1633 16th St NW

About This Property

The Downton Abbey of Washington. Historic Former Embassies Victorian-era, Furnished Mansion- Ideal for Diplomats A "True Landmark" located on the Avenue of the Americas, only a few blocks from the White House. Corner lot (16th & R St NW) Semi-detached Queen Anne, Victorian-era with spacious entertaining rooms, 8+ bedrooms (4 beds, other bedrooms are set up as sitting rooms), 6 1/2 bathrooms, beautifully detailed wood carved staircase, tall ceilings, crown moldings and multiple fireplaces throughout. 4 levels of Grandeur! Gourmet Kitchen with two dishwashers, two ovens, and upscale appliances. Property conveys "FULLY FURNISHED" (Will consider unfurnished) Ideal for Diplomatic use or for CEO home/office. Maximum of six (6) non-relative tenants. (More if related).The property is close to grocery stores (Trader Joe's, Safeway, Whole Foods, etc.), restaurants, and bars in addition to a variety of other commercial establishments. The property has a walk score of 96, riders score of 93, and bikers score of 94! Dupont Metro is .5 miles away (red line) and U Street Metro is .5 miles away (Green and Yellow line). There are also several bus routes in the general area, S1, S4, S2, S9, G2, 54, 53, and 52. There are ten Capital Bike shares within 5 blocks!The application fee is $75 per person. The building is professionally managed by Chatel Real Estate. $350 flat utility fee which includes water, electric, and trash removal. Tenants are responsible for gas. One year lease minimum lease (will consider a 6-month short term lease at a higher monthly rate and also open to a longer-term lease). First month's rent and a security deposit equal to one month rent due at lease signing.Dogs under 30pounds are warmly welcomed with a one-time pet fee of $750. Sorry, no cats.HISTORY OF THE HOME: This large corner residence, a mixture of the Romanesque and Queen Anne styles, was constructed in 1885 for George A. Shehan, the owner of a prosperous lumber company once located on the present site of the Federal Triangle. W. Bruce Gray, a transplanted New York architect who often worked in partnership with Washington architect Harvey Page, was responsible for the design. Other notable buildings designed by the Gray & Page firm include the old Army and Navy Club and the Metropolitan Club. The builder was John McGregor, a Sottish-born master builder who worked with Washington's most prominent architects between1885 and 1910. The house costs approximately $25,000 to build, including a detached, two-story carriage house at the rear of the property. A conservatory connecting the two structures was built in 1923. A photograph of the residence appearing in Washington: Houses of the Capital highlights the most prominent feature of the structure: the five-story tower with its ornate, wrought-iron balcony. The Shehan's lived in the house until George's death in 1903. Theodore D. Wilson, the chief constructor of the US Navy Department and the owner of the adjoining home, purchased 1633 16th Street and leased it to the Bolivian government in 1919 for use as the Bolivian Legation, the residence of the Bolivian foreign minister. Vintage photos of the house indicate it also once served as the Embassy of Ecuador. In 1923, prominent Washington businessman Robert L. Pyle purchased the property and converted it into a residential hotel known as the Bolivian Club. In 1951, the Pyle family purchased the adjoining house and connected it to the Bolivian Club by creating openings in the party wall on every floor. In its heyday, the Bolivian Club offered guests a choice of 42 bedrooms and 22 bathrooms, meals included. In 1977, the Bolivian Club was converted into an office building and remained so until a new owner bought the combined structure in 1992. The owner subdivided the structures into their original configuration as two separate residences in 1993 and converted the corner house into a residence.. The house has been extensively and sensitively restored.

1633 16th St NW is a townhome located in District of Columbia County and the 20009 ZIP Code. This area is served by the District Of Columbia Public Schools attendance zone.