The DC Preservation League is hosting Historic Preservation Community Day this Saturday at All Souls Church from 10 am to 4 pm. You can register and find out more on their Web page and also check out the day’s agenda here. Its a good opportunity to learn more about historic preservation in the city as well as sort fact from misinformation that generally exists on this subject.
Working drawing of 1125 Spring Road proposal.
ANC 1A and ANC 4C will be hosting a joint meeting on Saturday, March 10 at Raymond Recreation in the large upstairs meeting room from 1:30-3:30 pm on the Community Benefits Agreement for 1125 Spring Road NW (the redevelopment of the former Hebrew Home and Robeson School site).
During this meeting, we will discuss the various community benefits that have been brought up during past community conversations (including the 3 meetings hosted by the development team in December and January 2018) AND any new ideas in order to get residents’ and other stakeholders’ input on what the final version of community benefits will be proposed to the development team. Please keep in mind that certain key components of the development itself (# of housing units, # parking spaces on site, etc.) cannot be altered through this process. Rather this process is about additional community benefits that we will ask the development team to provide, including but not limited to, on-site community amenities such as park space or infrastructure improvements nearby.
Please note that the development team will be holding a separate meeting in late March/early, early April on the final draft community benefits agreement (drafted between the ANC’s and the Team) as well. The date and time of that meeting will be finalized and announced soon.
The goal of both of these meetings is to ensure that the community receives multiple opportunities to provide feedback before the ANC’s look to pass resolutions regarding the community benefits agreement(s) at our April 11th meetings.
If you have any ideas you’d like to share on community benefits prior to the meeting (or in addition to), please send those to either Commissioner Bennett Hilley (Petworth/Ward 4 area) or Commissioner Kent Boese (Columbia Heights/Ward 1 area).
At the January 25, 2018, Historic Preservation Review Board hearing, the Board approved the preservation plan for the renovation of the historic Hebrew Home building at 1125 Spring Road. The case was approved as part of the Board’s consent agenda. The hearing only focused on the overall plan for the historic structure, and not the proposed development east of the property as it does not encroach upon the historic site.
Site plan showing location of non-historic structures to be removed during renovations.
The renovation plan focused on exterior modifications. The primary exterior modifications include complete replacement of existing (non-historic) windows and doors. Aluminum-clad wood windows with simulated divided lights are proposed. The development team consulted historic photographs in order to propose new windows that match the original windows as closely as possible with respect to operation and lite patterns.
Restoration of the existing exterior masonry is also planned as part of the renovation. This will include cleaning and repair/repointing of the brick as necessary. As part of the renovation, a limited number of selective reductions of non-historic exterior elements is proposed including removal of a one-story brick shed on the west side, a one-story open carport structure on the north side, an existing two-story free-standing utility building on the north side and a one-story walkway canopy connecting to the existing adjacent Robeson School building to the east.
Two small additions were also proposed and approved. A one-story addition on the first floor within the existing interior courtyard (and not visible from the exterior) which will provide a multi-use amenity space for residents and a one-story addition on the fifth floor which will provide 2 apartments and a second means of egress from an existing amenity space overlooking Spring Road. This proposed roof addition is located on the east wing adjacent to the interior courtyard and is set back substantially from the east building face to minimize (or eliminate) its visual perception from the public right-of-way.
The existing open space along Spring Road between the Hebrew Home and the adjacent Jewish Social Services Agency building will be redeveloped to create a new pocket park accessible to the public. In keeping with the original character of this exterior space, the design will provide small passive-use spaces with minimal plantings. In order to provide access to the space from the Spring Road streetscape, a new ADA ramp and access stair will be constructed in public space. This will require minor modifications to the existing brick retaining wall at the back of the existing sidewalk.
Below are some renderings filed with the HPRB case.
(Plan showing park area with notations showing improvements.)
(Plan showing location of new additions.)
(Perspective from the southeast (front), identifying location of rooftop addition.)
(Perspective from northwest (rear), identifying location of rooftop addition.)
Recipients of the 2017 HPRB Chair Award. Photo by D.C. Preservation League/Jason Hornick Photography
At this year’s District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation, the renovation of the Park View Playground Field House won the Historic Preservation Review Board Chair Award — once of eleven awards recognized this year. The award was presented to ANC1A Chair Kent Boese, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and KADCON Corporation. The District of Columbia Office of Planning and Historic Preservation Office, in partnership with the DC Preservation League and the Daughters of the American Revolution, presented the 14th annual District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in the historic DAR Constitution Hall.
Since 2003, the District government has honored over 225 outstanding projects, programs and individuals for exemplary work and commitment to historic preservation in Washington, DC. This year’s awards recognize 47 individuals, businesses, government agencies and local organizations.
Below is the short video that accompanied the award presentation ceremony.
