At the January, 2011, ANC 1A meeting, Jason Vargas of the Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) presented an overview of their The Vue project which will replace the strip mall located on the southeast corner of Morton Street and Georgia Avenue. As the project requires a zoning variance to accommodate a building that is marginally higher than the current zoning overlay allows, NDC is required to provide a public amenity.
At the January 12th ANC meeting, NDC announced that they had narrowed down their selection to one community amenity that they felt confident they could complete and that would provide lasting value to the community … the field house at the Park View Recreation Center.
Previously, contenders for the amenity included the former Bruce-Monroe site, Park Morton, and the Park View School building in addition to the recreation facility. When all four sites were considered, the recreation center was the only site not currently scheduled for development or possible closure in the near future.
NDC stated that they estimated the amenity to be in the range of $75,000, but would be committed to completing the field house if costs ran over that estimate.
Their initial estimate of the scope of renovations include:
Exterior: Repair or Replacement
- Leaking Roof
- Drafty windows
- Renovation of Exterior Skin
- Entrance Door & Side lite
Interior: Repair, Replace, or Update
- Analysis & Redesign of Interior Layout (Including Kitchen, Computer Room, Multipurpose Room and second level reading room)
- Peeling Paint
- Deteriorating Drywall
- Outdated Lighting
- Update Electric and Plumbing as needed
- New floor covering for all levels
- Heating and Cooling system
- Interior Bathrooms
The field house was originally dedicated on November 15, 1932 and has served the community for 78 years. The image below shows it as it neared completion in September of that year.
The field house was originally part of a modernization project that included a wading pool and tennis courts on the playgrounds. Work was largely done with unemployed labor and paid for through the District’s unemployment fund.
The field house at the Park View playground as it neared completion on September 8, 1932
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"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
