High above the forested and spectacular expanse of Rock Creek Park, between the sculpted heads of lions on the Taft Bridge, the entrance to Woodley Park presents an urban landscape of contrasting styles. A mural of Marilyn Monroe on the side of a town house is framed against a backdrop of the turn-of-the-century Wardman-Marriott tower. A few blocks north, past a row of international restaurants and fast-food chains catering largely to the hotel’s patrons, the city begins to slip away. Close in, but just far enough from downtown, Woodley Park provides a blend of old and new, city and suburb, quiet neighborhood and tourist attraction.
The neighborhood’s most distinguishing feature is the architectural elegance reflected in the classic Edwardian-style row homes built in the early 1900s.
“Off Connecticut Avenue, the tree-lined blocks of row homes are among the most beautiful in the city,” former resident Michael Grass said. “Garfield Street, between Connecticut and 27th Street, is particularly nice.”
With the Omni Shoreham, the Marriott and the National Zoo attracting visitors from all over the world, the neighborhood still remains a solid choice for families because of its proximity to the park and excellent schools. Oyster Bilingual Elementary School is one of the most sought-after public schools in the city.
“Woodley gets a lot of attention,” says Long and Foster agent Loic Pritchett. “The row homes have unique characteristics that people are attracted to.” Some of the foundations have settled into the hills, creating a European feel to the interiors. Walking the quiet tree-lined streets reminds one of neighborhoods in North London.
Living options range from detached homes with six bedrooms in the $2 million to $5 million range, to three-bedroom row homes in the $900,000s, and smallish one-bedroom apartments available for between $400,000 and $500,000.
The location is not so bad either. Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park and DuPont Circle are 15 minutes away by foot, and Metro’s Red Line stops in the heart of Woodley Park. Apartment buildings on Connecticut Avenue, such as the Art Deco Kennedy-Warren, continue to be popular addresses.
“During the summer, it’s a peaceful walk across the bridges to DuPont and Adams Morgan,” Pritchett says.
The natural beauty and the architecture combine to make it one of the most serenely beautiful spots in the city.
“The sloping lawn from the Omni down into the park is framed with the arches of the Taft Bridge, now more than a century old, and to me is one of the most picturesque spots in the city,” Grass said. “To me, that is more of a monument than anything downtown.”
