Mystery Building Up For Sale
You don’t have to be PoP to obsess about homes that are not yours. This is one of the city’s great pastimes: walking its blocks and gawking at its homes. We are all rubberneckers for a great built-in library, interesting stained-glass, a well-manicured yard, a big, well-lit living space.
Then there are the mystery buildings–the places that either look like rundown embassies or the once-grand quarters of some senator or freaky cult. I’ve spent a lot of time recently trying to figure out the large Grey Gardens-style joint at 1720 16th Street NW.
The building has 15 bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, and covers 6,700 Sq. ft. And a big-ass horror-classic gate. Inside, there must be a candelabra or two, a player piano, some Anne Rice books, and of course, Magick.
I could be wrong about the Magick. The building rarely appears occupied. On only one occasion did I find people hanging out on its stoop. I took this as my big chance to find out what goes on inside.
I carefully walked past the gate. I asked as politely as I could a variation on “What the hell is up with your building?”
Unfortunately, the kids decided to be snotty about it and refused to tell me. Now the building is for sale. List price: $7.5 million.
9 Responses to “Mystery Building Up For Sale”
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
- Is There An Undercover Goth In Your Workplace? (0
)
… - Let Bolt = Phelps (9)
Usain Bolt provided the biggest thrills from Beijing. But he wasn't given the sustained attention Mi… - Baptism By Fire Hose Confuses All (1)
This Sunday, Shaw's United House of Prayer for All People will hold its annual "Baptism by Fire Hos… - Our Morning Roundup (0)
* Ben's Chili Bowl turns 50, remains more delicious than my parents. * Liz, the new hater over at w… - Gray Bulldogs Fenty on School Renos (0)
You may have read about the problems with school construction this summer in the Washington Post yes…
- Is There An Undercover Goth In Your Workplace? (0
June 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
totally like grey gardens!!
June 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
That’s the former Toutorsky Mansion, built in 1893. There’s plenty of information on it in the book “Sixteenth Street Architecture” - not sure if it’s in volume 1 or 2 offhand. Will check the books when I get home.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I think it’s a bed and breakfast or was.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/photo-washington-dc-toutorsky_mansion.html
June 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
To give some credit here, a web-savvy reader sent me that link.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
a co-worker stayed there at the bed and breakfast a month or two ago. apparantely the guy running it is well-known in the neighborhood…and makes a pretty decent breakfast!
June 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
“What the hell is up with your building?”
That’s funny, because that is awfully close to the phrase “What’s With That House?”
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hwth/episode/0,,HGTV_24598_49549,00.html
June 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Maybe the double-womb/triple-fetus doctor should buy it to house her expanding brood.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
It’s not so much a mystery. Get your coffee at Java House on 17th and meet the owner. He’s the tallish, thinish, youngish and fitish looking Cuban guy.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Was a National Symphony Show House one year in the 90s, I think. Guy named Bruce Johnson used to own it. Pete Rosenstein used to throw the odd fundraiser there.