st Place in Chevy Chase. Sold to Jacob J. Gullish for $956,500. â– 1528 31st St. in Georgetown. Sold to James G. Clark for $1,866,000. â– 1235 33rd St. in Georgetown. Sold to Terry Ann Meurer Trustee for $1,130,000. â– 1622 33rd St. in Georgetown. Sold to Erin Mullan for $1,215,000. â– 5108 34th St. in Forest Hills. Sold to Amy S. Levin for $1,037,500. â– 1720 35th St. in Burleith. Sold to Shuguang Wang for $830,000. â– 4519 36th St. in Wakefield. Sold to Ruy E. Lama for $950,000.

â– 2113 37th St. in Glover Park. Sold to Vaso Kovijanic for $788,000. â– 2209 39th St. in Glover Park. Sold to Manuel Perozo for $920,000. â– 2818 39th St. in Massachusetts Avenue Heights. Sold to Noah B. Pollak for $1,000,000. â– 5310 42nd St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Firooz Realty LLC for $720,000. â– 5331 42nd St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Susan Lazaroff-Cohen for $479,400. â– 3006 45th St. in Wesley Heights. Sold to Timothy C. Luwis for $2,200,000. â– 3211 45th St. in Wesley Heights. Sold to Meade J. Berman for $1,087,000. â– 3215 45th St. in Wesley Heights. Sold to Arthur H. Harding for $1,600,000. â– 5121 42nd St. in Chevy Chase. Sold to Jeffery L. Frank for $1,065,000. â– 4212 46th St. in American University Park. Sold to Michael K. Melia for $830,000. â– 4316 46th St. in American University Park. Sold to Jonathan D. Tipton for $849,000. â– 3817 47th St. in Spring Valley. Sold to Pravin Krishna for $925,000. â– 4705 48th St. in American University Park. Sold to Cathrin M. Stickney Trustee for $765,000. â– 4527 49th St. in American University Park. Sold to William J. Musico for $812,000. â– 3949 52nd St. in Spring Valley. Sold to Brent Shaw for $2,375,000. â– 4050 52nd St. in Spring Valley. Sold to Kurt Ela for $1,720,000.

CONDOS

â– 2310 Ashmead Place Unit 205 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Thomas C. Nickels for $345,000. â– 2032-2040 Belmont Road Unit 123 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Hussein O. Aniishah for $260,000. â– 2032-2040 Belmont Road Unit 503 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Craig A. Langford for $227,000. â– 2123 California St. Unit E5 in SheridanKalorama. Sold to Julian Goodman Trustee for $550,000. â– 2123 California St. Unit G8 in SheridanKalorama. Sold to David N. Levine for $749,000. â– 2127 California St. Unit 807 in Sheridan-Kalorama. Sold to Pietra Rivoli for $692,500. â– 3901 Cathedral Ave. Unit 82 in Cathedral Heights. Sold to Rebekah Bernstein for $240,000. â– 4200 Cathedral Ave. Unit 216 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Firoozeh Shahidi for $270,000. â– 4201 Cathedral Ave. Unit 114W in Wesley Heights. Sold to Xinsheng Zeng for $385,000. â– 4201 Cathedral Ave. Unit 718E in Wesley Heights. Sold to Jacqueline B. Lockward for $187,000. â– 4201 Cathedral Ave. Unit 911W in Wesley Heights. Sold to Melanie Guerrero for $150,000. â– 4201 Cathedral Ave. Unit 1408W in Wesley Heights. Sold to Nikolay E. Kolev for $255,000. â– 2301 Champlain St. Unit T-04 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Richard R. Magnuson for $510,000. â– 2363 Champlain St. Unit 25 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Lisette Gonzalez for $570,000. â– 1747 Church St. in B4 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Joseph A. Taylor for $299,000. â– 2006 Columbia Road Unit 43 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Matthew M. James for $517,000. â– 3100 Connecticut Ave. Unit 216 in Woodley Park. Sold to Cynthia Butler for

