Clifton Terrace, three building apartment complex in Washington, D.C., United States

Clifton Terrace is a residential complex of three buildings in Washington, D.C. designed in Colonial Revival style with symmetrical brick facades and classic architectural details. Built by developer Harry Wardman and designed by architects Frank Russell White and Albert Moreland Schneider, the structures sit along a historic streetcar corridor and maintain a balanced, orderly appearance.

Clifton Terrace was built between 1914 and 1915 when Washington was expanding rapidly and developers sought to provide affordable homes near streetcar lines. The site replaced an earlier Queen Anne mansion called Belmont House and reflected the growing demand for middle-class apartments in the expanding city.

Clifton Terrace embodies early 20th-century American housing ideals, with its Colonial Revival design reflecting how planners aimed to create orderly, comfortable neighborhoods for middle-class families. The buildings show how residents of different generations found homes here, making it a quiet marker of the city's evolution and everyday life over more than a century.

Clifton Terrace is located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood and sits along a main street that is easy to explore on foot, with nearby parking and convenient access to public transportation. The buildings are still residential apartments, so visitors can view the brick facades and design from the street while respecting that these are private homes.

Clifton Terrace gained legal significance through the Javins v. First National Realty case, a landmark housing rights lawsuit that originated here and fundamentally changed tenant protections across the United States. This 1970 decision established the principle that renters have the right to demand habitable living conditions, becoming a foundation for housing law.

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• GPS coordinates: 38.92194,-77.03111
• Latest update: February 9, 2026 08:19