The Helicopter Factory Condominiums
Located at 770 Girard Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 | Columbia Heights
In a city known for fascinating condominium conversions, the Helicopter Factory may be one of a kind. You’ll find the recently completed project on hilly Girard Street near the corner of Sherman Avenue at the eastern edge of Columbia Heights. This area is also sometimes known as the Pleasant Plains neighborhood. There are actually three street addresses, 770, 772, and 774 Girard Street, reflecting three former warehouses that have been combined for a total of 15 very hip and modern residences.
THE HELICOPTER Condos for Sale
The oldest building dates back to the turn of the 20th century and belonged to Emile Berliner, a prominent inventor who worked for Bell Telephone in Boston before founding the Gramophone Company in Washington, DC in 1894. Berliner next turned to rotary engine research, creating the Gyro Motor Company at his Girard Street workshop which had the address of 774 Girard with its primary entrance along the Fairmont-Girard Alley. Berliner was a prolific inventor, including the microphone, a mass-production loom, and various light flight and helicopter designs.
Flash forward to 2016 and the transformation of the historic property by Brick Lane and Brook Rose Development. The project was both ambitious and unique, focusing on a small number of spacious loft-style condos, rather than the more typical methodology of maxing out the number of units. Floor plans range from 1,200 to 5,100 square feet in size. Most of the loft condos front along Girard Street. Berliner’s alleyway workshop houses two extra-large townhouses. The third warehouse was deconstructed and turned into a landscaped courtyard, with old walls and beams remaining in place.
More About the Helicopter Factory, Washington, DC
Washington’s adaptive reuse condominiums are numerous and varied, due to the city’s propensity for historic preservation. Examples on Capitol Hill include the Car Barn (once used for streetcar storage and repair), Carolina on the Hill (formerly a home for working girls), the C&P Telephone Company, and the Edmonds School. The Yale Steam Laundry in Mount Vernon once cleaned linens for the White House, while the Columbia Residences in the West End is a former women’s hospital dating back to the Civil War era. Rainbow Lofts in Logan Circle used to be an autobody shop, the Chinese Embassy in Adams Morgan housed various Chinese diplomatic legations, and the Masonry Lofts in Old Town Alexandria served variously as a cotton factory and a brewery before turning to condo living. But the Helicopter Factory certainly stands on its own, as a place that once manufactured whirley bird motors.
Condos at the Helicopter Factory feature a variety of multilevel layouts, including lofts and even townhouses. Finishes can include exposed overhead beams, brick walls, sliding barn doors, wide-plank European hardwood floors, handsome staircases, tall built-ins, modern chef’s kitchens, and luxe bathrooms with Restoration Hardware vanities and fixtures. Virtually all units have private outdoor spaces of some sort. The property is close to the McMillan Reservoir, Howard University, Bruce Monroe Community Park, and the historic Banneker Recreation Center with its mammoth swimming pool and athletic fields. There are lots of local shops and restaurants, including along Georgia Avenue. Food gathering is a snap at the nearby Whole Foods Market, Sonya’s Market, and the 14th and U Farmers Market.
To learn more about condos for sale at the Helicopter Factory, please call Andre Perez at District Partners at Compass, 202-400-3040.
The Helicopter Factory, District of Columbia FAQs
Q: What neighborhood is the Helicopter Factory actually in?
A: The condominium is at the eastern edge of Columbia Heights. Some would also consider this area to be Pleasant Plains. The Shaw neighborhood is nearby to the south.
Q: Is the Helicopter Factory pet-friendly?
A: Yes, it is. The Columbia Heights Dog Park and the Shaw Dog Park are good places to take your canine companion.
Q: Is parking available at the Helicopter Factory?
A: There are a limited number of assigned surface parking places on the property. There is also street parking.
Q: Are there any Metro stations in the area if I choose not to drive?
A: The Columbia Heights Metro Station on 14th Street is reasonably close, and there is also the option of the U Street Metro.