$255,062. â– 3100 Connecticut Ave. Unit 440 in Woodley Park. Sold to Dana Mooney for $358,000. â– 3616 Connecticut Ave. Unit 206 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Sarah Clapp for $220,000. â– 3901 Connecticut Ave. Unit 212 in Van Ness. Sold to Martin J. Monaghan for $356,000. â– 3901 Connecticut Ave. Unit 510 in Van Ness. Sold to Thomas J. Marshall for $709,000. â– 4600 Connecticut Ave. Unit 615 in Wakefield. Sold to Chandra Tiwari for $275,000. â– 4740 Connecticut Ave. Unit 202 in Wakefield. Sold to Claudette P. David for $275,000. â– 2126 Connecticut Ave. Unit 35 in Sheridan-Kalorama. Sold to Manfred Baumgartner for $1,365,000. â– 1718 Corcoran St. Unit 2 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Caitlin Q. Miller for $260,000. â– 1748 Corcoran St. Unit 3B in Dupont Circle. Sold to Paloma Acevedo for $427,500. â– 3819 Davis Place Unit 5 in Glover Park. Sold to Jane K. Spinks for $310,000. â– 2737 Devonshire Place in Woodley Park. Sold to Harley J. McKinley for $542,500. â– 2141 I St. Unit 409 in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Patrick L. Robert for $225,000. â– 2501 K St. Unit 1C in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Joshua Glazer for $417,500. â– 2515 K St. Unit 712 in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Chetan Bhargiri for $270,000. â– 1910 Kalorama Road Unit 104 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Michael Goodman for $220,850. â– 1910 Kalorama Road Unit 202 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Nicholas F. Marcinko for $300,000. â– 1910 Kalorama Road Unit 203 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Michael J. Iannarino for $338,320. â– 1910 Kalorama Road Unit 505 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Elizabeth D. Down for $434,900. â– 1817 Kalorama Square Unit 9 in Sheridan-Kalorama. Sold to Clarissa L. Bonda for $2,000,000. â– 1101 L St. Unit 102 in Logan Circle. Sold to Caroline M. Scott for $275,000. â– 2201 L St. Unit 408 in the West End. Sold to Elizabeth D. Hill for $239,000. â– 2501 M St. Unit 607 in the West End. Sold to Albert R. Matney for $355,000 â– 4471 MacArthur Blvd. Unit 303 in the Palisades. Sold to Jacqueline U. Varjao for $253,000. â– 4570 MacArthur Blvd. Unit G5 in the Palisades. Sold to Mahdee Monam for $219,000. â– 1711 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 102 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Emily Nalven for $230,000. â– 1711 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 620 in Dupont Circle. Sold to John G. Swisher for $240,000. â– 1727 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 808 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Shaun Ng for $224,900. â– 4200 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 118 in Wesley Heights. Sold to David W. Callaway for $639,000. â– 4200 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 904 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Katharine S. Sohier for $575,000. â– 4200 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 1001 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Cynthia B. Schultz for $460,000. â– 4200 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 1014 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Barbara B. Beatty for $337,500. See Sales/Page RE19

SALES From Page RE18 â– 1440 N St. Unit 511 in Logan Circle. Sold to Alexander C. Ruda for $180,000. â– 2114 N St. Unit 11 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Josep-Maria Colomer-Calsina for $407,000. â– 2301 N St. Unit 110 in the West End. Sold to Jacques Besnainou for $385,000. â– 2301 N St. Unit 403 in the West End. Sold to Steven R. Dimitriyev for $495,000. â– 2301 N St. Unit 714 in the West End. Sold to John L. Beard for $700,000. â– 3821 Newark St. Unit 440 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Mark P. Little for $430,000. â– 1316 New Hampshire Ave. Unit 308 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Z Street LLC for $211,000. â– 1735 New Hampshire Ave. Unit 202 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Raphael U. Goodstein for $700,000. â– 1740 New Hampshire Ave. Unit NH-G in Dupont Circle. Sold to Alejandro Yarza for $700,000. â– 1816 New Hampshire Ave. Unit 405 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Martin Feeney for $257,000. â– 2801 New Mexico Ave. Unit 402 in Glover Park. Sold to Alice L. Ritcheson for $328,500. â– 3101 New Mexico Ave. Unit 807 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Marina Alissa for $320,000. â– 3101 New Mexico Ave. Unit 552 in Wesley Heights. Sold to Francoise DreuilWynne for $220,000. â– 2012 O St. Unit 41 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Serrana B. Mujica for $415,000. â– 2755 Ordway St. Unit 209 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Pamela Long for $296,000. â– 2141 P St. Unit 203 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Margaret M. Ensign for $550,000. â– 2141 P St. Unit 205 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Mark Mlakar for $299,990. â– 1030 Paper Mill Court Unit 1030 in Georgetown. Sold to Barron Martin for $595,000. â– 1059 Paper Mill Court Unit 1059 in Georgetown. Sold to Mahnaz Essalat for $578,500. â– 2555 Pennsylvania Ave. Unit 819 in the

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013 West End. Sold to Simon Alissa for $510,000. â– 2600 Pennsylvania Ave. Unit 304 in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Danilo A. Maia for $805,000. â– 1200 Q St. Unit 3 in Logan Circle. Sold to Eduardo de Olloqui for $335,000. â– 1201 Q St. Unit 301 in Logan Circle. Sold to Korab Zuka for $406,500. â– 1201 Q St. Unit 304 in Logan Circle. Sold to Svetlana Goubanova for $329,000. â– 1340 Q St. Unit 23 in Logan Circle. Sold to Michelle Haruvi for $659,000. â– 1520 O St. Unit 3 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Angelle C. Smith for $274,000. â– 1612 Q St. Unit 6 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Nicole Nesper for $466,250. â– 1615 Q St. Unit 712 in Dupont Circle. Sold to John H. Wright III for $315,000. â– 1625 Q St. Unit 103 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Douglas L. Farrar for $549,999. â– 1702 Q St. Unit 1 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Rashad Kawmy for $525,000. â– 3035 Q St. Unit 1 in Georgetown. Sold to Victoria B. Kramer for $472,500. â– 1423 R St. Unit 206 in Logan Circle. Sold to Audrey Chang for $452,000. â– 1800 R St. Unit 807 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Patricia Geli for $457,500. â– 1301 Rhode Island Ave. Unit B in Logan Circle. Sold to William M. Madison for $659,000. â– 1426 Rhode Island Ave. Unit A in Logan Circle. Sold to Allan A. Friedman for $750,000. â– 1821 Riggs Place Unit 1821 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Jennifer Thaxton for $395,000. â– 1900 S St. Unit 202 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Ryann M. Collins for $342,000. â– 1 Scott Circle Unit 220 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Ashley N. Ayers for $234,000. â– 1 Scott Circle Unit 320 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Paul A. Godwin for $228,500. â– 1 Scott Circle Unit 511 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Hillary Glassman for $260,000. â– 3283 Sutton Place Unit 3283C in Wesley Heights. Sold to Jeff MacDonald for $509,000. â– 4000 Tunlaw Road Unit 511 in Glover

