The Northumberland, Washington, DC, Cooperatives for Sale 

In a city known for its history and traditions, the Northumberland stands as an enduring homage to that bygone era. Built in 1909, the famed structure is located at 2039 New Hampshire Avenue in popular Dupont Circle, and enjoys the status of being one of the “Best Addresses” in James Goode’s book of the same name.

Current Listings for The Northumberland


While people often talk about condos for sale at the Northumberland, the building is actually a cooperative and has existed under continuous self-management since converting from luxury apartments to co-ops way back in 1920. In fact, it is Washington DC’s second-oldest cooperative, and helped usher in that unique trend of residence ownership.

The building was designed by Albert Beers for renowned DC developer Harry Wardman and features a blend of Georgian Revival and Italian Renaissance architecture. What that translates into is a big, blocky seven-story rectangular design with three distinct bands, transitioning from light-colored tapestry brick to traditional red brick with limestone trim and detailed cornice work along the crown. The front portico is graced by multiple columns leading into a grand marble lobby with huge pillars, a 24-hour front desk and wide sweeping staircases. From its earliest days, the Northumberland has been home to Washington’s elite, from politicians to business leaders.

Units at this great old Washington DC building—which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places—range from efficiencies to three-bedroom floorplans with 1,900 square feet. Some of the original details include wonderful old floors combining parquet with intriguing inlay work, thick crown molding, subway tile in the baths and even the old wall safes! But there are also residences with newer flooring, and most kitchens have been substantially upgraded over time with stone counters, stainless steel appliances and more.

The Northumberland has been featured in numerous movies over the years and also enjoys a prime location between Dupont Circle and Logan Circle in the city’s popular 20009 zip code. The building is also right at the western fringe of the U Street Corridor, and easy walking distance to both Meridian Hill Park and the 14th Street restaurant row.

Residents at this historic address can stroll to Harris Teeter, Trader Joe’s and Yes! Organic Groceries to get stuff to cook for dinner. There’s also a great Farmer’s Market on Sundays. The again, with so many great places to drink and dine, why bother cooking? There are also close-by Metro rail stations, fun retailers, entertainment, art galleries and so much more. Real estate prices here range from the low six figures to over a million dollars. But getting owners to part with these legendary co-ops can be challenging.

Living in the Exciting Dupont Circle Community

To stroll through the highly walkable Dupont Circle neighborhood is to experience treasures past and present, with historic mansions and embassies, modern art and music at The Phillips Collection, amazing food at a sidewalk cafes and restaurants, and of course, the famed circle itself with its interior fountain and benches where visitors and residents alike gather to chat and people watch. And that’s just the beginning of what this desirable community is all about.

Dupont Circle is where wide avenues come together at a traffic circle that was built back in 1871. Also, the neighborhood features a grid of smaller north to south and east to west streets. Opulent mansions of the late 1800s and early 1900s were built along Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire Avenues, with some of the most striking examples set at prominent corner lots. Many of the larger single-family homes were torn down in the name of redevelopment, prior to the establishment of the Dupont Circle Historic District in 1978. But there are plenty of row houses and former apartment buildings on the grid streets, including the grand Northumberland cooperative.

Today’s Dupont Circle is a scintillating mixture of old and new. As for the neighborhood’s reputation for great bars and restaurants, a small sampling would include: Iron Gate, The Riggsby, Brick Lane, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Floriana, Rakuya, Little Serow, Agora, Al Tiramisu, The Palm, Komi, Mission, Doyle, 1831 Bar and Lounge and Magnolia Kitchen and Bar. This is by no means a complete list—not by far! Also, eateries come and go in Washington so make sure you do some current research before heading out on your mealtime quest.

The Northumberland FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Northumberland a condominium or a cooperative, and what’s the difference?

A: The Northumberland is a cooperative building. In a condominium, units are purchased along with a share of the common property. In a cooperative, you purchase a share or an interest in the entire property, along with lease rights to a particular unit.

Q: Is The Northumberland a historic building?

A: Yes, it’s a well-known building that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was built by Harry Wardman and designed by Albert Beers.

Q: Is it a pet friendly building?

A: Only if your pet is a cat.

Q: Is there onsite staff at The Northumberland?

A: Yes, there is a grand lobby with 24 hour front desk and concierge service, as well as a roof deck, a laundry room, bike storage, and a guest suite for visitors/family.

Transit Options in Dupont Circle 

Dupont Circle has one of the highest Walk Scores in the District, with a 98 for walking and a 95 for bicycling. It’s a highly sought-after place to live, and a great place to visit as well. Public transit options include the local Dupont Metro Station with its Red Line service. Residents can also avail themselves of the multitude on driving corridors. To learn more about cooperatives for sale at The Northumberland, call Andre Perez at District Partners at Compass (202) 798-3600.

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© 2024 BRIGHT, All Rights Reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website appears in part through the BRIGHT Internet Data Exchange program, a voluntary cooperative exchange of property listing data between licensed real estate brokerage firms in which COMPASS participates, and is provided by BRIGHT through a licensing agreement. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than COMPASS. are marked with the IDX logo and detailed information about each listing includes the name of the listing broker.The information provided by this website is for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Some properties which appear for sale on this website may no longer be available because they are under contract, have Closed or are no longer being offered for sale. Some real estate firms do not participate in IDX and their listings do not appear on this website. Some properties listed with participating firms do not appear on this website at the request of the seller.

Listing information last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 12:00am EDT.