This $18 Million D.C. Ritz-Carlton Waterfront Penthouse Gets Our Vote

All eyes will be on Washington, D.C., today as President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office as the country’s 46^th president. The theme — America United — reflects “the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America,” according to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. And the goal? Bringing the country together, creating a path to a brighter future.

Count us in. Who isn’t ready for a kumbaya moment? By necessity, this year’s inauguration will look different from those in the past. Yet it remains a cultural touchstone—not to mention, a showcase for some serious star power. (Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem? Yes, please.)

To commemorate this history-making day, today’s Second Shelter is in the heart of our nation’s capital: an uber-luxe penthouse at D.C.’s Georgetown Ritz-Carlton. If the 6,407-square-foot apartment sells close to its asking price—$18 million—it would set a record for the most expensive condo ever sold in the area.

For starters, you couldn’t ask for a more prestigious location.

The property’s 1,800-square-feet rooftop terrace space overlooks the Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Roosevelt Island, and the Potomac River. The affluent Georgetown neighborhood, a mix of tree-lined streets and waterfront parks, abounds with high-end shops, bars, and restaurants.

The seller is the estate of the late Michelle Smith, a renowned philanthropist and daughter of Robert H. Smith, who developed much of the Crystal City area south of D.C. After purchasing the two units as raw space for about $6 million in 2005, she developed the three-bedroom penthouse herself over several years.

Listing agent Matt McCormick of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty estimates Ms. Smith spent more than $20 million on the purchase and build-out. Among the upgrades: limestone floors and moldings, rosewood doors, and a dramatic curved limestone staircase complete with sterling silver casings.

The penthouse’s main level includes a light-filled living area, dining room, custom Poggenpohl kitchen, and wood-paneled library. An expansive primary suite sports a sitting area, private terrace, spacious dressing room, and spa bath complete with imported Namibia marble.

The first floor also features two additional bedrooms and three baths. Upstairs, there’s a private office, family room, and bar area.

A second unit on the building’s entry level comes with the asking price.

This smaller unit can be used as a private office, gym, or guest apartment. Yet another amenity is access to all hotel services, from in-room dining and fitness center to parking and security.

Furniture and art will be sold separately. Collectibles include pieces by French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank and art by sculptors Alberto and Diego Giacometti and Francois-Xavier Lalanne.

Despite a slowdown in the in-town D.C. condo market, McCormick believes the unit is unique enough to attract high-end buyers. “It’s like something out of New York,” he told the Wall Street Journal.

Located at 3150 South Street NW in Georgetown, the double unit is one of the hotel’s five penthouse residences.