Park. Sold to Virpi H. Kairinen for $261,000. â– 4000 Tunlaw Road Unit 621 in Glover Park. Sold to Rupal K. Mortensen for $426,000. â– 1706 U St. Unit 303 in Dupont Circle. Sold to Olivier F. Riboulot for $284,500. â– 2939 Van Ness St. Unit 627 in Van Ness. Sold to Lintung Liu for $258,000. â– 2939 Van Ness St. Unit 945 in Van Ness. Sold to Eric Morrissette for $177,900. â– 2939 Van Ness St. Unit 1014 in Van Ness. Sold to Jeffrey A. Crilley for $312,000. â– 2939 Van Ness St. Unit 1218 in Forest Hills. Sold to Lawrence Chang for $300,000. â– 1822 Vernon St. Unit 302 in Adams Morgan. Sold to Robert A. Schneider for $500,000. â– 4100 W St. Unit 515 in Glover Park. Sold to Seth Gainer for $252,000. â– 3 Washington Circle Unit 1003 in Foggy Bottom. Sold to Ranjini Ramakrishnan for $365,000. â– 2320 Wisconsin Ave. Unit 410 in Glover Park. Sold to James A. Brister for $390,000. â– 2800 Wisconsin Ave. Unit 104 in Cathedral Heights. Sold to Sergio R. Valenzuela for $194,500. â– 1308 12th St. Unit B in Logan Circle. Sold to Jamie Poslosky for $417,028. â– 1245 13th St. Unit 516 in Logan Circle. Sold to George Taube for $256,320. â– 1245 13th St. Unit 715 in Logan

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Sold to Charles D. Ossola for $1,625,000. â– 1155 22nd St. Unit N5H in the West End. Sold to Faheem A. Sandhu for $825,000. â– 1111 23rd St. Unit S4B in the West End. Sold to Robert Qureshi for $1,660,000. â– 1155 23rd St. Unit NPH3N in the West End. Sold to Luis G. Fortuno for $1,320,000. â– 1077 30th St. Unit 606 in Georgetown. Sold to John M. Hamilton for $725,000. â– 1045 31st St. Unit 11 in Georgetown. Sold to Kent G. Krejci for $489,000. â– 3641 39th St. Unit 308 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Anne K. Cusick for $467,500. â– 3700 39th St. Unit 177 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Mario C. Vilela for $200,000. â– 3710 39th St. Unit 169 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Abigail Golden-Vazquez for $549,900. â– 3800 39th St. Unit 131 in Cleveland Park. Sold to Danielle Pere for $429,000.

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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Current â– Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Design House will benefit children’s hospital

By DEIRDRE BANNON Current Staff Writer

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he DC Design House is set to launch its annual monthlong fundraiser for Children’s National Medical Center this Saturday at a newly constructed Mediterranean-style home at 2507 Foxhall Road in Wesley Heights. More than two dozen Washingtonarea designers went to work creating 24 different spaces throughout the $14.9 million home’s five levels and 14,000 square feet of living space, showcasing innovations on the latest design trends. Though the designers worked independently, a unifying element of the design house is the color palette many chose. Earthy neutrals are complemented by fresh spring colors like robin’s egg blue and soft yellows. Many of the rooms incorporate paints and wallpaper donated by British company Farrow & Ball. Just inside the home’s main entryway is the living room, designed by Bethesda-based interior designer Camille Saum. “Color is the first thing I think about — that’s where I start,� said Saum. For this room, she chose to work with a pale powder color, which has hints of blues and greens and on-trend green paint with strong yellow overtones. Known for her elegant yet whimsical style, Saum showcases two painted pink sculptures that she placed on pedestals flanking the room’s fireplace. Virginia-based artist Brian Kirk created both especial-

ly for this event. “It’s hard to find something you truly love, and I truly love these sculptures,� said Saum. The designer used color even more creatively on the room’s ceiling. Saum’s associate designer Whitney Hansen came up with a geometric design that incorporated Saum’s primary colors, and Atelier Artists executed the vision. Also taking center stage is a Trieste chandelier from Niermann Weeks. A circular table underneath features a custom-designed ceramic bowl from local artist Jennifer Hamilton. Saum also built a scene-stealing window box against the room’s far wall. Made of bamboo and painted white, the bench can be easily lifted out. Saum wanted to take advantage of the room’s large windows by creating a comfortable reading area. The space is framed by one of Saum’s signature elements: her crinoline-lined draperies, in blue and buff taffeta, which add an element of drama to the space. Two Camille Chairs in a champagne chevron fabric sit on either side of the fireplace. The pieces are part of a furniture line Saum is creating. The painting over the fireplace is by local artist Elizabeth Dax. One of the home’s most unique spaces is up on the top floor, where Jamie Brown and Jeff Akseizer, of Akseizer Design Group in Alexandria, further enhanced a loftlike environment by creating a feast for the eyes. On one side of the room, an oversized live-reef aquarium by Reef eScape is built into the wall, and on the other is a state-ofthe-art media wall that incorporates a large flat-screen television with three smaller screens running alongside it that could double as computer monitors. “There are so many bedrooms, lounges and seating areas in the

Photos by Angie Seckinger

The guest bedroom designed by Katherine Vernot-Jonas, left, and the living room by Camille Saum, above, are among 24 distinct spaces in the 14,000-square-foot Wesley Heights home. house that we really wanted to do something different with this space,� said Brown. “Our goal was to create a ‘wow’ factor with this room, with lots of places for the eyes to go.� The pair took their cue for the light and airy space from the existing skylights and a wet bar area done in white lacquer. Through their firm’s in-house millwork shop, the designers continued that motif by installing sleek built-ins also in white lacquer. Those create a midcentury modern feel, further enhanced by the cylindrical wall sconces by Boyd and the handwoven wall coverings by Phillip Jeffries. Also significant to the space is the framed artwork on the walls. Brown and Akseizer asked kids being treated at the Children’s National Medical Center to create paintings using black and white paint. The results include one piece that resembles a Matisse, and another that consists of a block print that complements the room. Also on this level is a guest bedroom designed by Katherine VernotJonas, whose firm KVJ Designs is based in Georgetown. “I love attics — I think they can be magical places,� said VernotJonas, who said she especially likes their angled rooflines. “Clients sometimes find them to be difficult spaces to work with, but you can create welcoming, inviting, livable attic spaces.� Vernot-Jonas built the room around a duvet cover designed by Yves Delorme, Paris that drew her

in with its elegant black-and-white strokes. To maximize flexibility and space, Vernot-Jonas used two twin beds instead of one large bed that would take up nearly all of the room’s real estate. She also used one-of-a-kind white linens on the beds, which were custom-embroidered by a local seamstress. Grays and whites balance out the color scheme, while the use of a warm citron on the walls and in the custom pillows makes the room pop. A handcrafted chandelier, an Oscar de la Renta chair with an ornate back in white, and Italian “Ortenzia� bedside lights complete the look. Vernot-Jonas said she had trouble finding the right nightstands, so she created her own by taking two metal nesting tables and replacing the top with white marble. “I visualized sophisticated guests staying in this room, but I wanted to make it appealing to anyone,� she said. The room’s unique walk-in closet space on either side of the entryway incorporates a bold design that covers the interior walls with black, white and silver striped wallpaper. A storage ottoman amplifies the space’s personality. DC Design House visitors will find an abundance of unique and innovative design features to admire throughout the home’s 24 distinct spaces — from the blocks of handmade paper hung on the dining room wall by D.C.-based designer Nestor Santa-Cruz, to the sunny morning room created by Silver

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Spring designer Iantha Carley, the exotic modern bar with burl mahogany wood inset by Arlington-based designer Andrea Houck, and the wood-paneled library with a Marrakesh motif by D.C.-based designer and DC Design House veteran David Mitchell. On the second level, bedroom designs — including the twins’ nursery by Nancy Twomey in Alexandria, the master bedroom by Susan Jamieson in Richmond and the teenage boy’s bedroom by Regan Billingsley of New York City — are sure to inspire. As visitors traverse through the spacious home getting ideas for their own projects or just admiring the designers’ work, they should note that many of the furnishings are available for purchase, and five boutiques are selling various dÊcor items on the home’s lower level. Tickets cost $25 per person and 20 percent of all proceeds will go to the children’s hospital. The annual Design House fundraiser last year netted more than $200,000 when it was held in Spring Valley. This year marks the first time the event is taking place at a newly constructed home, designed by Bethesda-based GTM Architects and constructed by D.C.-based Gibson Builders. It’s listed for $14.9 million by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Martha Apel. The house will be open to the public April 13 to May 12. For more information or to purchase 2013 DC Design House tickets, visit dcdesignhouse.com.

The Current ■ Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

RE21

D.C. Council bills would limit impact of residential assessment increases By ELIZABETH WIENER Current Staff Writer

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perennial push to limit property taxes has popped up again in the D.C. Council this spring, with major bills focused on helping longtime homeowners hit hard by assessments rising faster than their incomes. Getting most attention is a bill by Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans that would lower the amount a homeowners’ tax bill could rise each year from 10 to 5 percent, whatever the increase in a home’s assessment. Evans says even the current 10 percent annual hike can be a hardship. Evans offered a similar bill last year, but too late to come up for a vote. “Our residents are really getting clobbered on their property taxes, and that certainly wasn’t the intent,” he said at a recent hearing on the measure. “Virtually nobody gets a 10 percent raise every year.” Evans offered a bit of history. Before the recent economic slump, District residents saw a tremendous increase in assessments as the city became a more desirable place to live. The trend started in the west-

