The Claiborne Cooperative is located at 3033 16th Street, NW at the intersection of 16th Street and Columbia Road. Formerly known as The Earlington Apartments, it was constructed in 1909 and was one of prolific real estate developer Harry Wardman’s many apartment projects in Washington, D.C.
Designed by Albert H. Beers (1859–1911), The Earlington was one of the forty-seven apartment buildings designed by Beers for Harry Wardman (1872-1938) A few well-known collaborations are The Dresden Condominiums at 2126 Connecticut Avenue, The Northumberland Condominiums at 2039 New Hampshire Avenue, The Nelson Condominiums at 1733 20th Street, and The Brighton Condominium at 2123 California Street. All of Beers’s projects for Wardman were in the northwest quadrant of the DC, except for The Saratoga Apartments at 653 East Capitol Street SE. The Saratoga Apartments retains many original features such as moldings, cabinetry, parquet flooring, and the original front lobby entryway with oak staircase and patterned ceramic tile flooring.
Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division’s Online Catalog (public domain image – no copyright restrictions)
The four-story, U-shaped brick building has a main entrance set back from the front of each wing, with the rear of the building fronting 15th Street. The building was considered “fireproof” (built with non-flammable materials). The building contained 92 units comprising three-room (studio) to five-room (two-bedroom) apartments, each with a private bath. The amenities included hot water, laundry tubs, drying, and storage rooms. One-half block from the closest streetcar line, the Earlington was listed as “the best apartments in the city for the price.”
Rent over the years……
In 1953, newly equipped with an elevator the building was renamed The Claiborne.
In 2014, the Claiborne Apartments were converted to cooperative housing (also known as co-ops). Mi Casa, a non-profit housing developer, assisted tenants in purchasing and renovating the building, reserving fifty units as affordable housing.
3033 16th Street, NW is designated as a contributing structure of the Meridian Hill Historic District.
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