A Look at the Market in Northwest Washington
March 7, 2012 â– Page 21
LeDroit Park home offers vintage appeal, room to grow
H
ome buyers searching for a roomy historic property they can put an individual stamp on should check out a new
ON THE MARKET carol buckley
listing in LeDroit Park. The red-brick corner property — the childhood home of Marguerite Byrd, Harry Belafonte’s first wife — was built in 1880 and bears the grand hallmarks of a Victorian home: soaring ceilings, pocket doors and countless notable details, such as a mahogany handrail that twists up the home’s staircase. Owner Connie Thomas-Razza prefers a palette of hot, saturated tones, so lovers of strong hues will see that these rooms, thanks to ample natural light from multiple exposures, can accommodate those colors. A more neutral color story, if buyers preferred, would let the home’s bones — hardwood floors and hefty moldings — pop as well. The home’s vintage demands that at least a few antique furnishings be thrown in the mix, and Thomas-Razza has already done some of the legwork here: A dramatically carved black antique
overmantel that she nabbed years ago will remain in place in the living room. That piece tops a slate fireplace surround that matches one in the dining room; the two rooms also share sunny, square bays. The kitchen is roomy and functional, with new ceramic tile floors. Many renovation-minded buyers would begin here but may consider keeping the sensible current layout: a U-shaped work space is divided by a peninsula from a breakfast nook. That spot looks out on the home’s rear yard, a shady spot in summer thanks to a large tree. Bamboo provides privacy, as does a low fence. A large, unfinished lower level here is a prime candidate for renovation — and a window into the property’s past, thanks to a closedup well where previous residents drew water from an underground spring. A comfortable ceiling height
Photos courtesy of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors
This four-bedroom, one-bath home in LeDroit Park is priced at $650,000. means that the space could easily be casual living space or a rental unit, with some alterations. Four bedrooms and one full bath, their entrances marked by fixed transoms, wait two levels up. The master is an especially roomy spot, though the home’s age means that there’s no en-suite bath. Buyers looking for such a space could explore finishing the home’s attic — which currently has pull-down stairs — into a master suite. One of the bedrooms connects to
SELLING THE AREA’S FINEST PROPERTIES
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DUPONT 1509 22ND STREET NW 202-464-8400
the master — perfect for a nursery or a home office. Another room is smaller than the others, making it a good location for an office or, as now, a cozy spot to read and watch movies. Drivers will appreciate the home’s location close to the city’s major arteries, but the ShawHoward University Metro stop a few blocks away will also come in
handy. Though LeDroit Park is a quiet neighborhood, the restaurants and shops of U Street and Shaw are close at hand. This four-bedroom, one-bath home at 501 T St. NW is offered for $650,000. For more information, contact Kimberly Cestari of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long & Foster Co., at 202-253-8757 or kimberly.cestari@longandfoster.