What's Hot: How Fast Are Homes Selling in DC?
A $50,000 Anacostia Rowhouse, Transformed
✉️ Want to forward this article? Click here.

K Leszczak’s home.
When her home search started in earnest a few years ago, 25-year-old K Leszczak realized that finding an appealing condo, co-op or rowhouse for around $200,000 in neighborhoods like Logan Circle, Bloomingdale and Foggy Bottom was proving to be difficult.
Her frustration led her to run a search for homes on the market with no price parameters. That online real estate hunt that led her east of the river, where she happened upon a renovated home close to Historic Anacostia and the river that reminded her of Brooklyn. The home, located at 1214 U Street SE, was very tastefully renovated. (UrbanTurf featured it back in 2010, and it was subsequently covered on HGTV.)

Further searching led her to the now-defunct blog And Now, Anacostia, authored by the home’s owner David Garber. In the blog, Garber, now an ANC commissioner in Capitol Riverfront, noted residential and retail investments and heralded Anacostia as an “oft-forgotten neighborhood” whose time was coming.
Inspired by the blog and the renovated U Street SE house, Leszczak put in a $54,000 offer on an Anacostia rowhouse in very rough condition. “The house was unlivable,” Leszczak told UrbanTurf. “Mold, holes, electricity was turned off, no appliances — disgusting.”
Leszczak’s offer was accepted and she spent a year renovating the entire home, spending upwards of $100,000. After getting the systems updated and installing drywall, Leszczak set about renovating the bulk of the home with just the help of family and friends. “I became a frequent customer of Home Depot, IKEA, Lowes and Community Forklift,” said Leszczak.
She completed her project last fall, and now has her eyes on a couple foreclosed properties on Shannon Place SE. Check out the home in the photos below.



See other articles related to: anacostia, and now anacostia, dclofts
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a_50000_anacostia_rowhouse_transformed/6738.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever

When it comes to financing a home purchase, a 30-year mortgage is one of the most com... read »

While the buildings at The Wharf are generally all finished, there are still a couple... read »

Approximately 34% of renters in the DC region are looking for rentals in other metro ... read »

The DC region has yet to see a surge of new listings hit the market in the face of fe... read »

The Sidney is currently offering special pre-sale pricing, a 2.25% seller credit, and... read »
- A Look at the Alternatives to a 30-Year Mortgage
- The Final Two Developments On The Boards Around The Wharf
- A Look At The Renters Moving In And Out Of DC
- DC-Area Housing Market Slowed In February, Fewer Homes Hit The Market
- Sales Are Moving Quickly at The Sidney, One of DC's Only Large Condos Coming in 2025
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro