52 REAL&ESTATE Real Estate Finance
& FINANCE
Sophisticated Condos at a Bargain Price
by Jillian P. Brown
here is something about owning a piece of our nation’s capital. When it comes to this great city, I am a die-hard fan. I don’t possess the increasingly common “I [heart] DC” t-shirt, and go-go music has only recently begun to grow on me. Nevertheless, like many natives and wannabe natives, I really do love DC. Purchasing a home in DC is only a manisfestation of my love for the capital. Tucked away behind two vacant apartment buildings off Martin Luther King Avenue is a diamond in the rough. Inside the pale yellow building, a Longwood Property, are six beautiful condomini-
T
ums. They offer a unique view of DC. The streets of Ward 8 are at the front door of Eaton Place, while the busy Interstates 395 and 295 and the Frederick Douglass Bridge decorate the backdrop. The view from the living room allows for a perfect ambiance. I had illusions of grandeur as I strolled through the beautifully decorated model unit. I pictured a dinner party, dress shoes walking across the real hardwood floors, champagne glasses, cheese platters spread across granite countertops that crawl up the wall just underneath the maple cabinets in the kitchen. As I turned to the stainless steel Bosch refrigerator my dream evolved to include alphabet magnets
and grocery lists. I ran my hand across the GE gas stove, envisioning a griddle dotted with pancakes for four on a Saturday morning. Hazel Shakur, the RE/MAX salesperson, walked me through the listing details, the gated parking area with two spots for each unit, the video entry and intercom system, the full-size stackable washer and dryer, the impressive 10 closets in the unit. “How much?” I asked, filling in a pause. She replied, “$293,900.” There are some sacrifices that city folks must make; space is usually one of them. But these condos are 1,200 and 1,300 square feet, for under $300,000!
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Shakur continued to speak of the intentional aura of class the developer created in this property, from the heated stairwell to the lighting in each of the closets. She followed closely behind as I strolled through the property, continuing with the sound insulation and the view of the Washington Monument. The property is classy. It has impressive open space and an abundance of natural light. The place has the ability to grow from a single, first-time home buyer to a family of three or even four. One small room with a walk-in closet could be a nursery or even an office. The master bedroom is perfect for couples, with its Jacuzzi tub and décor, reminiscent of a luxury hotel suite. The property is two blocks from the Anacostia Metro station. The National’s Stadium is visible from the living room window; National Harbor, Eastern Market and Poplar Point are just a quick drive away. Today’s market allows those who formerly couldn’t, to pinch off a piece of DC. No matter how one feels about gentrification, changes in Southeast are coming. Eaton Place is ahead of its time, an upper classman compared to its cohorts, and as it stands, it offers a two-sided view of Southeast. On one side there is the bridge to life amidst chaos and the other is a panoramic view of calm Southeast, what it can be and what it will be. Eaton Place, from its square yellow exterior to the posh crown moldings and spacious floor plans, represents a genesis for Ward 8 and at the helm, residents anxious to have a tangible piece of DC. For more information about Eaton Place, visit eatonplacecondos.com, or call Hazel Shakur at 202-669-6310. ◆
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NEW 3 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH DUPLEX CONDOS High Design without the High Price Tag City Living With a View Priced in the Low $300’s
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Joy Fulgham 202-276-1497 | Fairfax Realty 202-471-4200
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