ern part of the city, “but now it’s taking place everywhere,” he said, with assessments hikes of 20, 25, even 50 percent not uncommon. That’s especially hard on people on fixed incomes, who aren’t realizing any of the increased market value and fear they may lose their homes if they get behind on taxes, he said. In the face of that hyperactive housing market, the council first imposed a 25 percent cap on annual property tax increases, then reduced it to 12, and then the current 10. The measure has already picked up six co-sponsors on the council, and Evans is in a position to steer it through as chair of the Committee on Finance and Revenue. But there’s also pushback. Mayor Vincent Gray does not support Evans’ bill or other efforts to reduce residential property taxes, according to spokesperson Pedro Ribeiro, who said the District’s property tax burden is already low compared to surrounding areas. Ed Lazere, director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, makes a similar point. In a hearing on a similar bill last year, Lazere said the District has the lowest homeowner property tax bills in the region in

ROW HOUSE: Shopping nearby From Page RE8

wall-to-wall carpeting. The main area currently serves as a family room, and offers plenty of space for playing board games or watching movies. The area could provide a fourth bedroom or a guest suite, with a full bath available on this level to make the transition easy. There are also several separate

storage spaces as well as a laundry room on this level. The home is located a few blocks away from the shops and restaurants along Upshur Street. This four-bedroom, two-and-ahalf-bath property at 4409 3rd St. NW is offered for $599,900. For details contact Kevin Wood of William Sawyer & Co. at 202-2979753 or kevin@williamsawyer.com.

COOKE’S ROW: Historic house From Page RE3

Fourth of July fireworks. The home’s lower level is semi-finished and includes a bedroom with a clawfoot tub in its en suite bath, a wine cellar, and a spacious laundry room with a long, antique cast-iron sink. Several separate rooms on this level could be used as storage

spaces or as workrooms. Running alongside the home’s exterior is a long brick driveway that leads to a detached garage — a coveted amenity in Georgetown. This eight-bedroom, five-and-ahalf-bath property at 3023 Q St. NW is offered for $4,995,000. For more information contact Cathie Gill of Cathie Gill Realtors at 202364-3066 or cathie@cathiegill.com.

WOODLEY: Deck brings debate From Page RE6

Preservation board members were also concerned, but could find no better solution. They also argued that approval of the Garfield Street roof deck would not set a precedent. “This is really tough,” said member Andrew Aurbach. He said he would support the project, but wanted future approvals in Woodley Park to be “case by case.” Member Maria Casarella noted

that the various deck additions “are just higgledy-piggledy” and told Heminger: “You need an architect.” He said budget concerns kept him from hiring one. Board chair Gretchen Pfaehler agreed that the various decks should share “some intent that relates to the architecture of the building.” Though they urged the developer to create a “minimized” rooftop deck plan, the board members ultimately voted to approve the proposal.

part because of a series of council actions capping annual increases, lowering tax rates, and boosting the value of the “homestead deduction” on owner-occupied homes. The current 10 percent cap means most District homes are already taxed at less than their full worth, said Lazere, who has argued repeatedly that budget surpluses should be spent on programs for the neediest — not on tax cuts. There’s also the matter of lost revenue. At Evans’ hearing, a representative of the city’s chief financial officer said reducing the cap on annual property tax increases is “a straightforward change” that would be easy to implement by the start of the next fiscal year. But although the CFO hasn’t calculated the precise fiscal impact, he estimated that lowering the cap would cost the city 2.5 percent of the roughly $400 to $500 million it takes in annually in property tax revenues, or about $10 million a year. “Ten million,” Evans repeated, acknowledging that he would have to offer a budget proposal to make up the loss. Another bill introduced this year, from Ward 4 member Muriel

2014 assessments

These are the changes from 2013 in proposed residential valuations of assessment neighborhoods. The assessments reflect estimated market value as of Jan. 1, 2013. American University Park Berkley Brightwood Burleith Central Chevy Chase Cleveland Park Colonial Village Columbia Heights Crestwood Foggy Bottom Forest Hills Foxhall Garfield Georgetown Glover Park Hawthorne

– 0.28% + 1.44% + 1.15% + 1.44% + 3.71% + 1.21% + 2.18% + 0.61% + 5.38% – 0.62% + 3.80% + 4.82% + 0.42% + 2.07% + 1.28% + 2.10% + 5.54%

Bowser, would freeze property taxes for households with annual income of $125,000 or less who have claimed the homestead deduction for at least 21 years — the longtime and often elderly homeowners most threatened by rising assessments, Bowser has said. Evans is a co-sponsor of the

Kalorama Kent Massachusetts Ave. Heights Mount Pleasant North Cleveland Park Observatory Circle Old City II Palisades Petworth Shepherd Park Sixteenth Street Heights Spring Valley Takoma Wakefield Wesley Heights Woodley

+ 1.71% + 3.20% + 0.83% + 3.33% + 1.04% – 0.66% + 5.66% + 0.67% + 3.73% + 0.91% + 0.90% + 1.28% + 3.30% + 3.32% + 0.54% + 0.84%

Source: D.C. government

“Longtime Homeowner Incentive” measure, although his committee has not yet held a hearing. “There’s some sentiment on the council that if you live in your home for 20 years, your property taxes should not go up at all,” he said at the hearing on his bill. “But that’s a separate issue.”

RE22

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Current ■ Spring Real Estate Guide 2013

PETWORTH: New stores opening MARKET From Page RE8

and restaurant, has operated for 40-plus years at 200 Upshur St. And with spring in full swing, the Petworth farmers market — which often features live music — is set to open next month on Friday evenings at 9th Street between Upshur and Georgia. Other highlights of the neighborhood include President Lincoln’s Cottage, on the grounds of the

other. … Even as the community is gentrifying, the community is making it better for everyone.” Willow Fashions is another new business, opened last fall by Petworth resident Julie Wineinger. Described as the kind of boutique one might find in Greenwich Village, the store carries eclectic clothing, accessory and gifts at affordable prices at 843 Upshur St. Wineinger wanted to fill a need in the neighborhood with her boutique, and she has also started Bill Petros/Current File Photo branching out in Construction of Petworth’s new Safeway on new ways: One night a week, Georgia Avenue should wrap up by summer 2014. Willow plays host Soldiers’ Home at 140 Rock Creek to Crinkle Art Workshops, run by Church Road; and Rock Creek local art teacher and Petworth resiCemetery, an 86-acre green space at dent Amanda Rogers. 201 Allison St. Wineinger, along with 20 other Redevelopment of the Walter neighborhood businesses, also Reed Army Medical Center campus recently formed a cooperative further north on Georgia Avenue in called Heart of Petworth, in which entrepreneurs band together to raise Brightwood is also expected to be positive for Petworth, as temporary awareness of locally owned shops. uses and early-stage development The D.C. government is also get underway in the next year. focusing attention on Petworth’s “Everyone focuses on the develimprovement. The city’s Great Streets program recently completed opment of Petworth from the south and west, and we will continue to a streetscape project on Georgia see Petworth benefitting from that,” Avenue that included upgrades to said PoPville’s Silverman. “But the roadway, sidewalks, streetlights what’s really appealing is the develand tree boxes. The initiative aims opment that will come from the to support and attract local businorth with Walter Reed, which is nesses to the area. Local businesses with successful tied in with the new streetcar coming to Georgia Avenue as well. It’s track records include Domku Café all a good indication that the develat 821 Upshur St., and Annie’s opment in Petworth is going to be Hardware 1240 Upshur. The Hitching Post, neighborhood tavern quite positive.”

From Page RE1

of styles, of vintage.” “Change the parameters,” said McDuffie. “Open up the net.” But even that isn’t a guaranteed approach. A lot of investors are in the market, snapping up properties in neighborhoods such as Petworth and Bloomingdale, renovating them and then renting or selling them for a premium. “There’s more flipping now, especially in those emerging markets,” McDuffie said. The citywide statistics paint a clear picture — lots of activity but not much inventory, according to the market data compiled by RealEstate Business Intelligence and the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors. In March, there were 559 singlefamily homes and 512 condos on the market in D.C. — down 32 percent and 38 percent, respectively, from 800-plus listings in each category a year earlier. New listings for the month were also down. That’s consistent with figures in February, when there were 983 active listings in the D.C. market — a 38.5 percent drop from last year and far below the five-year February average of 2,062. Even so, activity is solid. In the first three months, there was a 9.9 percent rise in contracts for condos and co-ops and a 0.8 percent increase in contracts for single-family homes, compared with the same period in 2012. Settlements are up in both categories — 25.6 percent for condos and co-ops, 6.3 percent for single-family homes. More March data are due later this week. “We’ve definitely seen things picking up,” said Joe Gentile, vice president of Federal Title & Escrow Co. In 12 key categories in one report comparing February 2013 with February 2012, only one measure fell — the average number of days on market, which went from 74 to 58. The median sold price climbed 8.5 percent to $421,000; the number of closed sales rose 16.2 percent, to 481. “Right now we’re in the beginnings of the first year of a really hot market,” McDuffie said. Realtors don’t expect a sudden change in the weeks ahead. They say D.C.’s spring market started early — as it has for several years now — with plenty of demand and little prospect for a quick influx of supply. “There’s a shortage of product and a lot of demand,” said Donna Evers of Evers & Co. Real Estate. “It’s interesting how people stay in the same frame of mind. It’s now such a seller’s market. Buyers are slow to recognize this.” The current environment makes it all the more important for buyers to have proper representation, Evers said. “They need a really good agent,” she said. “You need someone with knowledge and experience to guide you, now more than ever.”

Realtors hope for inventory rise By CHRIS KAIN Current Staff Writer

R

ealtors often say real estate is all about location, location, location. In D.C., they might also say assessing the market is all about inventory, inventory, inventory. “The issue really is lack of inventory,” said Fred Kendrick of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. “We usually expect to see some buildup in January, February and March. That really hasn’t happened.” There are a few hopeful signs, however. For one thing, new construction is picking up. Building permits for new housing units in D.C. have climbed in each of the past four fiscal years, according to the Office of Tax and Revenue’s March report on economic trends. For the 12-month period that ended in January, the city issued 4,141 permits, a 21 percent climb over the same period a year earlier. It’s also more than eight times the 499 processed in fiscal year 2009. “During the recession we didn’t have any new building or any renovations,” said Donna Evers of Evers & Company Real Estate. “It’s going to get better slowly.” Additionally, as home values increase, fewer homeowners feel the need to stay put for fear of losing money on properties they bought near the height of the market. “We’re back close enough now that sellers are getting back in now, saying, ‘I’ve waited long enough,’” Evers said. “That’s happening, and that will happen much more.” “In pretty much all of D.C., everyone is close to where the peak was,” said Keene Taylor Jr. of the Taylor/Agostino Group at Long & Foster Real Estate.

