DC’s Hidden Places: French Street

• May 7, 2014

by Lark Turner

In Hidden Places, UrbanTurf takes a look at some of the charming but lesser-known one- and two-block streets in the District. This week, we’re featuring French Street NW in Shaw.

French Street

French Street is a centrally-located one-block street between 9th and 10th Streets NW with S and R Streets NW to the north and south (map). It’s one of the few two-way streets we’ve featured. Visitors coming in from the west will first notice French Street Park, a small gathering space where a few locals were reading on a recent spring morning. It was recently renovated, in part to attract monarch butterflies.

The street is lined with late-19th century Victorian rowhouses on both sides, most of which are three- or four-bedroom homes with English basements. Most, but not all, have been restored. On the southern side of the street, the houses have charming projecting bay windows, and unlike some of the more narrow streets we’ve featured, this street is dotted with trees. Like all real estate in the area, the restored historic homes have seen their values rise in recent years. In 2013, a couple homes on the street sold in the $800,000 range.

The neighbors on this street are friendly with one another, and are known to set up a Christmas tree outside in the winter.

Similar Posts:

• DC’s Hidden Places: Parker Street
• DC’s Hidden Places: Georgetown’s Orchard Lane
• DC’s Hidden Places: Wylie Street
• DC’s Hidden Places: Duncan Place
• The Hidden Block of Georgetown
• Walter Street: The Friendliest Block on the Hill

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dcs_hidden_places_french_street/8456