The Wall Street Journal - Capital Living ft. Wardman Tower

Condos Stepping intothe Futureor Backin History

byJulieBennett

ThoseseekingluxurycondominiumsinWashington, D.C.,canchoosebetweenWardmanTower,astately renovatedbuildingthatoncehousedpresidentsand senators,orAmaris,anarchitecturalwonderoftwistedglass overlookingthecity’sbustlingnewwaterfrontdistrict.

JanAdams,abusinesswomanandboardmemberofseveralWashington organizations,choseAmarisandismovingintooneofits96sleekunitsthis month.“It’samagnificentpieceofwork,”shesays,“andI’melatedtobeoneof thefortunateonestolivehere,directlyacrossfromArenaStage Theater,where I’maboardmember.”

Thebuilding,designedbyworld-renownedarchitectRafaelViñoly,withinteriors byinternationallyacclaimedarchitect ThomasJuul-Hansen,isaniconicwaterfront residenceandthe finalnewcondominiumbuildingat TheWharf,aneighborhood developmentbyHoffman-MadisonWaterfront,apartnershipbetweenHoffman& AssociatesandMadisonMarquette,that’sbeenintheworksforadecade.

MichelleGiannini,principalbrokerforHoffmanRealtyandexecutivevicepresident ofmultifamilyandbrandatHoffman&Associates,explainsthatthecity’swaterfront,a mile-longstretchinSouthwestD.C.alongtheWashingtonChannelofthePotomacRiver, ranfromtheMunicipalFishMarkettoFortLesleyJ.McNairwithlittleinbetweenexcept amarina.Nowtheareasportsfourhotels;morethanamillionsquarefeetofofficespace; threelivemusicvenues;17.5acresofparks,piersandpublicspaces;over85shopsanddining concepts;andsevenresidentialbuildings.

“Wehavesomethingforeveryonehere,”Gianninireports.“FromrestaurantsbyMichelin-star chefs,locallycelebratedboutiques,liveentertainmentvenuesandaworld-classmarina,tonearly 100publiceventsayear, TheWharfneighborhooddrawspeoplefromallovertheworldtovisit,but itisalsoacommunitythatconnectsD.C.toitswaterfront.”

ENVIABLEVIEWS

Adams,whohadacareerintheAirForcebeforemovingtoSouthwestD.C.,saysshepurchased acondoinoneof TheWharf’s firstcondominiums,“butwhenIsawthemock-upanduniquenessof AmarisandrealizedIwouldhaveanunobstructedwaterview,Isignedforaunitthere.Ihadawaterfront viewwhenIlivedinGreeceonCreteandwantedthatagain.”

InDecember,sheclosedonatwo-bedroomcondothatfacesthewater,hasaprivateelevatorandtwo indoorparkingspaces.She’sbeenusingthe“amazing”Amarisamenitieseversince.“The fitnesscenteris expansivewithawonderfulvarietyofequipment,andI’vebeenusingthehottubandsaunaseveraltimesa week.It’ssorefreshingafterahardday’swork. There’sevenaprivatetreatmentroomformassagesanda25yardindoorsaltwaterlappool.WhileI’mwaitingforthenewfurnitureIordered,I’veusedtheresidents’lounge forbusinessmeetings.”

Fortyofthebuilding’sunitsaresettled,withover30residentsmovedintodate.Adamsrevealsshe’salreadymetarangeofpeople,“fromMillennialstoBabyBoomersandCongressionalmembers,andtheyare allveryfriendly.”

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Withitssleekdesignandfirst≠rateamenities,Amarisprovidesunobstructedviewsofthecityísnewwaterfrontdistrict.

TheWallStreetJournalnewsorganizationwasnotinvolvedinthecreationofthiscontent.

LAURAMETZLER PHOTOGRAPHYC/OAMARIS

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Amarisisover65%sold,withtwobedroomcondosstartingat$1.43millionandthree-bedroomunitsstartingat $2.86million.“Becauseofthebuilding’s uniquedesign,withitscold-wrapped glassfacadethattwistsasthebuilding curves,theunitsincreaseinsizeasthe buildingascends,”Gianniniadds.

