DC’s other 1600 Pennsylvania is source of humour, headaches
WASHINGTON — Presidential candidates work for years to move in to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. For 24-year-old Nicole Berns, moving in was much easier, requiring filling out a three-page form and paying $500 in fees.
Berns’ keys aren’t for the White House. They’re for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, a 77-unit apartment building that began leasing about a year ago. It is just about 3 1/2 miles from the White House, which has the same numbered address but is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW on the city’s grid system. The addition of an address nearly identical to the nation’s seat of power has caused some confusion, but also some amusing opportunities for residents.
“I love telling people that I live there. I call it, ‘The Other White House,’” said Berns, who recently moved in to the building.
Before the apartment building was built, the lot housed a used car dealership whose address was 1550 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. But when developers bought the property they realized that no building had claim to the 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE address, which also made sense for the location. Figuring it would be fun and a way to get recognition, they successfully petitioned for an address change.