Average sold price in the 20008 ZIP code: $1,088,991
| At a Glance: |
| October 2010 |
| Average list price in the 20008 ZIP code: $1,186,252 |
| Average Days on market for homes sold: 59 |
| Average sold price in the 20008 ZIP code: $1,014,828 |
| Average list price in the 20008 ZIP code: $1,103,547 |
| Average Days on market for homes sold: 49 |
In a city booming with urban development, the Washington enclave of Sheridan-Kalorama is one of the few neighborhoods in the District that hasn’t changed at all. Take a walk down Kalorama Road and you’ll see sprawling 19th century mansions, the French ambassador’s regal manor and Washington’s oldest house, a Georgian Colonial called “The Lindens.” Bound by Connecticut Avenue and Florida Avenue to the east, Kalorama benefits from the natural borders of Rock Creek Park to its north and west.
Sweeping park views and its proximity to the city make this sleepy residential locale one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Washington. When Joel Barlow, a 19th century diplomat and writer, originally purchased the area in 1807 he named it Kalorama, Greek for “beautiful vista.” Today, residents still can witness the rolling green features of Barlow’s Kalorama as they take a sunset walk across the Taft Bridge.
“When you compare other capitals with Washington you see that D.C. is so green,” said Nora Poullion, owner of Restaurant Nora on Florida Avenue and R Street. “And living in Kalorama you are so close to the greenery of Rock Creek Park.”
A 27-year resident of Kalorama-Sheridan, Poullion raised her children in the neighborhood before moving to Georgetown in 1997.
“Kalorama is a very beautiful space; it has all these big villas and is just beautiful to walk around,” Poullion said. “When my children grew up they would skateboard down the streets in the summer and sled down them in the winter.”
Sheridan-Kalorama is known for its social and historical significance and has been the home of five U.S. presidents: Warren Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, William Taft, Herbert Hoover and Woodrow Wilson. “The historical relevance of the neighborhood and traditional architecture is very important to us,” said Mary Eva Candon, a 37-year resident. “We love the neighborhood and take a lot of pride in preserving its history.”
The bulk of Washington’s foreign embassies can be found in Sheridan-Kalorama, and the ornate mansions and chancelleries of Massachusetts Avenue are a draw to tourists and D.C. residents alike.
“We have the most embassies of any area in the city and it’s very interesting to have such an international feel to the neighborhood,” Candon said. “If you’re somebody that loves international and government affairs and you have to have a home in Washington, Sheridan-Kalorama is the place to be.”
The stately mansions of Sheridan-Kalorama possess architectural styles that vary between late Victorian and Italian renaissance to Gregorian and Tudor revival homes. “The neighborhood has a very good cross section of late 19th and early 20th century American residential design,” said Howard Beger, acting supervisor of the Sheridan-Kalorama Historic Preservation Section. “The architectural and historical significance of the neighborhood appeals to me. Plus I like the in-town location and convenience that Sheridan-Kalorama affords.”
The neighborhood has retained its sleepy elegance while bordering some of D.C.’s most exciting nightlife. Residents are a stone’s throw from two Metro stops and the buzzing attractions of Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and the U Street corridor.
Bargain hunters beware, however, as the homes in this neighborhood come with hefty price tags. The average sales price for a single family home in Sheridan-Kalorama is $3 million, with some listed at $9 million or more. Even a modest two-bedroom condominium starts at $550,000 and can fetch as much as $1.5 million in today’s market.
“It’s very expensive to live here,” confirmed Candon. “But Sheridan-Kalorama is about the perfect place to live in the District of Columbia. It’s always been a great neighborhood and we work to keep it that way.”
