July/August Newsletter
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✯ Capitol* Capitol Hill Hi Restorationll Restoration Society Society * ✯ www.chrs.org July/August 2010 Major Changes Proposed for Union Station’s Main Hall VIEW FROM ENTRY by Shauna Holmes n June 18, the Union Station ORedevelopment Corporation (USRC) held a public meeting on behalf of the Federal Railroad ARCHITECTS GTM COURTESY IMAGE Administration (FRA) to unveil plans to alter the Main Hall of Union Station. The goals of the meeting were to provide information about Union Station; to provide background that led to the current proposal; to introduce the proposed project; to give stakeholders an opportunity to comment on proposed actions; and to give Union Station Investco, LLC Union Station Section 106 (USI) the opportunity to benefit from Initial Consultation Meeting suggestions and recommendations Amtrak sign affixed to the stair/ Proposed view from front entry Juneof 18, 2010 Union Station. that can lead to alternatives. USI elevator structure would provide purchased the long-term lease to more immediate information about manage Union Station in 2007. train arrivals and departures, Proposed renovations include and planned removal of the large Also in this issue removing the Main Hall’s existing planters with surrounding seating ARTICLES is intended to improve pedestrian Center Café and making two Tom Kelly Passes ............................ 2 openings in the floor where the circulation. According to USI, the Aerial Wires on H Street ................. 3 Café now stands for a pair of new proposed changes would also better Historic Preservation Briefs ............. 4 glass stairs and elevators that would accommodate increased ridership Farmers’ Markets ........................... 6 access both the lower level and the and improve sightlines in the Main CHRS Community Forum ................ 8 café tier between the Main Hall’s Hall, accessibility for people with Marine Enlisted Quarters..............11 floor and ceiling vault. USI believes disabilities, access to and use of COLUMNS removing the Café would make it the lower level, and the station’s President’s Column ........................ 2 easier for visitors entering the Main economic feasibility. CHRS Supporters ........................... 5 Looking Back on Capitol Hill .......... 9 Hall through the front doors to see The Union Station team—which Amtrak’s ticketing area on the far in addition to FRA, USRC, and USI LOOKING AHEAD Mark Your Calendar .....................12 side of the Hall. A large proposed Continued on page 10 President’s Column: They New York by Beth Purcell f you visit the lower west side infrastructure,” according to a 11th Street Bridges will be demolished. Iof Manhattan, you must see the DC government news release. DC To get up to the old bridge, a new High Line park. The High Line is an Department of Transportation spiral pedestrian ramp would have elevated rail freight line that operated (DDoT) is building the new 11th Street to be built. The old bridge is an aging between 1934 and 1980 between 34th Bridges to replace these old bridges. structure, and likely expensive to Street and St. John’s Park Terminal. This is a $300 million project. There maintain. The city would also have to After the tracks were abandoned in will be a new local bridge (with bike pay for cleaning, lighting, sanitation, 1980, drought-resistant trees, shrubs, and pedestrian access) and a new and public safety. In contrast, DC’s and grasses flourished in the gravel commuter bridge. Construction is real green spaces need attention and of the roadbed. Chelsea residents proceeding on schedule. After the funding – recreation centers, schools, discovered this resource and raised new bridges are open, the current 11th and parks (including Boat House funds to preserve the High Line as an Street bridges are to be demolished. Row). urban park and trail, offering unique Demolition of the old bridges is part We understand that the views of the city and the Hudson of DDOT’s contract with the bridge 11th Street Bridge High Line is an River. A 1.45-mile section of the High builder, and this is funded. informal proposal and that, so far, Line is open. But the DC government is no feasibility or scope for the project That’s interesting. But where is considering keeping one of the old has been put forward. This High Line the connection to Capitol Hill? DC 11th Street Bridges as a DC version wannabe is strange and would be government officials are considering of the High Line. The old 11th Street expensive. Maybe a case can be their own version of the High Line on Bridges are ugly and, at 80 feet above made that we need and can afford to one of the old 11th Street Bridges. the water, will loom over the new keep this old bridge, and that this is The old (i.e., current) 11th Street bridges, which are 40 feet above the the best use of our tax money. Bridges are “out-dated, deficient water). The freeway ramps to the old I doubt it. ✯ Tom Kelly Passes by Dick Wolf Many people on Capitol Hill knew Tom Kelly, who passed away recently at the age of 86. Tom was a Capitol Hill institution. He and his family lived virtually all their lives at 332 Constitution Avenue, NE. They have been an essential part of the daily life of the Hill. Tom carried the institutional memory of the Hill in his head and told you every bit about it, all the famous and not so famous people who lived here, and whom he had followed as a multifaceted reporter and writer for various journals and newspapers. Meeting Tom on the corner was an extraordinary event made up of jokes, stories, and memories. Tom gave meaning to the notion that historic preservation can give continuity to a changing community. Thanks for the memories, Tom—your memorable personality will always be part of the Hill community. 2 • CHRS News July/August 2010 Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) Aerial Wires on H Street—Go or No BOARD OF DIRECTORS n June 22 the DC Council’s construction. H Street residents, President .................................. Beth Purcell 1st Vice President..............Michelle Carroll OPublic Works and Transportation merchants and property owners 2nd Vice President ............ Monte Edwards Committee heard testimony on are entitled to the end of road Secretary ...................................Lisa Wilson Councilmember Tommy Wells’ construction and to the beginning of Treasurer ................................Sharon Weiss proposed repeal of the 1888 and the promised reality of streetcars on At Large ..........................Donna Hanousek At Large .............................Shauna Holmes 1889 prohibitions against the use of H Street. CHRS recognizes that some At Large ............................ Catherine Davis overhead wires within the L’Enfant compromise on the decision whether At Large ................................Chuck Burger City and Georgetown. Aerial wires to use overhead wires is needed in At Large ............................ Donna Barbisch on the H Street/Benning Road order for this project to progress… At Large ................................ Janet Quigley Immediate Past President ............Dick Wolf Streetcar Line figured prominently in “Our City deserves a 21st the discussion. Century streetcar system, likely COMMITTEE CHAIRS Testimony was strongly in to attract the best of the streetcar Donna Hanousek, Beyond The Boundaries favor of the Wells bill from the H suppliers as well as substantial Paul Cromwell, Budget & Administration Dick Wolf, City Planning Street Advisory Neighborhood Congressional funding. With that as Vacant, Communications Commissions and local residents our ultimate goal, CHRS will accept Barbara Eck, Community Development and businesses. Among others, the overhead wires on a temporary basis Elizabeth Nelson, Community Relations Sierra Club, DC Surface Transit, Inc. for H Street and Benning Road.” Beth Purcell, Environment Larry Pearl, Grants (the proponent of the DC Circulator The CHRS statement also called Nancy Metzger, Historic Preservation busses), the Capitol Riverfront BID, for “…more thorough evaluation, Aileen Moffatt & Paul Cromwell, and Ellen McCarthy, former head of analysis and planning, but that does House & Garden Tour DC’s Office of Planning, all spoke in not mean that the Streetcar Project Catherine Smith, Membership support. must stop while they move forward. Gary Peterson, Zoning Monte Edwards represented The City needs to conduct an NEWSLETTER the CHRS position, calling for the independent analysis and evaluation David Holmes, Rob Nevitt, editors use of overhead wires only along the of the initial capital and long-term Jean Kohanek, design & layout H/Benning Line, with their removal (operating and maintenance) costs of WEBMASTERS as soon practicable. CHRS also called all aspects of the streetcar system.”✯ Donna Breslin and Paul Cromwell for future avoidance of overhead OFFICE MANAGER wires throughout the city, whether Gloria Junge within the L’Enfant Plan or not, To reach any of the above, please contact and for comprehensive planning of the Society offices at (202) 543-0425 or streetcar lines, power supply stations, via e-mail: [email protected]. routes, and stops before the start of www.CHRS.org further construction. Celebrating more than 50 years helping Mr. Edwards stated: to preserve and protect Capitol Hill’s “CHRS has objected to the lack residential character, the Society is now of planning that is allowing those the largest civic association on Capitol [previously purchased] three cars, Hill, and one of the largest in the District of Columbia. From the beginning,