It was difficult to tell who was whose best friend as Nenad Veljkovic walked a buddy’s greyhound, Kelly, around McLean Gardens during a brisk but sunny lunch hour. Dogs are seemingly everywhere in the 23-acre Northwest Washington neighborhood.
So too, are friendly neighbors. Veljkovic works nights at a restaurant so he happily walks Kelly in the wooded and grassy areas during the day while his friend takes his dog, Bella, for a walk every evening. It’s a win-win for man and canine alike.
| At a glance |
| February 2011 |
| Average sold price for all homes sold in ZIP code 20016: $744,824 |
| Average sold price for attached homes in ZIP Code 20016: $507,600 |
| Average list price for all homes sold in ZIP code 20016: $719,884 |
| Average days on market for all homes sold: 129 |
| February 2010 |
| Average sold price for all homes sold in ZIP code 20016: $600,237 |
| Average sold price for attached homes in ZIP Code 20016: $461,259 |
| Average list price for all homes sold in ZIP code 20016: $628,912 |
| Average days on market for all homes sold: 61 |
“There are a lot of advantages you have here,” said Veljkovic, who moved to the condo community two years ago. “I lived in Arlington, Capitol Hill, Glover Park, but it seemed too crowded. Here it’s quiet but you’re in the city. It’s a nice compromise.”
Built in the 1940s by the federal government to house World War II defense workers, McLean Gardens might be Washington’s most unique address. It includes 31 garden-apartment style brick buildings that were converted to condominiums in 1981.
The buildings house duplexes, flats and lofts. Its roughly 1,000 residents enjoy amenities including a pool, dog park, tennis courts, barbecue areas, and a prime location just off Wisconsin Avenue near the National Cathedral.
“It’s like living in an English village,” said Lucinda Treat, who has called McLean Gardens home for 16 years. She was walking her Havanese dogs, Cali and Che, on Porter Avenue, the community’s main drag. For a time, her son lived in the neighborhood with his twins.
While there are no retail stores actually on the grounds, there is plenty of shopping a short walk away. A Giant grocery store and several restaurants, including the incomparable 2 Amys pizzeria and Cactus Cantina, a favorite of former President George W. Bush when he lived in town, are just around the corner.
Head the other direction on Wisconsin Avenue to the north and Tenleytown awaits with the Tenleytown Metro station and shops like the Container Store.
Sandra Loftin, who had just walked home from the Metro, has lived in a two-bedroom McLean Gardens condo since 1985.
“It’s beautiful year-round,” said Loftin, whose husband, Adrian, helps to keep it that way. He maintains a garden near the community pool and one that abuts their building.
The greenery is a main reason people are drawn to the neighborhood, said Pervaiz Ahmed, the community manager. The community has a Sustainability Committee that works to better the environment through the best use of natural resources.
“There are very few places in Washington with the lawns we have,” he said. “People enjoy walking with their families and pets.”
The grounds are well kept and in the winter the sidewalks are quickly cleared of snow, Loftin said.
That level of service is included in residents’ condo fees, which range from $250 to $700, according to Ahmed.
An activities committee stages events throughout the year, including a Halloween party, yard sales, and a Fourth of July parade. All McLean Gardens residents, including the four-legged ones, are invited to enjoy the festivities.
“You don’t have many areas in the city that are this dog friendly,” said Veljkovic as Kelly sat in the grass. “It’s easy living.”
Top Reasons to live in McLean Gardens
Amenities
Residents enjoy the community center pool, tennis courts, barbecue area, bicycle racks, parks and a dog park. There’s plenty to do without ever leaving the grounds.
Ballroom at McLean Gardens
The ballroom is a popular events facility in the metro area, used for weddings, holiday parties and other special occasions.
Greenery
The name “Gardens” says it all. Few urban neighborhoods have the wide swaths of grass and trees that McLean Gardens boasts.
Location
Just off Wisconsin Avenue between Tenleytown and Glover Park, McLean Gardens is within walking distance of plenty of restaurants and retail stores and three Metro stations — Cleveland Park, Van Ness and Tenleytown.
