Historic Wheat Row home drops to $1.15 million

A Washington, DC, Wheat Row rowhouse—built in 1794 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—has been placed on the market for $1.15 million after a $150,000 price cut. The four-floor, 3,408-square-foot home blends colonial details with modern upd

On 4th Street SW near Washington, DC’s Southwest waterfront, a slice of the early republic is waiting for a buyer.

One of the historic Wheat Row rowhouses—constructed in 1794. when there were just 15 states in the Union and Philadelphia was still the nation’s capital—has been listed for $1.15 million after a recent $150. 000 price cut. The property sits close to the water. and the listing blends old-world character with updates designed for modern living. according to Eric Stewart. the home’s listing agent from Long & Foster Real Estate.

Stewart described the home as comfortable for contemporary living while still carrying “the heart of classic colonialism.” He said the seller, a retired history professor, has a deep appreciation for the home’s past—and added that the ideal buyer would share that kind of understanding.

“Everybody wants to be able to see something built in that era, but not everybody wants to live in a home from that age,” Stewart said.

The listing comes with a reminder of what early residents faced. The Wheat Row homes are on the National Register of Historic Places and were among the first housing developments built in DC after it was chosen to become America’s capital city. Today. this rowhouse is fitted with more modern amenities. sparing potential buyers the harsh conditions that first residents endured before DC had a sewage system.

The Wheat Row buildings were constructed by James Greenleaf starting in 1794. The “Wheat Row” name comes from an early 19th-century resident of one of the homes, John Wheat, a gardener and messenger for the US Senate.

Over the decades, ownership and use shifted dramatically. In the mid-20th century, the buildings took on non-residential functions. In the 1940s and 1950s. the Barney Neighborhood House. a community service organization. occupied multiple Wheat Row homes. including the one now for sale. Other units were used for the US Service Men’s Club and a daycare. according to the National Register of Historic Places. Later, with inclusion in the Harbour Square development project in the 1960s, the homes reverted back to residences.

Inside, the home’s scale and layout tell a story of compactness softened by height. The 3. 408-square-foot house spans four floors and is defined by high ceilings and hardwood floors that cover nearly the entire home. including the stairs. Stewart said the rooms feature handcrafted designs and historic touches throughout. He added that wooden moldings in the house date back to the 19th century and possibly earlier.

The woodworking, Stewart said, reflects a common pattern of the era: moldings and trims produced by skilled artisans and influenced by European styles, according to Pebbles & Thorns Woodworking.

Colonial-style light fixtures and chandeliers appear throughout, including low-hanging, candle-like fixtures in multiple rooms. The home also includes seven fireplaces—an unmistakable anchor of Wheat Row’s period style—appearing on every single floor. That defining feature can be charming, but Stewart warned it also complicates renovation.

“The rooms’ layout around the fireplaces complicates any attempts at reconfiguration,” he said.

The house’s vertical design includes a modern accessibility upgrade with an old-soul feel. An elevator allows for easy access between the home’s four floors; although it was added in 2005, it features all-wooden walls inside.

A kitchen renovated in the 1960s sits at the center of the buyer’s calculations. The listing notes that the kitchen is large, but it was last renovated over half a century ago. Stewart estimated it would need about $100,000 of work to bring it into the modern era. He also said a buyer could restore the kitchen’s colonial look and feel using classic wooden cabinets and finishes.

The home also contains four bedrooms and two living spaces, with four full bathrooms plus a powder room. Stewart pointed to privacy as a selling point, noting that the home’s multiple floors allow for separation between residents.

Bathrooms include a distinctive quirk on the third and fourth floors: split bathrooms with a shower and toilet/sink separated by a wall.

Stewart said the property is likely to attract more than one kind of buyer. He described two paths: a buyer who prefers an older style and embraces the property’s uniqueness, or someone prepared to restore the home’s “majesty” while refreshing and renewing it into a 21st-century rowhouse.

“We’re looking for a buyer who likes a home that is older in style and feel and embraces the uniqueness of the property, or somebody that has the vision to restore the majesty of the property, but refresh and renew it into a 21st-century rowhouse,” Stewart said.

“With lots of opportunities for renovation, the home could appeal to buyers looking for a project,” he added, calling it “a good value for someone who has a vision.”

That “vision” may be needed even more than usual because the listing arrives at an uncertain moment in the DC market. Stewart said the housing market in Southwest Washington, DC, has been struggling after a wave of job cuts last year. In that setting. he said historic homes like this Wheat Row property could attract outside buyers seeking to stake a claim in pieces of American history.

The location is part of the pitch. The home is less than five minutes from DC’s Southwest Waterfront, and Wheat Row homes sit along DC’s Washington Channel, running parallel to the Potomac River.

Residents of the Wheat Row co-op, part of Harbour Square, share a rooftop deck that overlooks the water. The co-op also includes amenities such as a shared heated pool, gardens, and a fitness center.

The property also sits near attractions in The Wharf, the mixed-use waterfront neighborhood. The Wharf underwent redevelopment in the 2010s and 2020s, and the area has grown into a bustling modern hub with theaters and concert halls, offices, restaurants, and public spaces.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in February 2026 and was updated in July 2026 to reflect the property’s price drop.

Washington DC real estate Wheat Row Historic homes National Register of Historic Places Harbour Square Southwest waterfront Long & Foster Real Estate historic renovations 1794 rowhouse home for sale