O Restoration Society O

www.chrs.org July 2009 CHRS Board Backs Developer for Hine Site by Gary Peterson

fter receiving a meeting laid out its vision of what 5 Restore the original L’Enfant Arecommendation from a the successful development Plan by reopening C Street special committee of the board that proposal should be. This resolution between 7th and 8th, reviewed all of the proposals, the was reported on the front page of 6 Provide for commercial uses on board of the Capitol Hill the CHRS News of March 2008. 7th Street compatible with the Restoration Society voted at its The Board resolution spelled out existing commercial uses, June meeting to support a 11 criteria: 7 Set aside preference for the Hine site 1 Comply with the recently for mixed use with retail on the development proposal of Stanton- enacted comprehensive plan, first floor and office above, Eastbanc. A detailed letter of 2 Be the best example of smart 8 Design the 8th Street frontage support will be sent to the Deputy growth and sustainable as residential and include a Mayor for Development before the development, substantial percentage of July 10 deadline and will be made 3 Reflect the importance of the workforce housing. available at www.chrs.org. location, 9 Consider live/work studios on To understand the decision you 4 Be compatible with the C Street. must go back to early 2008. CHRS surrounding zoning and Continued on page 5 at its February 19, 2008, board existing building scale,

Also in this issue

ARTICLES Election Results...... 3 Eastern Market Plaza Plans...... 2 The Market Re-opens...... 4 Rosedale Tour...... 10 Potomac Avenue Traffic Circle...... 11 Gas Station in NE...... 9

COLUMNS President’s Column...... 2 Historic Preservation Briefs...... 8 Did You Know?...... 7 CHRS Supporters ...... 7

LOOKING AHEAD Mark Your Calendar...... 12 Hine School as seen from Pennsylvania Avenue and 8th Street President’s Column: Today and Yesterday by Beth Purcell his is my first column as a developer for the Hine School site planning study for historic Boat TPresident of CHRS. There are near Eastern Market in August House Row. On the other hand, many challenges facing the Capitol 2009. But the Reservation 13/Hill there is much to celebrate, Hill community. We have two East Waterfront Project is stalled; including the re-opening of Eastern bridge construction projects three years after federal legislation Market. I look forward to working underway and a proposed new authorized transferring title to DC, with our volunteers, including our traffic circle at Pennsylvania and DC still does not have title to board of directors, to meet these Potomac Avenues. Major real estate Reservation 13. Development challenges. O developments are in process: DC cannot go forward until DC has government has promised to select title. We are waiting to see the final

Urban Oasis or Wasteland: the Eastern Market Metro Plaza by Dick Wolf ’ve walked through it a thousand Avenue, SE, plus a significant groups, business groups, and Itimes. In the summer, it’s green park. It had the room. elected officials. We met with the blistering hot with little shade; in These ideas had their origins in architects to discuss different ways the winter, the winds whistle the early 1970s when the first post- of improving what everyone through the large open spaces of the World War II rehabilitation of viewed both as a wasteland and a park and across the wide roadway. Eastern Market was undertaken missed opportunity. A pamphlet of It’s a place to get through as quickly and the Office of Planning several pages was the result of that as possible with little regard for the produced a poster showing the study. protocols of walkways and traffic connection between the Market Shortly after publication, the lights. It’s paved with Metro brown and Eighth Street. It was at that study was shown to a number of brick which – along with the time that the plaza was greatly public agencies who liked the ideas meager landscaping – has little to enlarged by the closing of South but did not commit themselves to do with the charm and Victorian Carolina Avenue through the area going further – with one notable buildings around the perimeter. But and the name of the Metrorail exception. It was shown to several you have to go through it to get a Station was changed from “Marine members of Congress who felt that bus or catch Metro. Does it have to Barracks” to “Eastern Market.” since the study suggested the be utilitarian ugly? That history, the confluence of improvement of Federal land and Back in early 2002, some of us development, and the growing explicitly acknowledged the thought that Eastern Market Metro sense of Capitol Hill as a special importance of Pennsylvania Plaza could be so much more. The neighborhood within the city Avenue, SE, as a major entry way late George Didden, wearing his caused CHRS and CHAMPS, using to the US Capitol, a more definitive hat as co-founder of Barracks special donations, to enter into a study should be undertaken. Row/Main Street and the Capitol small contract with the nationally Funding from a congressional Hill BID, thought it should be the renowned landscape architecture earmark was sent through the principal gateway to Barracks Row. firm of Ohme, van Sweden & District Government to Barracks Some of the rest of us thought it Associates, which has its offices at Row/Main Street to continue the should be the central organizing Eighth and G Streets, SE. We asked work. The leadership established a location for tying together the the firm to develop some concepts small working group of the principal Capitol Hill business about how to achieve an enhanced community organizations that had streets: Seventh Street/Market public realm on the plaza. A been involved in the earlier studies Row, Eighth Street/Barracks Row, steering committee was established and selected consultants to do the and the 600 block of Pennsylvania with representatives of citizen Continued on page 9