“Wehavesevenpenthouseswith expansiveviewsofthewaterand Washington’smonuments,andtwoare stillavailable. Theyarebothtwolevels, withlivinganddiningspacesonthe second floorsthatopenontolargeterraces,perfectforentertaining,”shecontinues.PenthouseFourispricedat$4.97 millionandPenthouseFiveispricedat $8.39million.

Residentswhoprefertoeatoutcan choosefromthewidearrayofrestaurantsalong TheWharf,where,Adams laughs,shecanenjoy finediningwith friendsandbusinessassociates,“and findplacestotakemygreat-grandchildrenforicecream.”

Soon,residentswillbeabletodine justoutsidetheirdoorstep. The first floor oftheAmarisisdevotedtofoodandbeverageconcepts,includingagarden-inspiredcocktailbar,Zooz,andaPhilippe byPhilippeChow,servingupscale Chinesecuisine,anotherrestaurantstill beingdesignedbyMichelin-starredchef RyanRatino.

UNDERSTATEDOPULENCE

Ifyouareseekingamoreprivate,elegantlifestyle,theWardmanTowersitson ahilloverlookingConnecticutAvenue inNorthwestWashington,D.C.Itissurroundedbytwoacresoflushlylandscapedgardensandofferstranquilviews oftheNationalCathedral,monuments, downtownD.C.andRockCreekPark.

Theredbrick,eight-storybuildingwas builtbyHarryWardmanin1928andcontainedlong-termrentalapartmentsonce occupiedbyDwightEisenhower,Lyndon JohnsonandHerbertHooveralongwith theirfamiliesbeforetheywereelected presidentandmovedtotheWhiteHouse. ThebuildinghasbeenontheNational RegisterofHistoricPlacessince1984.

•$1BILLION+INCAREERSALES

MarinHagen&SylviaBergstrom

MARINHAGEN marin@cbrealty.com

SYLVIABERGSTROM sylvia@cbrealty.com

HAGENBERGSTROM.COM

SylviaBergstromhasbeenatopproducingagentsincestarting realestatein1973,andMarinHagenjoinedhermother’ssuccessful realestatepracticein2007.Theirbusinessisnearly100%repeat andreferral,atestamenttotheirhighethicalstandards,strong negotiatingskills,energyanddiscretion.SylviaandMarin consistentlyrankamongthetop3ColdwellBankerteamsinthe

In2016thebuilding’sinteriorwas completelyrenovatedinto32luxurycondominiums,plusamenitiesliketerraced patiosandanoversized fitnesscenter. DirectorofsalesJenniferFelixreports thatmostunitssoldbeforeandduring thepandemic,buttwopenthouseunits arestillavailable.

Bothfeaturedoublefoyerswith guestsenteringthroughthe firstfoyer, thenwalkingdownagallerywallwhere residentscandisplayportionsoftheir artcollections,intoasecondfoyerthat separatesthelargeformaldiningroom fromthefamilyroom.“Therearesolid woodpocketdoors,”Felixexplains,“so thelargelivingroomanddiningroom canbeclosedoff fromthekitchen.”

Thelargerpenthouse,ontheeighth floor,hasaprivaterooftopterrace,four indoorparkingspacesandaclimate-controlledstorageunit,andispricedat$5.5 million,whichisconsiderablylowerthan itspre-pandemicprice,Felixpointsout.

Thesecondpenthouse,ontheseventh floor,hastwobedroomsand three-and-a-halfbaths,withafam-

Asseeninthisprimarybathroom,theWardmanTower’s apartmentsfeaturesweeping viewsoftheNationalCathedral, monuments,downtownD.C. andRockCreekPark.

JEFFCORNETT

ilyroomthatcouldbeconvertedintoa thirdbedroom. Theprimarybedroom suitefeaturesseparatedressingareas, bathroomsandwalk-inclosets,“which isprettyuniqueinD.C.,”sheadds.Its priceis$4.5million.

