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Walkability a main attraction of Copley at Crown

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October 16, 2018 at 6:30 a.m. EDT
The Copley at Crown in Gaithersburg, Md., offers one- and two-bedroom units, some with dens, in a five-story building resembling a renovated warehouse. (Benjamin C Tankersley/For The Washington Post)

After deciding to downsize from a three-bedroom split-level with a swimming pool in Montgomery Village, Md., Rafael Valdes-Camin and Scott Leidner bought a two-bedroom condo at the Copley at Crown in nearby Gaithersburg.

“We didn’t want to deal with a lot of maintenance anymore. We wanted to be able to close the door, go on vacation and not worry,” said Valdes-Camin, 55, who works for the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

Valdes-Camin and Leidner, who paid $574,900 for their two-level corner unit, particularly like the condominium’s location on the western edge of the pedestrian-friendly Downtown Crown neighborhood.

“A walkable community has always been high on our list of places to live,” said Leidner, 51, a real estate agent. “The grocery store is about 100 feet from the condo, and there is a Starbucks, wine shop and fitness center down the street. It’s easy and convenient here.”

D.C. condos designed with the first-time buyer in mind

Industrial loft styling: The Copley offers one- and two-bedroom units, some with dens, in a five-story building resembling a renovated warehouse. On the brick exterior, hand-painted signs, faux chimneys and metal balconies reinforce the industrial look.

The condominium units are housed on the four upper floors of three buildings separated by two landscaped courtyards. The two outdoor spaces have grilling stations, seating areas and large gas fireplaces. A garage — each unit comes with a parking space — occupies the ground floor.

Of the 128 condos, about 70 have been sold, and about 25 are ready for immediate occupancy. Five floor plans are offered. Prices range from $304,900, for 674 square feet on one level with one bedroom and one bath, to $602,000, for 1,295 square feet on two levels with two bedrooms, two baths and a loft.

The larger of Copley’s two model units has two stories and contemporary design and staging by PFour of Alexandria, Va. A guest bedroom and a full bathroom are positioned near the entrance, along with closets for coats and a stacked washer-dryer.

The front hallway leads into the open kitchen, where a 10-by-3-foot island is topped by a quartz countertop. The adjacent living-dining area occupies a two-story zone illuminated by banks of windows.

In this double-height space, a staircase rises along an art-filled wall to a loft, staged as a TV lounge, that also could be used as a home office or an extra sleeping area. At the back of the upper level is the master bedroom suite, with walk-in and linen closets next to the bathroom.

One level with den: The second model condo at Copley is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on one level, with a den off the foyer. While windowless, the study has painted wainscoting to add visual interest. It also has a sliding barn door for privacy.

In the center of the condo, the kitchen, with an optional five-foot island, flows into the living-dining area. It includes standard quartz countertops and wood-grained cabinets and such upgrades as KitchenAid appliances and track lighting.

Bedrooms flank the living space and a walk-in closet separates the master bedroom from the nearby bathroom.

Luxury condos along the Potomac in Alexandria have four floors and a terrace on top

Standard finishes and fixtures include wide-plank wood flooring in the kitchen and living-dining area, two rectangular sinks and a rain shower head in the master bathroom, and Whirlpool stainless-steel kitchen appliances.

“Picking finishes can be overwhelming,” Valdes-Camin said. “We liked that the choices for our condo were few and that the standard was high-end already. Our biggest decision was to pick white or tan kitchen cabinets.”

Most of the condos, including the model units, come with outdoor spaces. Generous balconies extend from the upper floors, and some units immediately above the garage have courtyard patios.

First-time home buyer Julie Andre, 32, an event planner, signed a contract in September to buy a one-bedroom condo for $343,000. The unit comes with a patio extending into one of the landscaped courtyards. “I can’t wait to hang out there with my friends and neighbors, use the grill and sit in front of the fireplace,” Andre said.

What’s nearby: The Copley, in the heart of the Downtown Crown neighborhood, is part of the 180-acre, mixed-use Crown development, which is near the Rio Washingtonian Center, a shopping and entertainment complex in Gaithersburg. The Copley is next to a Harris Teeter grocery store, which is open 24 hours. Within walking distance are a dry cleaner, a hair salon, a barbershop, a wine store and a bank. Nearby restaurants include Coastal Flats, Ted’s Bulletin, Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

The Retreat, Crown’s community clubhouse and swimming pool, offers memberships to condo residents for $275 a year.

Transit: The Copley is next to Sam Eig Highway and near Interstate 270 and the Intercounty Connector (Maryland Route 200). A shuttle bus runs between the Crown community and the Shady Grove Metro station.

Schools: Montgomery County’s Rosemont Elementary, Forest Oak Middle and Gaithersburg High.

470 Copley Pl., Gaithersburg, Md.

One-bedroom, one-bathroom condos are priced from $304,900 to $368,400; one-bedroom, one-bath units with dens, $414,900 to $419,900. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom condos on one level with dens range from $480,000 to $520,000; two-bedroom, two-bathroom units on two levels with lofts, from $580,000 to $602,000.

Builder: Michael Harris Homes and Streetscape Partners

Features: The open-plan condos have nine-foot-high ceilings, and the loft-style, two-bedroom units rise to 18 feet in the living-dining area. Wide-plank ash flooring and tall baseboards are standard in kitchens and living rooms. Double-pane vinyl windows, programmable thermostats and tankless hot water heaters are provided to save energy. Kitchens come with quartz countertops, Whirlpool stainless-steel appliances and contemporary cabinetry. Polished chrome faucets, oversize rain shower heads and dual-flush toilets are standard in the master bathrooms. Every unit includes a parking space (an extra space can be purchased for $25,000).

Bedrooms/bathrooms: 1 to 2 / 1 to 2

Square-footage: 674 to 1,295

Condo fees: $300 to $560 a month

View models: Daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. The sales gallery next to the condominium is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact: Leslie Fitzpatrick at 240-285-2338 or Kevin Fawley at 240-454-2452.