VISIT THE SITE

The Whitman Condominums: Pure Art Deco Poetry

“I can see the Washington monument from here!” I said as I got up put he seat down and flushed.  Gotta luv the Whitman. It was a dream that began when people did not see much possibility in the Mt Vernon Triangle/Conventiona Center area.  The Whitman has come into its own–it was ahead of its time–just as Mt Vernon Triangle is starting to gel: corner cafes, the new organic Safeway, Busboys and Poets, Convention Center. And I feel it is one of the best contributions to the new condo architecture of the city. The architects were careful to include  all the Art Deco elements of the old with a unique twist that doesn’t make it contemporary but more of how Art Deco may have evolved. The sunset cast to the color in the brick, the cool oversized limestone caps with organic designs all serve to make what could have been a very stark boring box into a cozy home. Yes home. Every part of the building inside and out is about a theme well-executed. The entrance is cleverly blended into the design of the base of the building inviting you to explore but not tacked on like a big ugly nose on a flat face. Even the feel of the oversized, curvy pulls on the full piece of slightly green-cast tempered glass door is something intentional.  The desk concierges there are–and I mean this–ALWAYS the friendliest of all door attendents in the city. (And I have seen a lot of them).  I once dropped off a container of homemade apple sauce to a client who I helped buy a 3-bedroom 2-level unit in the building (absolutely incredible) and did not know that my client had just gone out of town. OH no–the apple sauce probably spoiled! But no, the concierge, without my asking, saved it in the refrigerator until I returned! And my client LOVED the applesauce!  The walls of the lobby are all heavy walnut panels with a bold green stain—so much the art deco green, so bold–but thematicly it transports you—especially offest by the rust limestone tile and the gold semi-circular leather sofa (my all time favorite sofa)

As you proceed toward the elevators there’s a bit of whimsical magic in the multi-colored woven earth tones in the in the carpet that leads you into the inner sanctum, a large portrait of Walt Whitman above a purple velvet armchair with an enormous back the morphs upward, stretched like a Dr Seuss illustration.  The other arm chair bookends the corridor inviting one to rest before the elevators. The lighting is subdued, calming and the colors are natural and golden.  The elevators talk to you—nice touch. And truly are the fastest and quietest I have experienced in a high rise. They too, in decoration, carry on the theme of walnut with deep green stain. 

Take the elevator up to arguably the best rooftop in central DC. The attention to detailed design continues to impress me. Green and flowering vines clutch the brick and dangle from the arbor consruction of pillars and custom made ironwork with quotations from Whitman gently calling to your heart. The lap pool reminds you of the last memorable and relaxing cruise you had—except you are HOME. And just look at the Monument from here. By the way, this is the best seat in the city for the fireworks. Owners each get a couple of tickets for themselves and a guest. It is packed! Already in a couple of years a very strong community has emerged—thats part of the extra value that rare great buildings have: well-built, well-maintained, well-designed and well-attended. And most of all the result of all of these above elements yields a really solid sense of true luxury with the warmth of home.  I am sure Walt Whitman could find a poem here somewhere! 

Realtor notes on the Whitman: the quality is equal to or superior to that of 400 Mass including better windows and with much better and more creative design. So the pricing is going to be a bit above 400 Mass. The Whitman has a much cozier and clear, poetic  and playful theme that is extended throughout the building inside and out than its cousin from the same builder, The 1010 Mass.  Yet its pricing is much more sensible than that of the 1010 Mass falling  a good 60-70k less than 1010Mass. If you are lucky enough to have the rare opportunity to find a unit for sale–GO LOOK AT IT. This is the go-to solid value in Mt Vernon Triangle!

1. Are you renting? (3pt)

2. Are you on a month to month lease? (2pts)

3. Do you have a credit score at or above 700? (4pts)

4. Do you have a credit score at or above 650? (2pts)

5. Do you have access to $10,000 cash? (4pts)

6. Do you have access to $20,000 cash? (8pts)

7. Do you own a home now you bought before 2003? (10pts)

8. Do you own a home purchased after 2003 that you could sell for at or above the price you paid? (10pts)

 

Scoring: Add up the points for the questions you answered “yes” to.

Now use the score to find your place on this chart:

Points               Action

23                  What are you waiting for? Get an agent and get going!

18-22             Your are more ready than you realize. Check out FHA loans!

15-17            Great shape to buy distressed property or get closing cost help.

13-14              Talk to lender/agent. Strategy+sacrifice= great opportunity now!

9-10               You are close! Look at questions. Earn back at least 3 points.

8 or below        Major item may make it a tough time to invest. Talk to an agent.

 

A few hightlights:

This is to be Marriott’s top-of-the-line 4-star hotel. (One of only three in the world) The goal is a building that will “activate” the street life there.  By this the architect explained they want it to have an accessible appearance from the sidewalk. They wanted to avoid a fortress-style place. The construction of lots of glass mixed with stone and steel will give it a very open appearance. And on the sidwalk level you will have 6 restaurants: a Starbucks-style coffee shop, a specialty restaurant, and upscale sports bar, a 3-meal restaurant (all with outside access and sidewalk dining and couple of others, one of which will be indoors.

Groundbreaking on this 13-story above ground (4 story below) will be between April and June 2009.  It will have 1,167 rooms, wil be connected underground to the Washington Convention Center, will have 400 valet-access parking spots. All ugly loading docks will be underground.  They will add a significant amount of green to the wide sidewalk areas around the building–exceeding the city’s requirements. They will be LEAD silver certified.

They also announce that by the the beginning of 2009 they will begin to study and seek approval for their plans to build 2 more hotels of a category they refer to as “urban select” on the land at 9th and L st—preserving all the historical that is there and integrating that into something like Marriott Courtyard or Residence Inn. They no nothing more yet about those.

I am excited about how this hotel will be such a great addition to the neighborhood.  It will increase activity in “the Triangle” and offer more venues for fun.  It will present progress toward connecting better what, up til now have been, “islands” of development (small groups of new stuff that is not connected to other new stuff).  Great things happen when a critical mass of development happens:  stores like Safeway want to open. I see the hotel(s) as a huge contribution to the critical mass needed to secure good growth. I think they are an especially good contribution to the Whitman Condos, Convention Center, M st, Quincy Court on 10th st and Mass Ave etc.  Its presence really fills in what has been becoming trashy—and it seems to sort of “reach out” accross the street to the Cato Institute, 1010 Mass and say “lets warm up this cute area of Mt Vernon Triangle on both sides!