“Ourresidentslikelivinginabeautifulhistoricbuilding,”Felixreveals,“but mostofall,theyloveourservices.We haveawhite-glovefrontdeskstaffed 24/7withpeoplereadytocatertotheir needs,whetheritishelpingwiththeir groceriesorassistingwithlock-andleavewhileownersareaway.SixtypercentofourresidentsconsiderWardman Towertheirprimaryresidence,but mosthavemultipleproperties.”

Felixwilltalkabouttheirpets— WardmanTowerallowsuptofourpets perresidence.However,whenitcomes totheresidentsthemselves,Felixisprotectiveoftheirprivacy,offeringonlythat manyofthemareprominentinlawand politicsorworkinadministrativeorambassadorialroles.Ifyoumovethere,who knows?Oneofyourneighborscouldbea futureU.S.President.

CAPITOLCITYORPARTYCITY?

InWashington,D.C.,luxuryhomesseem tobesoldtoshelterfamiliesandentertain friends.Listingsfromhigh≠endcondosin thecitytoestatesinthesuburbsallinclude descriptionsofentertainingspaces. PenthousesinthebrandnewAmaris buildinginTheWharfdistrict,forexample, havesecondlevelswithextrakitchens andgiantterraces,andanewmansionfor saleintheForestHillsneighborhoodhas a500≠bottlewineroom,atheater,agame roomandapool.

LongtimeresidentandrealtorMarin Hagen,withColdwellBankerRealty,says thehomesìforambassadorialtypes werealwaysdesignedforgrandscale entertaining,butpurchasersofsmaller luxuryresidencesstillcareabouttheflow ofpeoplethroughthehome.îEspecially now.ìAftertwoholidayseasonsofless entertainingduetoCOVID≠19,the2022 holidaypartyseasonseemedmuchmore active,îsheobserves.

AndrewGerstel,CEOofthefamily≠ ownedWindowsCateringinAlexandria, Virginia,saysthecityìcamealivewith in≠personevents,galas,fundraisers, weddingsandlargecorporateevents startinglastspring.In≠homecatering becamemorepopularandtheentiresocial scenecontinuedwithpartiesintothefall andholidayseason.î

Weddingplanningwebsite TheKnot lists275caterersthatserveWashington, D.C.,acityof671,803residents.Boston, at654,776residents,has174catering companiesandChicagoís2.7million citizensmakedowith140caterers.Gerstel revealsthatì15to20oftheD.C.companies sharehigh≠endeventslikefundraisersand galasatprominentlocations,andfiveor sixofushavethemostsignificantvolume byrevenue.î

GOODTIMES

Hisfamilystartedtheirbusinessin 1985asarestaurantandswitchedto cateringin1987.Asasecond≠generation operator,Gerstelandhisfamilynow employ75peopleontheirculinary team,50moreforoperations,15event designersand250on≠callstaffóthe waiters,captains,bartendersandothers neededfor200to250eventseachmonth. ìOursmallesteventisprivatediningfor twopeopleforwhichweprovideachef andacaptainforservice.Otherevents canbeaslargeas12,000guestsina majormuseum.Andouroperationsrun 24/7for365daysoftheyear.Wenever close,îGerstelsays. Whilesomeevents,likegraduations andweddings,canoccuranywhere, henotesthatìD.C.isknownasan entertainingtownówealsocaterevents forembassies,lobbyists,politicians andcorporations.Thereareover4,000 associationsthathaveofficeshere andwecatertotheirconventionsand awarenesscampaigns.Ourcompanyhas cateredeventsfortheG8Summitleaders andforpartiesattheWhiteHouseand StateDepartmentwhereweworkwiththe OfficeofProtocol.

