A Short-Term-Housing Haven in Downtown D.C.

There are also four penthouse apartments, which have higher ceilings and private balconies with a table and chairs, perfect for relaxing in the spring.

Kitchens are fully outfitted, too. In addition to major appliances, each has a toaster, coffee maker and microwave oven, as well as a set of cookware.

"The kitchens are great," Alex said. "Everyone who has come to visit me [is] very impressed."

And when friends come to visit, Alex borrows a rollaway bed from the building. His apartment is so spacious, he said, that even then, it's not overly crowded.

The building has a fitness center with cardio and weight machines, as well as an adjoining spa room. The concierge can arrange for a massage there. There is a business center with a connecting conference room, where staff will set up everything needed to give a presentation. Continental breakfast is provided on weekdays.

The minimum stay is 30 days, and the apartments are available for monthly contracts. Lynn Taylor, the general manager, said many companies such as the one Signorelli was working for have long-term contracts on apartments that their guests use.

The building is "strategically located," Alex said. It is just a couple of blocks to Metro stations on both the Red Line and the Blue/Orange line. Alex uses the subway to get to his job near Tenley Circle.

And for when he's not working, there are also plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

Signorelli said the neighborhood is reasonably quiet but still a walkable commute to his client's office. He said, though, that he is used to New York City's extensive transportation system and wishes there were more taxis here.

R.W. Apple Jr., 71, and his wife, Betsey, have lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the H Street building since December. The Apples own a home in the area but were looking for a place without lots of stairs while he undergoes medical treatments. His doctors say he probably should avoid steps for about six more weeks; when it's time to move out, he will have to give just 15 days notice.

The apartment is "absolutely wonderful," said Apple, an associate editor for the New York Times. "I hate to be overly enthusiastic; it is not my professional pose." Nonetheless, he said, "The location is fabulous, right in the middle of everything." Because the building is downtown, friends can easily visit on their lunch hours.

"We haven't regretted coming here for a minute," he said.

The apartments are "bright, very much to our taste," he said.

"When you are sick, the last thing you want is gloom. You want something peppy and bright and cheery, and this has been that for us."

Korman has been providing temporary corporate rentals for about 40 years, slowly expanding from its base in Pennsylvania to other locations along the East Coast. There are 21 communities in the chain. Many of them are split between standard apartment rentals and short-term rentals. When the company bought the H Street building, the plan was to rent both short term and long term, but the leasing has been such a success that the entire building is used for short-term rentals, Taylor said.