228 Rhode Island Avenue NW is a rare find in one of DC's most vibrant and connected neighborhoods — a classic 1910 rowhouse in the heart of LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale with a fully self-contained English basement, 20 years of uninterrupted occupancy, and the kind of bones and location that make every type of buyer take notice.
This classic 1910 rowhouse carries the charm and character that only a century-old DC home can offer — tall ceilings, gracious proportions, and architectural detail that newer construction simply cannot replicate. The main level offers two generous living spaces, a formal dining room, a kitchen with rear entrance, and a half bath. Upgraded LVP flooring runs throughout the main and upper levels, and a washer and dryer are conveniently located on this level. Natural light fills the space throughout the day. Upstairs, four bedrooms and a full bath complete the upper level, with the primary bedroom opening to a private balcony overlooking Rhode Island Avenue. Freshly painted and ready for its next chapter.
The English basement is fully self-contained — its own front and back entrances, its own HVAC system, its own utility metering, its own washer and dryer, and a generous layout featuring a living room with LVP flooring and recessed lighting, dining area, a bedroom with a closet and windows, a full bath, and a kitchen with a new refrigerator, new range, new tile flooring, and sink. A large storage closet adds practical space beyond the bedroom closet. This level functions entirely on its own.
For the right buyer, the opportunity here is layered. This home has been consistently occupied for over 20 years without a single vacancy — a testament to the demand this location and property command. Live on the main and upper levels while the basement works for you, or renovate strategically — combine two upper level bedrooms into a primary suite with an ensuite bath, expand the kitchen, and meaningfully reposition the asset. The layout and bones invite all of it.
And then there is the location. LeDroit Park — Bloomingdale is the 13th most walkable neighborhood in Washington DC, with a walk score of 88 — and it earns every point. Big Bear Café anchors the neighborhood with its beloved coffeehouse, garden patio, and the Bloomingdale Farmers Market every Sunday morning. The Red Hen — one of the most acclaimed Italian-American restaurants in the city — is a short stroll away on 1st Street NW. Boundary Stone, the neighborhood's beloved Irish pub right on Rhode Island Avenue, is practically a neighbor. The dining and bar scene here is the kind that keeps residents from ever wanting to leave. For dog owners, the Gage Eckington Dog Park at The Park at LeDroit is steps away, along with a playground, community garden, and splash park — a genuine neighborhood gathering place. The Bloomingdale Heritage Trail celebrates the area's extraordinary history as former home to Duke Ellington, Mary Church Terrell, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. Howard University, the National Mall, Smithsonian museums, Capitol Hill, and Union Market are all within easy reach. The Shaw-Howard Metro on the Yellow and Green lines is a 9-minute walk, with NoMa and the Red Line also accessible — putting virtually every major DC employer, federal agency, and institution within a short commute. Block parties, a tight-knit community, and the kind of neighborhood energy that feels increasingly rare in a major city round out a location that is simply hard to beat. This is DC urban living at its most authentic — with upside attached.
