The Iconic Watergate Community
It has been nearly 58 years since the Watergate complex first broke ground and 50 years since its completion. History may best remember the sprawling waterfront property as the site of the nation’s most famous political scandal, with the 1972 break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters leading to the impeachment and resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. Intrigue aside, the luxurious residential cooperatives for sale at the 10-acre complex certainly endure as elite places to live.
There has always been a distinct sense of style associated with the Watergate. The curvilinear concrete structures in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood embody a trailblazing mid-century modernist vibe, courtesy Italian architect Luigi Moretti. The project was just one of many for a notable design master and publisher whose work and influence spanned the globe. The landscape design by Boris Timchenko was also memorable, with lush plantings, rooftop gardens, fountains, multiple swimming pools and of course, breathtaking views of the Potomac River.
Washington's First Mixed-Use Development
The Watergate was wholly unique in Washington when it first opened, the first mixed-use development in the city and a forerunner to what eventually would be termed “live, work and play” communities. In addition to apartments for sale in three buildings, plus offices and a hotel, there were also businesses and underground shops, with a post office, a florist, a Peoples Drug Store, a Safeway supermarket, a liquor store and more. In the early days, the address was a social hub with cocktail mixers in the hotel lobby. Retail development continued with the opening of Les Champs, a street-level strip of high end fashion boutiques such as Yves St. Laurent and Gucci.
Changes Come to The Watergate in Foggy Bottom
Nothing remains constant, however. Many of the old go-to stores and attractions at the famed address closed their doors, replaced by others. You’ll still find some of the old tried-and-true gems, such as Watergate Pastry, open since 1966 and still serving up over 100 varieties of sinfully rich desert treats. There’s also the newcomers, like The Next Whiskey Bar in the Watergate Hotel, featuring curved illuminated walls made up of 2,500 whiskey bottles, in a shape mimicking the design of the complex itself.
Much has changed in Washington since the 1960s, yet much has remained as well. The seat of federal government is like no other place, with centuries-old row houses standing in stark juxtaposition to glass and steel structures with cantilevered facades. Nowhere is that dichotomy more event than the heart of the city, from the West End to Downtown and Capitol Hill. For some, the grandeur and tradition of the Watergate began to fade, as new developments like Westlight and CityCenterDC emerged. But just as change is constant, so is the cyclical nature of what’s cool and what’s not.
And so, that tried and true metonym for Washington politics and scandal has found a new resurgence, although longtime residents might still scoff at the notion that it ever lost relevance. Once a staple of the nightly news and silver screen, the Watergate and its super spacious luxury co-ops for sale are again in hot demand. Original parquet floors and mid-century kitchens are saying goodbye as top architects and designers offer stunning new takes on old-school modernism. One thing that can’t be improved on is the prime location, with Kennedy Center a stroll away and picture legendary river views from those sweeping balconies.
To learn more about the Watergate, call Andre Perez at District Partners at Compass, 202-798-3600.
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