Grant Circle Historic District Nomination
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NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. 1. Name of Property Historic name: Grant Circle Historic District Other names/site number: N/A Name of related multiple property listing: N/A ___________________________________________________________ (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing ____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Location Street & number: 4-33 Grant Circle, N.W. City or town: Washington State: District of Columbia County: ____________ Not For Publication: Vicinity: ____________________________________________________________________________ 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination ___ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _X_ meets ___ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: ___national ___statewide _X__local Applicable National Register Criteria: _X__A ___B _ __C ___D Signature of certifying official/Title: Date ______________________________________________ State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official: Date Title : State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Grant Circle Historic District Washington, DC Name of Property County and State ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) _____________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) Private: x Public – Local Public – State Public – Federal x x Category of Property (Check only one box.) Building(s) District x Site Structure Object Sections 1-6 page 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Grant Circle Historic District Washington, DC Name of Property County and State Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count) Contributing Noncontributing _____24______ ______2______ buildings _____ 3_______ _____________ sites _____________ _____________ structures _____________ _____________ objects _____27______ ______2_______ Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 0 ____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) DOMESTIC/Single Dwelling/Multiple Dwelling RELIGION/Religious Facility/Church School/Church-Related Residence LANDSCAPE/Park Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) DOMESTIC/Single Dwelling/Multiple Dwelling RELIGION/Religious Facility/Church School/Church-Related Residence LANDSCAPE/Park Section 7 page 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Grant Circle Historic District Washington, DC Name of Property County and State _____________________________________________________________________________ 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions.) LATE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY REVIVALS/Colonial Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival/Gothic Revival/Eclectic Materials: (enter categories from instructions.) Principal exterior materials of the property: Brick/Stone/Other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity.) ______________________________________________________________________________ Summary Paragraph The Grant Circle Historic District is located in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The boundary of the district encompasses Grant Circle and its associated triangle parks as well as the private residential and religious properties in the immediate vicinity. Grant Circle is a major urban and visual feature of the Petworth neighborhood, marking the intersection of Fifth and Varnum Streets and Illinois and New Hampshire Avenues, N.W. These parks are defined by a mix of hedges, lawns, and mature trees, organized into geometric patterns that reflect the strong geometry of the surrounding streets and avenues. In addition to the circle and triangle parks, the district includes nineteen contributing properties, all of which have postal addresses on Grant Circle, N.W. This includes sixteen residential properties (4- 16 and 29-32 Grant Circle) and two religious properties, St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church (26 Grant Circle) and Petworth Methodist Church (33 Grant Circle). The residential properties are defined by their continuity of scale, material, and character, exhibiting subtle variations on the Washington rowhouse prototype influenced by early-twentieth-century revivalist styles. The religious properties, although each distinct in architectural character and stylistic treatment, complement the revivalist and residential character of the historic district, acting as both architectural and civic landmarks in an otherwise residential neighborhood. Section 7 page 4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Grant Circle Historic District Washington, DC Name of Property County and State ______________________________________________________________________________ Narrative Description Grant Circle (Reservation 312)1 Grant Circle (Reservation 312), named after Ulysses S. Grant, is a 1.84-acre urban park bound by a two- lane vehicular rotary of the same name, with one lane of parking around the outer edge. The circle is located at the intersection of Fifth and Varnum Streets and New Hampshire and Illinois Avenues, N.W., which radiate from the circle’s center. Due to its central location and visual prominence, Grant Circle forms the nexus of the historic district and was the major impetus for development in its immediate vicinity. The design of Grant Circle is a conjunction of the radial and circular geometries, with linear paths that converge on a central, circular walkway. In the outer portion of the circle, paired walkways continue the paths of the streets and avenues into the circle, delineating alternating bands of wedge- shaped and rectangular lawns. An interior, circular lawn at the center of the park is similarly defined by a broad, circular walkway. The majority of the component lawns within Grant Circle are dominated by flat turf interspersed with trees and low shrubs. Major trees within the circle include the outer ring of American elms, several mature pine and hemlock trees, and a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon within the central circle. Beyond the plantings, Grant Circle has a modest and limited material palette, principally poured concrete paving and concrete bullnose curbs. The park has no fencing, although other small-scale features are scattered throughout, including benches, trash receptacles, small signs, lampposts, and drinking fountains. A small plaque at the central lawn bears an inscription and dedication to President Grant. Triangle Parks (Reservations 312A and 312I) Reservation 312A is a 0.19-acre triangular park located to the south of Grant Circle. It is bounded by Illinois Avenue, Grant Circle, and Fifth and Upshur Streets, N.W. The park has a central, semicircular plaza with radiating concrete and fieldstone paths. Sidewalks and street trees ring the perimeter of the park. Deciduous hedges form a partial border around the perimeter of the central lawn, which is dominated by a mature oak tree just northwest of the paved plaza, which appears to retain its original stone and concrete paving. Reservation 312I is the mirrored counterpart