Friday, March 27, 2009

HPRB to Developer: No Relocation of Historic Structure

In the 1942 Virginia Lee Burton childrens books "The Little House" the once pastoral setting of the little house is overtaking by the progress and growth of the city, eventually prompting a move of the house farther out to the country. In 2009 Cleveland Park, when the same thing happens, the preservationists say yes, but the ANC says no, and the Historic Preservation Review Board agreed.

In a 6-1 vote, the Board went counter to both the staff report and the Cleveland Park Historical Society Architectural Review Committee support of a move for the 1905 Queen Anne structure located at 3211 Wisconsin Avenue. The house is listed as a "contributing" structure within the Cleveland Park Historic District, yet is surrounded by higher density mixed-residential structures on busy Wisconsin Avenue. Indeed, the land is zoned for higher density. The proposal by developer Mark Kaufman would have relocated the structure to Quebec Place, still within the Historic District, but alone in terms of historic context. However, Quebec Place residents, along with the ANC 3C Historic Preservation Committee made the case to the Board that the proposal should not be allowed.

A rhetorical question: Is razing the house a better option than relocation?

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Tenley-Janney PPP Implosion

Here is some media coverage of the unraveling of the Tenley-Janney Public-Private Partnership:

Marc Fisher
DC MUD
Greater Greater Washington
Washington Business Journal