I thought this was interesting, yesterday the Historic Preservation Office announced the launch of HistoryQuest DC, a GIS-based web map that provides historical data on approximately 127,000 extant buildings in Washington, D.C. The Office of Planning’s Web site provides the following description of the application:
The application, HistoryQuest DC, is an interactive GIS map that provides historical data on approximately 127,000 extant buildings in Washington, D.C. The map offers several operational layers of information for the user including historic data on individual buildings, links to documentation on properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places, information on historic residential subdivisions, and the identification and boundaries of the L’Enfant Plan, and the city’s Squares, and Wards. The featured layer in the map—the Historical Data on DC Buildings—provides information from a variety of sources on original dates of construction, architects, owners and builders of the city’s historic buildings.
The application also includes a Query tool that allows the user to analyze the historic data within a specified geographic area or city-wide.
This application has evolved out of the DC Historical Building Permits Database project and is still a work-in-progress. Anyone with additional information or knowledge about specific buildings that will enhance, enrich, or correct the map, please use the “Propose Data Change” on the banner at the top of the map, complete and submit the GeoForm.
By using the search box, anyone using the maps can quickly get to basic data on any property, including when a house was built and who the architect and builder were. The various layers also can generate some interesting maps. In addition to historic landmarks, the following maps show some examples of the maps that it generates.
(In looking at the map generally, it is easy to quickly get an idea of how old section of DC are. The older the building, the darker the color.)
(In exploring the various layers, one option is to show existing historic districts.)
(Another interesting feature, many of the original subdivisions have been recorded.)
On June 9, 2016, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington (JHSGW) presented their inaugural Evelyn Greenberg Preservation Awards — a tribute for Evelyn Greenberg, who was instrumental in re-discovering and saving the historic 1876 Adas Israel synagogue from the wrecker’s ball in 1969. The building is destined to be moved again as a result of the Capitol Crossing project.
Two Greenberg Preservation Awards were presented this year. I received one for my work that resulted in the successful nomination of the buildings at 1125-1131 Spring Road, NW — the former home of the Hebrew Home of the Aged and the JSSA (Jewish Social Service Agency). Both properties are now on the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites and listed on the National Register.
I thought you would enjoy watching the video of the event, and my presentation on the history of the Hebrew Home, which was released yesterday by the JHSGW and view-able below.
The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) finally has the Ward 1 Heritage Guide available on their Website (click on image below). It’s an interesting overview of Ward 1 history, culture, and neighborhoods. HPO’s Ward Heritage Guides and a fun introduction to what makes each Ward/neighborhood special. While I’ve posted it before, you can also check out the Ward 4 guide here.
Earlier this week the DC Preservation League launched a new app that I think it pretty cool. It is called DC Historic Sites and it allows users to quickly get an idea of the historic properties that are located within their community. In addition to providing a map and allowing users to locate recognized historic properties throughout the city, it also includes pictures and text so that you can learn more about the sites.
According to the DC Preservation League’s announcement, the app is still a work in progress. Most notably, not all of DC’s historic landmarks have been included within the database yet. I’ve begun sending in text and photos of landmarks that I know aren’t on the map yet to assist with building it out and expect them to be added shortly.
Even in its current state, the app is really interesting and should be a great way for everyone to learn more about the architectural and cultural history of Washington.
To learn more about D.C.’s historic places and spaces, visit the DC Historic Sites site and download the app.
(Screen shot of DC Historic Sites app showing Park View School listing.)
Tonight there is a community meeting on the topic of historic preservation and historic districts. The program will begin with a presentation by Kim Williams of the D.C. Historic Preservation Office. She will also be available to answer questions from the community afterward. The event is intended to support a community dialogue on the issues of preservation, neighborhood character, and development as they relate to our changing neighborhood and growing city.
Historic preservation is one way that some D.C. neighborhoods have chosen to maintain neighborhood character. There are currently 55 historic districts and almost 27,000 structures designated and listed in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites. There are 584 D.C. historic sites and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Place.
If you plan to attend, below are the details:
Where: Bruce-Monroe @ Park View School Auditorium (3560 Warder Street)
When: 7 p.m.
Date: September 24, 2015
(North Elevation, Park View School, 1915)
(North Elevation, Park View School, 1915)
In response to the many questions neighbors have asked over the past few years related to development and neighborhood character, ANC1A Commissioners Kent Boese and Rashida Brown have organized a presentation and discussion on the topic for the evening of September 24th. The presentation will be held at the Bruce-Monroe @ Park View School located at 3560 Warder Street and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. In addition to the ANC1A, the event is co-sponsored by the Park View UNC and the Luray-Warder Block Association. The program is expected to run between an hour and an hour and a half and is open to all who are interested. You can register by clicking the registration button below (tickets are free).
The program will begin with a presentation by Kim Williams of the D.C. Historic Preservation Office. She will also be available to answer questions from the community afterward. The event is intended to support a community dialogue on the issues of preservation, neighborhood character, and development as they relate to our changing neighborhood and growing city.
Historic preservation is one way that some D.C. neighborhoods have chosen to maintain neighborhood character. There are currently 55 historic districts and almost 27,000 structures designated and listed in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites. There are 584 D.C. historic sites and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Place.
Please bring your questions to the presentation on September 24th to learn more.
"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.)
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Park View, D.C. 