D.C.≠areaeventvenuesarebookedfar inadvance,Gerstelsays,with10≠to≠11≠ monthcyclesforlargeevents.Twenty≠one yearsago,DavidEganpurchasedChase Court,aformerEpiscopalparishhouse inBaltimorewithGothicarchitecture, andturneditintoaweddingvenue.ìWe specializeinsmallerweddingsandare takingbookingsinto2024,îEgansays. ìThisyearmanyofourclientsarecouples whoheldbackduringthepandemic. Sometimeswehosttwoweddingsin oneday.î

AtthestylishAmaris,wheretheinteriorsareasimpressiveastheexteriors,residentsspanacross generations—andevenincludeafewCongressionalmembers.

LAURAMETZLERPHOTOGRAPHYC/OAMARIS

WhileTheWharfdrawspeoplefromallovertheworld,it’sacommunitythatconnectsD.C.toits bustlingwaterfrontalongtheWashingtonChannelofthePotomacRiver.

THEWHARF:MATTHEWBORKOSKIPHOTOGRAPHY

ThispenthouseapartmentintheWardmanTowerboastsalargeopenterrace,perfectforentertainingandunobstructedviewsofthepopularcity.

JEFFCORNETT

LUXURYHOUSING MARKETSLOWLY RETURNSTONORMAL

byJulieBennett

ThinkingaboutmovingtoWashington,D.C.?Thisspring maybetheperfecttimeto fi ndacondominiumthere— ifyouhavepatienceandpersistence.

“Plusalittleserendipity,”laughsStacy, who,withherhusbandDavid,spent overayearlookingfortheperfectcondo. “WesoldourfamilyhomeinMcLean, Virginia,sixyearsago,afterouryoungestchildwenttocollege,”Davidexplains, “andmovedtoanapartmentinD.C.totry outhowwe’dlikelivinginthecity.”

“Weloveithere,”Stacyreports.“We foundawonderfulneighborhoodnear themetroandbuslinesandnextdoor totheNationalZoo.We’vebeenwalking throughthezooearlymostmorningsand it’slikehavingaprivatepark.”

ThecouplesearchedforacondominiumwithMarinHagenatColdwellBanker Realty,“buttherewasalwayssomething wedidn’tlike,”Davidadmits.“Thenwe sawaunitina1917buildingthathad beenrenovatedforcondosin2014.We walkedinanditwas,‘Wow!’Ithadthe highceilingsandlargeroomswewanted, andagorgeous floorplan.”

“Plusthreebaywindowslookingout atabeautifulneighborhood,”Stacyadds. “WearesogladMarinwaspatientwith us.We’llbemovingtherethismonth. The onlydrawbackisthatit’sabouttwomiles fromthezooandwe’llmissourfavorite animals.”

PRETTYPRE-PANDEMIC

Hagen,who’slivedmostofherlife inWashington,D.C.,sayspeopleseek luxuryhomeshereandinthesurroundingareabecause“theyprefertobeclose towhatthecityhastooffer. TheyappreciatehavingaccesstothingslikeRock CreekParkandothernearbyNational Parks,ourrestaurantsandmuseums. Unfortunately,we’vehadalowinventory ofhomesandcondominiumsintheupperbracketsforseveralyears,butwesee thatslowlyimproving.” Thegoodnewsisifyoubuyahome here,itwillholditsvalue,”sheexplains, “becausethefederalgovernmentisour ‘industry.’It’snotgoingaway.”

Inthelastcoupleofyears,however,theD.C.-arealuxurymarketwas delugedwithindividualsandfamilies followingthepandemictrendofseekinglargerhomeswithmoreamenities, states ThomasAnderson,presidentof WashingtonFineProperties.Manyhad beenhomeboundbecausetravelrestrictionspreventedthemfromgoingto homestheyowninotherlocations. This resultedinamultiple-biddingenvironmentthatfrustratedbuyersandcaused anunprecedentedriseinprices.

“Nowwehavereturnedtothemore normal,pre-COVID-19balancedmarket thatallowsbuyerstheopportunitytoexploretheluxuryhomesavailable,select thebestpropertyfortheirneedsandse-

curetherighthomeatafair,supportable price.Weareanticipatingmarketprice growthlevelsinthe3%to5%rangethis year,”Andersonpredicts.

