Q: Quickly, where is Avon Lane?
A: See the end of the article.
Unlike a typical, suburban neighborhood, Georgetown homes, apartments and condos do not line up neatly on cul-de-sacs. In fact, some of the best housing is tucked into alleys, lanes and walkways.
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Perhaps, the easiest hidden housing street to find is Cecil Place between K and Grace Streets, one block off of Wisconsin Avenue. Cecil Place is lined by a row of tiny townhomes with another row of similar houses tucked in a nearby walkway. The Cecil Place neighbors have banded together to combat vermin and trash to keep these little historical homes neat and tidy.
Nearby, looking over the Canal, between 33rd and 34th Streets, adjacent to Francis Scott Key Park, is a small string of homes that are best seen from the south side of the Canal.
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Up the hill, between 34th and 33rd Streets is Bank Street. Bank Street has a few old townhomes with sagging, but bright doorways and an incongruous modern apartment building behind Kinkos.
Continuing up 34th Street, between N and O Streets, is a wide alley flanked on the north by a small narrow home. The resident(s) of this tiny neat space have "liberated" a sliver of parking to create a patio and entryway. If you continue down this winding alley, you walk by neat garages and parking spaces and end up on 33rd street. One more block down the alley and you are on Potomac Street near St. John's.
Volta Place is home to two interesting hidden neighborhoods. Across from the entrance to the Volta Park pool is Pomander Walk. Walk down this narrow channel and you are in a minature village with facing rows of small townhomes lit by gas lanterns.
Further up Volta Place toward Wisconsin Avenue is a large arch also on the south side of the street. Duck under this arch and walk into the stone courtyard to see the elegant red brick town homes and the ivy-covered gate with the "for sale" sign attached.
In the East Village, behind the new Brooks Brothers and next to the Post Office on 31st Street is a gated walkway. Halfway down the pedestrian walk is another gate, an elevator and a red terraced housing complex.
Finally, behind the Christian Scientist Church on 31st Street is Congress Court. Walk down this tiny street and you find a soaring, modern multi-family housing complex. Who lives in these units?
The nooks and the crannies of Georgetown give it mystery and variety in housing.
A: Off 31st street between Q and R Streets across from Tudor Place.
