Historic DC building with highway ramp inside sells for $17M

May 31, 2026 - 03:45

A unique piece of Washington, D.C. real estate has changed hands. The Liberty Loan Building, a historic structure in Southwest D.C. known for having a highway ramp cutting through its interior, has been sold for $17 million. Deed records show the buyer is a Virginia business executive.

The building, located near the intersection of 12th Street and Maine Avenue, is a rare architectural oddity. Built in the 1930s, it originally served as a federal office building. Decades later, during the construction of the Interstate 395 highway system, engineers faced a problem: the planned road needed to pass through the site. Rather than demolish the structure, they built the elevated highway ramp directly through its center, creating a covered passageway that now carries traffic under the building's roof.

The new owner has not yet announced specific plans for the property, but the sale has drawn attention from preservationists and developers alike. The building's mix of historic character and modern infrastructure makes it a challenging but potentially lucrative investment. At $17 million, the deal reflects the enduring value of unique commercial spaces in the nation's capital, even those literally built around a freeway.