“Wehavereturnedtoastrongbuyer poolfromallovertheworld,”saysMichael Rankin,managingpartnerwithTTR Sotheby’sInternationalRealty.“Right nowI’mworkingwithacouplefrom AustraliaandfamiliesfromNewYorkand Californiawhoareallconnectedwiththe governmentordiplomaticservices.”

AREALSURPRISE

LikeHagen,Rankinbelievesthelow inventoryistemporaryandmorehomes willcomeonthemarketthisspring. Inthemeantime,he’shopingthatone luxurybuyerwillrecognizethevalueof a“lovelyestatehomebuiltin2019and stillonthemarket.It’sinthesought-after D.C.neighborhoodofForestHills,has11 bedrooms,apool,aguesthouse,undergroundparkingandelectricchargersfor eightcars,anelevator,ahometheater, plusmanyotherfeatures,andislistedat $10.5million.”

Findingtherighthomeatanyprice takestimeandeffort.MarinHagen’sclientsMikeandMichelle“hadbeenstalkingtheD.C.-arearesidentialmarketfor overayear,lookingforasingle-family homeorcondowithlargerrooms,more privacyandayardforourBostonTerrier,” Mikereports.

“Foramonththiswinter,wetookon homehuntinglikeasecondjob,”Michelle adds.“Welookedatonlineadseveryday andspenteveryweekendatopenhouses. Wehadourheartsbrokenacoupleof timeswhenwemissedoutonproperties. Andwelearnedmanylistingsshowbetteronlinethaninperson.”

Thencamearealsurprise.“Marintook ustoseealargehomebuiltaround1900 thathadbeenturnedintocondos,and theunitsheshoweduslookedevennicer inperson.It’sspaciousandbeautifuland we’llbemovingthereinmid-March,” Michellesays.

Thehighermortgageratesaremaking themarketslightlylesscompetitivenow, Hagenobserves,andpropertiesarestayingonthemarketlonger.“Butit’sstillimportanttostayontopofthemarketand tohavearealestateagentwhoknows whensomethingclicksandwillgetyou inforaviewingappointmentrightaway,” Michelleadvises.

“Donotgetdiscouraged,”Mikecontinues.“Keeplookinguntilyou findthe right fit.”

JulieBennettisafreelancewriterspecializinginfranchising,smallbusiness andlifestyleissues.

IntheKaloramaneighborhood,homebuyerscanoptforaprivatehouse(topleft)orluxuryapartment(bottomleft)—ifthey’reableto findone,thatis.

IntheForestHillsneighborhood,3301FessendenStreetNWiscurrentlylistedfor$10.5million.The property,builtintheChateaustyle,featuresstunninglimestoneconstruction(bottomright).Meanwhile,inChevyChase,Maryland,thishomesoldearlierthisyearfor$4.4million(topright).

COURTESYOFTOWNSENDVISUALS

Itmaybeasmallcity,buttheWashington,D.C., areaencompassesportionsoftwostatesplusthe DistrictofColumbia,andpeopleworkingthereoften findhomesinoneofitsmanysuburbs.

TheWashingtonMetropolitanArea,oftenreferredtoastheNationalCapitalRegion,spreadsout intopartsofMarylandandVirginiaandisknownlocallyastheDMV(forD.C.,MarylandandVirginia). ThisregionissurroundedbyInterstateHighway 495andlocationswithinitareconsidered“inside theBeltway.”

Somedesirablesuburbs,likeChevyChaseand BethesdainMaryland,aresofarwithintheBeltway theirborderstouchD.C.itself,notesMarinHagen withColdwellBankerRealty.“YoucanliveinChevy ChaseandwalkintoD.C.todoyourgroceryshopping.Bethesdahasbecomeabustlingdestinationon itsown,withnewrestaurantsandshops.Evenliving thisclosetoD.C.,youcantypicallygetalittlebitmore spaceforthemoneywhenlookingforahomeoverthe borderintoMaryland.”

