About 509 E Capitol St Se
Open Sun 5/19 1-3pm. Opportunity knocks, it lives large, includes a huge GARAGE, plus potential for unparalleled 4th of July fireworks viewing, AND an interesting backstory to boot! 1st time on the market in 40 years, this massive (approx 3900sf on a 2900sf lot) 5-6BRs/3.5BAs gardener’s dream home features fabulously tall ceilings and elegant entertaining spaces including huge living room w/wood burning fireplace and pocket doors, the coveted main level family room w/built-ins, a banquet-size dining room, immense kitchen w/large breakfast area overlooking lovely landscaped backyard garden, convenient powder room for entertaining indoors and out, plus a HUGE bright primary ensuite bedroom, a large BR-level laundry room, a storage basement, and a large 2 level GARAGE for 1+cars plus storage, w/clever doors opening to backyard that provide additional space for grand garden soirees, all on enviable East Capitol Street, blocks to Brent Elementary. Awaiting your finishing touches to shine in true Grande Dame splendor, this is a quite unique property, built in two completely different time periods and styles. One of the first buildings in the neighborhood, an 1860s map shows it as a 4-room clapboard structure, likely similar to the neighbors to the west, where it had 8’ ceilings, heart pine floors and simple staircase and trim. Then in the 1890s a high Victorian brick "addition" and bay was built in FRONT of that, with 11’ ceilings, 10’ doors (including pocket doors), elegant tall windows, 2 fireplaces (1 wood, 1 coal), gorgeous radiators, elaborate woodwork and heart pine floors. This is the grandeur that greats you upon entering the front door, and it is impressive!
Current owners bought from the estate of May Norton, who, after her previous home had been taken by eminent domain for the construction of the Supreme Court, ran 509 East Cap as the Norton Inn boarding house, bragging in 1937 of “a sink in every room.” After purchasing, the owners did extensive renovation to the 1860 section: rebuilding the foundation, restoring the original rear staircase, replacing the downstairs windows, raising the ceiling level upstairs, and installing a skylight. In the front High Victorian part they removed many of those ballyhooed sinks, 6 layers of wallpaper, and installed an AC system on each floor. They also built a large garage w/a 2nd floor storage loft, fronted by a pretty pergola, and designed a BEAUTIFUL garden boasting 2 types of peonies, hydrangeas, roses, anemones, columbine, heuchera, iris, lilies, bleeding heart, ferns, flowering crab, Japanese maple, crape myrtle and a fish pond. Out front a deep yard is bordered by flowering planting beds and mature dogwood trees. More recent improvements include a new boiler and AC compressors, brick repointing, upgraded electrical, waterproofing and crawl space insulation which were done in 2016, and new roof done in 2013.
Seize a rare opportunity to create the home of your dreams on a large scale, boasting a fun backstory, mere steps to the Capitol (the 4th of July fireworks view from the roof is breathtaking), as well as Eastern Market, Brent Elementary, shopping, dining, and cultural activities, while enjoying an enviable address, and GARAGE parking. Yes, you CAN have it all!
