When the Kennedy-Warren marks its 75th birthday next year, it will do so as the building it was intended to be–but only recently became.
Originally constructed in 1931, the Kennedy-Warren quickly became one of Washington's most fashionable addresses. Its intricate architectural details and prime location among the tall old trees lining Connecticut Avenue made it the talk of the town. But when the Great Depression hit, construction stopped and the apartment's South Wing was left unfinished.
Spring forward 70 years or so, when the original plans were pulled out of a drawer and placed in the hands of a team of architects, designers, and builders, who finished the project started seven decades ago. Now renting for up to $8,100 a month, the new units honor the original designers' intended grandeur with a combination of historic detailing, such as marble floors, and modern amenities including JennAir appliances and Jacuzzi tubs.
Over the years, this historic landmark has been home to President Lyndon B. Johnson, author P.J. O'Rourke, and dozens of congressional and military leaders. Today, when residents walk into one of two lobbies restored to their original condition, they see the spaces almost exactly as their 1930s counterparts would have–and that's just the way they like it.