HOTSPOTS

NorthernVirginiaandsuburbanMarylandboth containcommunitiesthataredesirableplacesto live,pointsout ThomasAnderson,presidentof WashingtonFineProperties.“Eachofthesemarkets andneighborhoodshasanappealtoluxurybuyersdependingontheirdesiredcriteria—location, proximitytoatowncenter,culturalactivities,restaurants,schoolsandsoon.”

COURTESYOFWASHINGTONFINEPROPERTIES

OneofthemostluxuriousestatesofferedinprestigiousLangleyFarms,thisgated propertyfeaturesahandsomeEuropean-styleManorhouse,guesthouse,infinity poolwithawaterfallandlawnsensuringyear-roundprivacy(left).Meanwhile, thispenthouseunitinGeorgetown’snewestboutiquecondobuilding,TheElliot, boastssoaring10-footceilings,oversizedwindows,impeccabledesigner fixtures andhigh-end finishesthroughout(right).

RealtorMichaelRankin,managingpartnerof TTRSotheby’sInternationalRealty,listsBethesda, ChevyChase,AnnapolisandEaston,Maryland,plus Alexandria,Arlington,McLeanand ThePlains,allin Virginia,aspopulardestinationsonhiswebsite.

Historybuffs,forexample,mightchoose Alexandria,Virginia,eightmilessouthofthecapitalalongthePotomacRiver.Alexandria,population154,706,wasfoundedin1749andstillcontains streets filledwithcolonialhomesandwell-preserved historicsites. Thecharmingcityisa17-minutecar ridefromWashington,D.C.,orcanbereachedby trainorwatertaxi.

ArlingtonCounty(population232,965),just acrossthePotomacRiver,ishometothePentagon andthousandsofrentalapartmentsandtownhousesforFederalworkers,especiallythosewith theDepartmentofDefense,whichisheadquartered there.Asinotherclose-insuburbs,luxuryinventory islow.

MILLION-DOLLARLISTINGS

McLean,Virginia(population50,773),lessthan 10milesnorthwestofD.C.,isknownasoneofthe wealthiestcommunitiesintheU.S.McLeanishome totheCentralIntelligenceAgencyandmanydiplomats,membersofCongressandothergovernment officials.Severalpropertiespricedatover$10millionareonthemarketnow,includingoneofthe mostluxuriousestatesinthehighlydesirableLangley FarmsneighborhoodandlistedbyWashingtonFine

Properties. The$13.8-milliongatedpropertyfeatures astunningmanorhouse,guesthouseandaninfinity poolwithawaterfall.

Inmid-FebruaryHagenreportedtherewere21 activelistingsofhomesover$5millioninMcLean andsurroundingFairfaxCounty.“Thehigher-priced homesdon’tsellasquickly,”shesays,“becausesellers typicallydon’treducetheirpricesquickly.Onepropertyhadbeenonthemarketfortwoyears;whenthe sellerreducedtheprice,itsoldrightaway. Theremay bemoreopportunitiesforsalesnow.”

Inthemeantime,HagensuggestsprospectivebuyersgettoknowtheD.C.suburbsiftheythinkthatis therightcommunityforthem.“Drivearound,then getoutandwalk.Gotothenearestpark,eatatarestaurant,checkoutthepublicandprivateschools,and findoutaboutthecommutetoD.C.,ifyouneedto commute. Themarketislesscompetitivenow,buta newlyrenovatedsuburbanhomethat’spricedright canstilldrawmultiplebids.”

Manyhigh-endhomesneverreachthepublicmarketatall,warnsRankin.“Prominentownerswhodo notwanttheirhomespostedonmultiplelistingservicesor‘forsale’signsintheiryardsoftenrequestprivatelistings.Inthese,well-connectedbrokersalign sellerswithbuyerstheyknowarelookingforsimilar properties. Thesaleishandledwithcompleteprivacy anddiscretion.”Ifyouwantaccesstothatmarket, Rankinadds,alignyourselfwithanexperiencedbuyers’agentwhocanalertyoutoprivatesales.

—JulieBennett