Ditch Your Commute: Foggy Bottom

November 6, 2009

In this week’s Ditch Your Commute, we look at the Foggy Bottom neighborhood in Northwest DC. Its high concentration of federal, international, and educational institutions make it a great choice for those employed by those organizations to live and walk to work.

While not particularly trendy or up-and-coming, Foggy Bottom has long bustled with an oh-so-Washingtonian mix of George Washington University students, professors and staffers and the professionals who work in the neighborhood — employees of places like the State Department, World Bank, and American Red Cross.

With so many employees pouring into the neighborhood each day, it’s no surprise that a number of mid-rise condos and co-ops have served the neighborhood since the 1960s and 70s, while the Foggy Bottom Historic District’s row houses have injected residential charm. Those people who already live and work in the neighborhood are just following tradition: a century ago, the area was populated largely by immigrants who worked at the neighborhood’s lime kilns, breweries, and other local industries.

Of course, no article on Foggy Bottom is complete without at least a mention of the iconic Watergate complex, a 10-acre self-contained “city within a city” as well as a co-op development that gives residents bragging rights for owning a small piece of political history. Winston Real Estate currently has a 904-square-foot one-bedroom unit listed for $370,000 as well as a 1,384-square-foot two-bedroom unit available for $450,000.

Potomac Plaza at 730 24th Street, NW

An alternative is Potomac Plaza Terraces Cooperative. Built in 1961, it has a roof deck with Washington Monument views, a 24-hour front desk, on-site laundry facilities, and underground parking for some units. Studios are available for around $200,000 and one-bedrooms for $275,000.

The neighborhood’s central location means residents can not only ditch their work commutes, they can also ditch the drive to some of the city’s favorite attractions. “From Foggy Bottom, it’s just a few blocks and you’re at the Georgetown waterfront, the Kennedy Center and the West End,” says Gigi Winston of Winston Real Estate, which specializes in the Foggy Bottom area. “We’re in a little enclave that feels more like a neighborhood.” In addition to being close to all these areas, there is also a Trader Joe’s and National Airport is about an eight-minute cab ride away.

One con to the neighborhood is that it doesn’t boast many restaurants, bars, or movie theaters, and the ones it does have tend to be geared toward the college party crowd. Still, Dupont Circle is only about a 15-minute walk away, a stroll which should appeal to those looking to ditch their commute.

4 Comments

Michael said at 4:30 pm on Friday November 6, 2009:
This is an odd “article” to read. One would think there would be at least some mention of the longstanding feuding between homeowners in the neighborhood and GWU.

Freeman said at 9:24 am on Saturday November 7, 2009:
The fee at the Watergate is just incredible - over $1500 for a $370K condo, so the fee will be nearly as much as the mortgage (more than the mortgage, if you’re putting down a lot). Even considering that it includes taxes and utilities, just outrageous.

Simon Landau said at 8:52 pm on Sunday November 8, 2009:
Good read. As you say, many argue that Foggy Bottom is slightly less enticing of a community because of it being the business district. But that’s almost irrelevant because it has such easy access to Dupont and Georgetown. There really is always something to do socially and culturally.

csm said at 12:24 pm on Monday November 9, 2009:
I agree with Freeman. The coop fees are ridiculous. I would never pay that much for such an outdated bldg.