Similar knowledge and experience are necessary on the other side of the table, in part to price a property correctly, Realtors said. “People think it’s easy when the market is like this,” said Fred Kendrick of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. “There’s a process that you go through — from staging to marketing, you’re focusing everything on a one-week period. … You’ve got a short window where you’re trying to generate as much interest as possible.” Evers noted that many people wrongly think that they can put their house on the market and wait for the right buyer who will pay top dollar. “When you’re selling a property, time is not your friend,” she said. “If it sells right away, we’ve done everything right.”

“The only exception is where they bid up past the peak to prevail — people who paid a premium when they bought at the peak of the market might not be all the way back.” There’s also a psychological factor, in large part because people are feeling better about the economy and are cognizant of national headlines that match the positive narrative that has surrounded the D.C. market for several years. “Psychologically people are ready to make the move now,” said Kevin McDuffie, branch vice president for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “There’s been pent-up demand for a couple of years.” For potential sellers still inclined to wait in hopes of further appreciation, Realtors warn that they should consider the likely cost of their next property. “Yes, you won’t get as much as you would have, but you can get a better deal on what you’re buying,” Evers said. “But people base their feelings of security on what they’re selling, not on what they’re buying.” Taylor said he foresees another impact that will help build up inventory. Some sellers will respond too aggressively to signals of a stronger market and insist on overpricing. “They’ll sit on the market,” he said. “Over time, that will create a base that will help alleviate the inventory problem.” And McDuffie, whose firm has a substantial property management division, said he is already seeing a buildup from another source: new listings from owners who had little choice but to rent out their homes a few years ago, when the market was flat. “In the last couple months, there’s been a large number of managed properties that are now back on the market,” he said. Taylor said he tells sellers that their best chance to get the best return is to set a price just below the peak — “so roughly half the people think it’s a good price,” he said. Then bidding is likely to ensue. Realtors agree that multiple offers are increasingly common, but they differ on whether buyers are remaining cautious nonetheless. Kendrick said much of the caution that arose during the economic slowdown has evolved. “We’re seeing things sell pretty consistently above list prices,” he said. Taylor said clients remain sensitive to the idea of overpaying. Even when a property draws multiple offers, only one of the prospective buyers may be willing to go high. “The buyers are not willing to go crazy,” Taylor said. “They get spooked.”

Wednesday, april 10, 2013 RE23

The CurrenT

#1 Agent Company-Wide #1 Agent in Chevy Chase #177 Agent in the USA as reported by the Wall Street Journal

Y NDA U S N OPE 4/14 1-4

NEW LISTING!

2815 Rittenhouse St NW

“Kimberly is amazing! You see her sign all over and for good reason. She gets the job done!!! After more than two months on the market with another agent without a single offer, Kimberly got our home sold in just 12 days. She was very proactive on marketing the house, gave great advice on staging and did a great job negotiating on our behalf. We couldn’t have asked for more. ”

-Neil Carruth and Emily Barocas

NEW LISTING!

$829,000 5350 Nebraska Ave NW

Fresh and sparkling new listing with sensational kitchen open to the dining room and a new powder room on the main level! 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths up and pull down steps to abundant attic storage. Lower level rec room with 2nd fireplace and more storage! Private, fenced yard with fabulous deck and detached garage.

NEW LISTING!

$930,000

The soaring 2 level addition featuring a large kitchen open to the family room plus a master bedroom with cathedral ceiling, large ensuite bath and 2 walk-in closets, make this one a must see! 3 bedrooms plus 3 1/2 baths. Lovely, low maintenance fenced patio with fish pond and off-street parking for 4 cars (1 car garage).

UNDER CONTRACT! 3026 Porter St NW #201

3346 Tennyson St NW $1,195,000

$299,900

Renovated, 4 level Colonial with chef ’s kitchen, 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. 2 car garage.

Bright, corner unit with renovated kitchen, 1 bedroom and 1 full bath. Steps to Metro!

SOLD!

UNDER CONTRACT!

UNDER CONTRACT!

UNDER CONTRACT!

UNDER CONTRACT!

5420 30th St NW List Price: $789,000 Sold Price: $810,000 2 Offers after the 1st Open!

4711 Jamestown Road Westmoreland Hills $1,139,000 2 Offers after the 1st Open!

3610 Jocelyn St NW Chevy Chase $775,000 Under Contract

3505 30th St NW Cleveland Park $1,095,000 Kimberly Brought the Buyer!

