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| | | Car Barn stands test of time | | November 23, 2009 | | | | Staff Writer | | For proof that everything old becomes new again, look no further than the Car Barn condominium on 15th Street NE. The red-brick structure was originally the end of the line for the D.C. streetcar traveling from Georgetown and also hosted storage and repair functions. Though the building became obsolete during the auto age, it will soon witness the revival of streetcar travel as the city lays tracks on nearby H Street.
Even before the arrival of that ballyhooed transit option, there’s plenty to draw home buyers to this gated development, said Realtor Jackie Von Schlegel. Lincoln Park is steps away, H Street restaurants are close by, and during warm months the central pool and sun deck are extremely popular gathering spots, she said.
Von Schlegel should know: She bought a home here after the 1980s development converted from rental properties to condominiums. So she’s comfortable touting her listing along the Car Barn’s “mews,” a brick path lined by trees and residences, as one of the sweet spots of the development.
The one-bedroom unit available is on the lower level of the structure, but a light well helps the red-brick patio feel a bit more expansive. A cafe table and chairs set among potted plants make up the current setup here.
That terrace feels welcoming on an unseasonably warm November day, but the home’s interior is ready for a mercury drop. A wood-burning fireplace perches at an angle to greet visitors at the front door. Not always an easy find in units designed for one or two, the fireplace grounds the home’s living space and lends it a sense of place that many condominiums lack.
The wall color here — a pistachio edging into Tiffany blue — plays well with the warm hardwood floors that line much of the unit. Espresso-stained furniture, like the bar-height table that marks one area of the living area as a “dining room,” also works nicely with the shade.
Pendant lights run along a track above the dining table and in the updated kitchen, where Von Schlegel said the owner has “really maximized the space.” A galley style keeps everything in reach, and full-size appliances including a dishwasher manage to leave enough space for prep and storage. Appliances are white, but a blue-flecked Silestone countertop adds a pop of color to the room.
Closets for storage as well as a full-size front-loading washer and dryer line the hallway to the unit’s sizeable bedroom. There’s carpet in that bedroom instead of hardwood, and full-size windows let diffused sunlight brighten the space.
The owner has also updated the full bath with a calming gray-and-white palette, a pedestal sink and ceramic-tiled shower and bath.
One of the unit’s biggest draws, however, isn’t inside the home but in the garage under the development’s swimming pool: A parking spot conveys with the sale.
Home buyers have little to worry about at the Car Barn, said Von Schlegel. The property has “great management,” she said, and indeed the quiet grounds are manicured even as the growing season ends. When winter storms come, snow removal is swift, Von Schlegel added — but with this cozy fireplace and a perch on the mews, who needs to venture outside?
This one-bedroom, one-bath unit in the Car Barn at 76 15th St. NE is offered for $339,000. Monthly condo fees are $188. For more information contact Jackie Von Schlegel of Von Schlegel Realty Team, a Re/Max Allegiance group, at 202-255-2537 or Jackie@JackieV.com. | | | | | Log in to comment on this article |
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