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Cleveland Park: Living With History (LOCALISM FEATURED)

In the late 1800's, Washington, DC was so hot and had so many mosquitoes, that it's residents really did have to get out of town - unless they wanted to deal with a case of typhoid fever! And when the wealthier citizens left town, they often headed for Cleveland Park.

It was named for President Grover Cleveland, who was one of its earliest renovators. He bought an old stone house near 35th and Newark Streets and renovated it for use as a summer White House. He sold it when he left office, and unfortunately it fell to the wrecking ball.

In the late 1800's, street car lines linked the neighborhood to downtown and changed its character, turning it into one of the capital's early suburbs. Today's Metro system replaces the long defunct trolleys.

While President Cleveland's house was torn down, many of the big old frame houses remain, with their wrap-around porches and original details in tact. And there is an active neighborhood historical society that keeps its eyes out to keep real estate developers from doing anything that could mess with the neighborhood's architectural character.

Cleveland Park is now a serious foodie's paradise. There are restaurants from every continent except maybe Antarctica. Sidewalk cafes line Connecticut Avenue near the local Metro Stop.

And when a new movie desides to have it's premier in Washington, they usually choose Cleveland Park's Uptown Theater as the venue.

The National Cathedral (you see it on television whenever a President or other famous American dies and has a huge funeral) is one of the neighborhood major anchors. If you come to visit Washington, an elevator ride to the top of the tower will give you a commanding view of the city. And its gift shop has one of the best selections of gargoyles in the country.

And no conversation about Cleveland Park is finished with talking about that neighborhood landmark, the Broadmoor Cooperative. It was home to, among others, Huey Long, when he served as the Senator from Louisiana. And the Broadmoor deserves a blog of its very own!

Posted by Patricia Kennedy on 08/27/2008 11:41 PM

Comments (14)

Cleveland Park in the Regional (Localism) Channel

This post has been included in District of Columbia Information District of Columbia County, DC Information Washington, DC Information
Post is included in group: Historic Homes
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism
Post is included in group: Realtors®

14 Comments on Cleveland Park: Living With History (LOCALISM FEATURED)

I love Cleveland Park, wish I lived in DC sometimes.

08/27/2008 07:55 PM

by Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group)

Patricia, Thanks for the history lesson as I was not familiar with Cleveland Park. I know more about the west than the east.

08/27/2008 09:00 PM

by Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro ABR (Results Realty)

Audrey, DC is a fun place to live!

And Marchel, actually, it is pretty west, actually northwest.

08/27/2008 09:12 PM

by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company)

Leave it to Pat Kennedy to write a very good and informative blog on Cleveland Park. I like Cleveland Park as well. Its not too far from the Zoo. Very nice area. Thank you very much for sharing this with us about Cleveland Park Pat. Great post.

08/27/2008 11:50 PM

by Lanre Folayan "Buy Washington DC Real Estate" (Exit Premier Realty")

Congrats on the localism feature.........DC's defintiely on my list of places to see before I........well lets just put it - places to see! :-)

08/28/2008 12:05 AM

by Liz Moras- Team Leader & Managing Broker Keller Williams Valley Realty (Serving Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley & Fraser Valley)

Pat, Congratulations on the featured post. I have not been to DC in a while and the post makes me want to visit again.

08/28/2008 04:58 AM

by GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (ReMax Centre Realtors)

Patricia, you drew me in. The local articles that I absolutely love are the ones that make me yearn to visit the areas. This one has me yearning :-)

08/28/2008 08:13 AM

by Kris Wales-Macomb County MI real estate -Ask me about buyers agency in Michigan (Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center)

Cleveland Park is indeed a wonderful area in DC.

There are also some beautiful classic Victorian turn of the century (19th Century) homes in Cleveland Park. They are pricey and fabulous.

08/28/2008 09:15 AM

by Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate

Lanre, it's just on the other side of Klingle Valley - and an easy walk for fine dining after communing with the animals!

Liz and Gita, let me know when you're coming - we can grab a bite at one of the Cleveland Park eateries!

Kris, I often think it would be fun to do "off the beaten path" types of tours for friends who come to visit!

And Lenn, also a lot of Queen Ann stuff. And they are pricey - I just sold a cottage for almost $2million. But they are also totally fabulous.

08/28/2008 11:54 AM

by Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company)

Thanks for a lot of good memories. I lived in Cleveland Park for about a year - it's hard to believe that is has been over 30 years. I loved the National Cathedral. It's great to hear that it sounds like an even nicer place to live than it was so many years ago.

08/28/2008 04:18 PM

by Tom D

Wasn't it the Broadmoor that was the first 'air-conditioned' building - or one of the first?? They had the huge fans on the lower level that drew up the cooler air from Rock Creek in the summer, as I recall. I used to love the restaurants on Conn Ave. Ardeo, and New Heights, and a lebanese taverna which also had a location in Arlington. You reminded me why it was hard to leave DC - as much as I love being in Portland OR - I loved DC too. For awhile I lived in one of the old pre-war co-ops -- across from Meridian House. The two cities remind me of each other -- quadrants, two rivers, walkable,wonderful archetecture, etc! thanks.

08/28/2008 04:19 PM

by Alexsandra Stewart, Broker -Portland Oregon Real Estate- (Remax equity group)

Pat - you bring Washington DC neighborhoods to life! Your words here are wonderful, but nothing compared to actually having a DC tour with you! That was great! So when are you coming to St Pete?

08/28/2008 09:09 PM

by Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.)

Wonderful Localism post .. thank you for sharing!

08/28/2008 10:56 PM

by The Woodlands Texas Real Estate >>Spring Homes Pippa MAC (Remax Realtor, The Woodlands and Spring)

Pat - Thanks for the history lesson, I have enjoyed get acquainted with so many places all over the country without leaving home. Mosquitoes, I know how vicious they can be, I would leave town too.

08/29/2008 07:04 AM

by Jennifer Fivelsdal, Rhinebeck NY (Keller Williams Realty)

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