Listing of the Day
Location: Washington, D.C.
Price: $6.795 million
It is a rare find indeed when a meticulously modernized, yet historically important property in the heart of Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood that hasn’t been on the market for 110 years comes up for sale. Yet, that is exactly what buyers will find on a quiet street neighboring the beautiful Rose Park and recreation center.
The semi-detached house, on three levels, plus a basement, has been completely restored with both the home’s history and modern amenities in mind.
There’s an all-white kitchen with marble counters, a butler’s pantry, and a 2,000- bottle wine cellar. The finishes are all high-end, as are the appliances.
"I’ve worked on historic renovations before," architect developer Sassan Gharai explained, "but this was the most challenging and difficult I’ve ever done." A combination of the dilapidated nature of the building and Mr. Gharai’s desire to keep as many original details as possible made it a balancing act.
The redesign pays homage to the original property, called The Hall House, built in 1810 as a two-story stand-alone home. In 1868, astronomer Asaph Hall purchased the property and his ownership is marked by a historic plaque outside the home.
The Stats
The 3.88-acre lot has manicured gardens on three sides. There are seven bedrooms, all with walk-in closets, and seven-and-a-half bathrooms, for a total of 5,250 square feet of living space.
Design Pedigree
"The building was in terrible shape," Mr. Gharai explained in an interview about how his firm came to purchase the property three years ago. "The stairs, brick work, floors and walls have been restored from the original," he said. "If Hall came back today, I think he would recognize the house," Mr. Gharai proudly asserted.
Amenities
The grand master suite features two bedrooms, walk-in closets, and two full his-and-hers baths, both with radiant heated floors. The bathrooms feature heated towel racks. There is an elevator to all three floors.
Hall House comes with two parking spaces and is located two blocks from the Four Seasons Hotel, offering the owner spa membership privileges and a 24-hour garage, included in the price of the home.
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Talking Point
Best known for his discovery of the moons of Mars, Hall lived in the house with his wife Angeline and their four children for nearly 40 years, during which time they added a third story and extensively renovated it to make it resemble the Italianate style of architecture.
The trustees of the Alexander Memorial Baptist Church purchased the property from Asaph Hall’s descendants in 1908. The congregation retained the house as a rectory and support facility and built a new sanctuary abutting the house in 1909.
Agent: Shahab Nasrin, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
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