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| | | Butterfield offers value, not bargain | | January 18, 2010 | | | | Staff Writer | | Realtor Marilyn Charity knows that two of her listings, the last two-bedroom units available in the Butterfield House at 1020 Pennsylvania Ave., face some competition from other new condominiums in the area. But she is adamant that the red-brick 28-unit building stands head and shoulders above the alternatives on Capitol Hill.
“We are a boutique building,” she said. “Our prices are not the lowest in the area, and there’s no argument for that price differential except we’re a better-built building.”
Charity’s claim that finishes at Butterfield are top of the line is hard to refute inside Unit 201, which was briefly occupied by owners who decided to trade up to a larger unit in the building. Reclaimed cherry planks line the floors, and clean-lined cherry cabinets parade around the kitchen walls.
The countertops are Canadian granite, and stainless-steel appliances include a Jenn-Air range and oven. The U-shaped kitchen in this unit offers plenty of counter space for one or more cooks.
Lighting, including pendant lights over the kitchen’s bar, is sleek and contemporary but not overly modern; a range of design styles could easily fit here.
Also notable is what’s not in the unit: street noise. Double-insulated wood windows ensure peace and quiet even in a ground-level unit, Charity said.
A large bay in the open-plan living and dining area is framed by the custom-cut moldings that define all spaces here and lend some architectural gravitas to this new construction in a historic district.
Such details sell, Charity said. “Our buyers really do appreciate the aesthetics of this building. … They like that we look like we’ve always been here.”
But that historic sensibility doesn’t preclude modern conveniences, like large closets, and a washer and dryer in every unit. Bathrooms reprise granite-and-cherry combinations from the kitchen; basket weave tile in these spaces is another classic.
Bedroom flooring transitions from cherry to a flat-weave carpet. Windows outfitted with honeycomb shades line both of this unit’s bedrooms; a Juliet balcony off the master does not have the best view in the building but offers another way to get light and air.
One level below, Unit 102 is sunny despite its lower-floor status. Bays in each room are lined with windows along the upper portion of the wall to maximize the amount of natural light.
Square footage is maximized here, too: The upstairs unit has 990 square feet, while this one offers 1,414 for the same price.
The kitchen takes particular advantage of that extra space. A long bar could seat a half-dozen or more guests while cooks work in the long kitchen behind that bar.
Details matter here: Wrought-iron supports under the granite bar add a decorative punch to an often-overlooked space. And owners have found ways to maximize the details of Butterfield House, noted Charity. One buyer, for example, had a bed custom-made to fit in the bay of his bedroom.
Parking spaces at Butterfield House cost $50,000 for an indoor spot and $35,000 for an outdoor one. But Eastern Market Metro is close by, and Charity said several owners at Butterfield do not have cars. Others find street parking very easy, she added.
The neighborhood around Butterfield is thriving and walkable, Charity said. Neighborhood institution Frager’s Hardware is across the street, Harris Teeter is nearby and Eastern Market is a few blocks away, as is the ever-growing roster of restaurants along Barracks Row.
The two-bedroom, two-bath units at Butterfield House, 1020 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, are offered for $599,000 each. Monthly fees for Unit 102 total $443.04, and fees for 201 are $315.24. Both units are open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Call Marilyn Charity of Washington Fine Properties at 202-544-0021 or 202-427-7553. | | | | | Log in to comment on this article |
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