Condos in Northwest Washington have a roomy feeling and the amenities
Published in The Washington Post May 8, 2014 by Michele LernerWhen Barry Phelps decided he wanted a home more spacious than his condominium on the border of Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan, he looked at 10 to 15 condos, both new and resale, before settling on the Clayton.
The Clayton — at 4800 Georgia Ave. NW in the District’s 16th Street Heights neighborhood — is an apartment building that was recently renovated and converted from rental units to condos by the Calhoun Group.
“I wasn’t wedded to buying either a new-construction place or an existing condo, but I immediately loved the corner unit I ended up buying because it has two balconies and a really spacious feel to it,” says Phelps, whose search was assisted by real estate broker Lindsay Reishman.
Phelps says he likes having a Metro bus stop in front of the building and the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station within walking distance. But he also bought one of the few parking spaces available to residents.
Phelps had some sentimental reasons for buying at the Clayton.
“One of the staged units had a full-size photo of a French bulldog, and I have a French bulldog, so that caught my attention,” Phelps says. “Also, my father and my grandfather are both named Clayton, so those are good signs that I’ll be happy here.”
Shops and eateries nearby: Across Georgia Avenue from the Clayton are shops and restaurants, but 16th Street Heights is primarily an established residential neighborhood of detached single-family houses and rowhouses.
An abundance of bars, restaurants and stores can be found in nearby Petworth and the 11th Street corridor, and the neighborhood offers easy access to downtown Silver Spring, the U Street corridor and Columbia Heights by way of bus or Metrorail. Rock Creek Park is nearby for exercise and relaxation.
535 to 880 square feet: The Clayton’s exterior has been restored, and the interior has been redesigned with contemporary-style open floor plans. The largest unit, 401, has 880 square feet with two bedrooms and two baths. It has an open living and dining room and an open kitchen with a peninsula that can be used as a breakfast bar.
A glass door leads to a balcony overlooking Georgia Avenue. The master bedroom has a bay window and a number of other windows, a walk-in closet and a private full bath with an oversize shower. The second bedroom has a private balcony and a double-door closet. In addition to the second full bath, the unit has a closet with a washer and dryer and a coat closet.
The smallest model, 204, has 535 square feet with one bedroom and one full bath, but it feels larger. This unit has an open floor plan with a living and dining area, a kitchen with a peninsula and a glass door leading to a balcony. The bedroom has a large double-door closet. The unit also has a coat closet and a closet with a washer and dryer.
Sales representative Eric Nicholson says that all the two-bedroom units face east, and all the one-bedroom units face west.
Backsplashes and pendant lighting: The units have hardwood flooring; recessed, pendant and track lighting; stainless steel appliances; Silestone counters; subway tile backsplashes; espresso cabinets and contemporary-style faucets in the kitchen; and Porcelanosa tile and contemporary faucets in the baths.
Buyers of two-bedroom units can purchase a parking space. The building is pet-friendly, and nearly every unit has a private outdoor space.
Schools: Truesdell Education Campus for elementary and middle school; Roosevelt High School
Transit: The building is less than a mile from the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station on the Green and Yellow lines. The bus stop in front of the Clayton is served by the 70 and 79 routes along Georgia Avenue.
Michele Lerner is a freelance writer.
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