I learned earlier this week the city is considering the demolition of the large brick office building at 400 N. Washington Street.
Sunrise Senior Living wants to erect a 91-unit senior living facility there.
This news hits home for me. Not because I live in that vicinity, rather one of the homes in my book was located on this spot (400-414) from 1840 to 1960.
The Corse-Leadbeater House, as it was known, was a Greek-Revival style two-story brick home. It featured pressed red brick, an Ionic front portico, and a heavy modillioned cornice.
After it was torn down, the large brick office building seen today was put up.
Praise for the Corse-Leadbeater House included, “probably Alexandria’s finest example of the Greek-Revival style” and “handsomely proportioned.”
I’ve also heard the demolition of this beautiful home galvanized the preservationist movement in Old Town Alexandria. Of course, other beauts such as the Hallowell-Carlin House and the Sea Captain’s Home went down, too.
This past spring I had a tough decision to make concerning what home or homes to put on the cover of our book. Belvoir stood out as such a beauty as well as some others.
But the Corse-Leadbeater House kept tugging at my heartstrings.
It will be interesting to see if some of the other 60s era buildings get replaced. If this new one goes up at 400-414 N. Washington, perhaps it will signal a return to a more pleasing architectural landscape in a community that cherishes and protects the old…
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