5901 Nevada Ave NW Chevy Chase $1,300,000 Kimberly Brought the Buyer!

Kimberly Cestari • 202-253-8757 cell • 202-966-1400 office • Kimberly.Cestari@LongandFoster.com

RE24 Wednesday, april 10, 2013

The CurrenT

LONG & FOSTER RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

GEORGETOWN, DC

$2,250,000

Dashing Colonial on R St in Gtown’s East Village. Beautifully decorated w/Crown moldings, inspired millwork and gleaming wooden flrs. 3BR/3.5BA. Elegant LL with FR, guest room w/BA, laundry and entrance from the garage. Margaret Heimbold 202.812.2750 / 202.944.8400 (O)

WASHINGTON, DC

$1,660,000

This classic colonial boasts 5 expansive BRs, 2Full/2Half BA, renovated table space KIT, 2 oversized FAM Rms, Den, and 2 car GAR. The private lot and quiet convenient neighborhood make this house one you don’t want to miss. Judi Levin 202.438.1524 / 202.364.1300 (O)

•

MORTGAGE

CHEVY CHASE, DC

•

TITLE

•

®

INSURANCE

$1,495,000

Great Price Reduction! Stunning classic 5 bedroom with upgrades galore! Beautiful interior with Chef’s Kitchen and large rooms for entertaining. Private backyard with a 2-car garage! Finished third floor and Lower Level Au Pair Suite! Joshua Harrison 301.602.5400 / 202.363.9700 (O)

DUPONT, DC

$1,395,000

Stunning 4-story TH in the heart of Dupont! Renov Kit & BAs, 5BRs, 3.5BAs, LL in-law suite. Open LR/ DR/Kit, LR bay window w/ stained glass. Spacious 2nd fl libr or MBR. Nr Metro, Phillips Gallery, shops. Ingrid Suisman / Tatjana Bajrami Foxhall Office 202.363.1800 (O)

ONLY LONG & FOSTER BRINGS YOU THE POWER OF THE CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE* NETWORK WHEN SELLING YOUR LUXURY HOME.

CHEVY CHASE, MD

$1,215,000

CHEVY CHASE, MD

Nestled on a beautiful wooded lot, this 4BR/4BA Rollingwood home offers space, updates, whimsy & delight! Soaring beamed ceilings, Fab Kit w/ huge eat-in area, spacious main flr Fam Rm, great MBR suite as well as a coveted main flr BR/BA. Diane Adams 202.255.6253 / 202.363.9700 (O)

CHEVY CHASE, DC

$1,099,000

$1,195,000

NEW LISTING! Turnkey spacious center hall Colonial featuring 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, hardwood floors, fireplace, and lovely garden. Minutes to downtown Bethesda and DC. *In select areas

U STREET CORRIDOR, DC

$847,900

WASHINGTON, DC

$829,000

Miller Spring Valley Office 202.362.1300

BRIGHTWOOD, DC

$729,000

Fab location. Move-in ready 4 lvl brick Col w/ 5BR/3FBA/2HBA. Gourmet Kit w/radiant flr, renov BAs w/euro chic design, new CAC. Expanded BR closets. Fin bsmt w/custom built-ins. 1 car Gar. Andra Gram 240.515.6059 / 202.363.9700 (O) Orysia Stanchak 202.423.5943 /202.363.9700 (O)

Stunning, contemp penthouse at award-winning Visio. 20’ ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, maple wd flrs, MBR loft w/priv terrace. Euro-style Kit w/ granite & stainless steel. Covered park space & addtl storage unit inc. Close to Metro & U St. John Plank 703.528.5646 / 202.483.1800 (O)

New listing with an updated white Kit open to DR & 1st fl powder room! Great flow for entertaining! 3BRs & 2FBAs up. Attic storage. Finished LL rec room with the 2nd fireplace. Private, fenced rear yard with large deck & detached garage. Miller Chevy Chase Office 202.966.1400

Beautifully renovated & expanded Brightwood house! Gourmet granite/stainless kitchen with Island and breakfast bar that opens to family room! Huge Living Room and Dining Room with crown molding and gas fireplace. So much more! Friendship Heights Office 202.364.5200

ROCKVILLE, MD

WALDORF, MD

WASHINGTON, DC

$246,500

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK, DC $239,000

Top floor condo w/large walk-in closet in master; Kit/bath updates. PET FRIENDLY. Steps to public bus line. Near restaurants, shops, Crescent Trail/ C&O Canal, etc. Condo fee covers all utilities. FHA approved. Agent is owner. Mary Lou Dell 301.404.5554 / 301.229.4000 (O)

Jr 1 BR (577 sf), w/balcony, updated Kit w/granite, custom-made Japanese sliding shoji screen, separate dining area, lg walk-in closet w/custom shelving/drawers/storage. Bldg w/roof deck, fitness center, near Van Ness METRO. Miller Spring Valley Office 202.362.1300

$475,000

Walk to Rockville METRO from this pristine three level townhouse. 3BR, 2 full BAs and 2 half BAs. Redone tablespace Kit, dramatic master w/ soaking tub & sep shower, GARAGE, fireplace, deck. www.mouseonhouse.com/22928 Marie McCormack 301.437.8678 / 301.229.4000 (O)

$289,500

Immaculate, spacious 3BR, 2BA split level home with summer porch off Kit, privacy fenced back yard with shed on large landscaped corner lot. Vaulted ceilings, huge FR on LL. Large Master bedroom with full bath and so much more! Friendship Heights Office 301.652.2777

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