A historic six-story residence that served as the Greek Embassy in Washington for 60 years was sold for $7.25 million after being on the market for two months, says OT.gr.

Located on a section of Massachusetts Avenue known as Embassy Row, the recently renovated property was initially listed for $7.95 million.

According to Mansion Global, a digital platform specializing in global real estate markets and part of the Barron’s Group, the property spans approximately 824 square meters.

Built in 1904 by Irene Sheridan, the widow of General Philip Sheridan, the residence is near Sheridan Square, named after her husband. As noted in a 1984 Washington Post article, the socially prominent widow, who lived there with her three daughters, sought proximity to her husband’s statue, which adorns the square’s center.

The Birth of Embassy Row

At that time, the primarily rural area gradually developed into a neighborhood of luxurious mansions, built by Washington’s wealthy residents. This area soon became known as Embassy Row as it filled with embassies and diplomatic residences.

In 1949, Greece acquired the residence and incorporated it into the adjacent embassy building, along with a third neighboring property. It was used for consular activities, an educational center, and the press office, according to Deborah Fonseca, a broker at Long & Foster Real Estate, as reported by Mansion Global.

In 2016, Greece sold the property to Greek-American real estate developer George Behrakis for $2.86 million, retaining the neighboring building for its diplomatic mission. Fonseca revealed that the property was in disrepair at the time so Behrakis, who owns the property through his company Marwick Associates, initiated its restoration and redevelopment.

Initially, the building’s interior was gutted and left as a “bare shell,” making it versatile for use as either an embassy or a private residence. “The first phase of the project brought it to the level of a warm shell,” Fonseca explained. “All six floors [were] open, with no partitions, no bathrooms.”

Flexibility and Renovation

After consulting with several potential buyers, the owners decided to complete the property as a residence while maintaining flexibility for various future uses. “We finished it as a residence but made it adaptable for use as an embassy,” Fonseca noted.

The final reconstruction as a private home was completed this summer, and the buyers—a couple—plan to use it as such.

The residence now features five bedrooms, multiple living spaces for entertaining, an attic, a finished basement, and a large rooftop garden. The first level includes two lounges and a dining room with a wet bar, while the second floor houses the main living, dining, and kitchen areas, allowing the first floor to be dedicated entirely to entertaining.

Some original features remain intact, such as two brick interior walls, Juliet balconies, and ornate ceiling moldings, which add “old-world charm” to the home, said Fonseca. She, along with Rene Fonseca, represented both the buyer and the seller.