2 • CHRS News July/August 2009 Capitol Hill Restoration Election Results – The 2009-2010 Society (CHRS) CHRS Board BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President...... Beth Purcell he slate of officers presented by working on zoning cases, public 1st Vice President ...... Rich Luna Tthe Nominating Committee has space cases and proposals for 2nd Vice President ...... Monte Edwards Secretary...... Lisa Wilson been elected. On July 1, 2009, they regulation changes. By day, he is a Treasurer...... Sharon Weiss joined two At Large members who benefits and compensation At Large...... Donna Hanousek are serving the second year of a attorney at a law firm. He and his At Large...... Elizabeth Nelson two year term. wife Kara, who grew up on the At Large...... Shauna Holmes President: Beth Purcell has Hill, are renovating their home on At Large...... Catherine Davis served on the CHRS board for Linden Place, where they look At Large...... Chuck Burger At Large...... Michelle Carroll four years and as the First Vice- forward to raising their daughter. Immediate Past President Dick Wolf President this past year. She works Second Vice President: Monte on the CHRS Beyond the Edwards is a Washington area COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Boundaries Project, was the co- native, having grown up in Donna Hanousek, Beyond the Boundaries leader of several recent historic Montgomery County and lived on Paul Cromwell, Budget & Administration walking tours, and chairs the Capitol Hill, in the 300 block of E Dick Wolf, City Planning Aileen Moffatt, Communications CHRS Environment Committee. Street, NE, for over 20 years. He Barbara Eck, Community Development She is also President of Trees For has served as an At Large Board Beth Purcell, Environment Capitol Hill, Inc. She lives in the Member of CHRS and has been Larry Pearl, Grants Hill East neighborhood, has been the Second Vice President for the Nancy Metzger, Historic Preservation an Orange Hat walker for over 10 past two years. Monte also serves Aileen Moffatt & Paul Cromwell, years, and researches and as a Steering Committee member House and Garden Tour Catherine Smith, Membership publishes articles on the and as the Co-Chair of the Land Elizabeth Nelson, Special Events architecture of eastern Capitol Use Committee of the Stanton Vacant, Transportation Hill. She works as an attorney in Park Neighborhood Association. Gary Peterson, Zoning the federal government. He has been a member of the First Vice President: Richard Eastern Market Community NEWS: Luna has been an at-large board Advisory Committee (EMCAC) David Holmes 202design, design & layout member since 2007 and serves on since it was first established and the CHRS Zoning Committee. He now serves as its Secretary as well OFFICE MANAGER: Gloria Junge first moved to Capitol Hill in 1996 as Chair of the Capital To contact any of the above, please to work as a senate staffer. After Improvements Committee. Now contact the Society offices by calling leaving to pursue opportunities in retired, he worked as an engineer 202-543-0425 or sending email to [email protected]. Annapolis, Brooklyn, New York and attorney for Washington Gas City and Houston, he returned to Light Company. www.chrs.org the Hill in 2002, drawn by its Secretary: Lisa Wilson moved to Celebrating more than 50 years helping to preserve and protect Capitol Hill’s vibrancy, sense of community and Capitol Hill with her husband in residential character, the Society is now beauty. Since then, he has worked 2007 and joined CHRS the same the largest civic association on Capitol through ANC 6A’s Economic year. She is an attorney in the Hill, and one of the largest in the entire District of Columbia. From the beginning, Development and Zoning Solicitor’s Office at the the Society has played a key role Committee to protect and Department of Labor. Previously, in maintaining the diverse, residential encourage neighborhood- she worked with the National character of our neighborhood. With appropriate architecture, Association of Attorneys General your participation we will continue to do so for many years to come. businesses and transportation by Continued on page 6

Start or Renew a CHRS Membership Editorial Help Needed O On the web at www.CHRS.org There are a host of significant issues facing Capitol Hill. If you have a O Call 202-543-0425 and choose option 2 desire to serve the community, want to be part of the process that deals O Pick up a form at one of our meetings with these issues, and can edit copy, the CHRS needs help on its Starting at just $25 per year for a single membership, it’s a great deal. editorial board. Please contact David Holmes at [email protected]

CHRS News July/August 2009 • 3 The Market Reopens astern Market re-opened on Friday, EJune 26, 2009, after a two year restoration following a disastrous fire which destroyed much of the building on April 30, 2007. We commemorate this event with the serial publication of material regarding the Market’s history compiled by the Eastern Market Citizen’s Advisory Committee. The Market’s North Hall currently displays an exhibit that describes the Market’s history and the people who made a difference in the Market’s development and reconstruction.

The Beginning Eastern Market is one of three public markets proposed in the L’Enfant Plan. It was established by order of President Thomas Jefferson in 1805, and originally located near the Navy Yard at Sixth Street, between K and L streets, SE. With the urbanization of the District undertaken by Territorial Governor Alexander Shepherd, it was relocated to its present site in 1873, as a new building, designed by Adolf Cluss, which is now known as the South Hall. The Center and North Halls, designed by Snowdon Ashford, Inspector of Buildings of the District’s Office of Shopping resumes for the first time in more that two years in the Public Works, were added in 1908. The South Hall Market was designated a DC Historic Landmark in 1964 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The bronze plaque on the side of the South Hall portico entrance was dedicated by our Mayor Williams and the Mayor of Heillbronn Germany, Cluss’ birth place, as part of a celebration in October of 2005 marking the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s proclamation establishing the Market and 100 years after the death of Adolf Cluss. Cluss’s plan included a roof-truss system that permitted high, open ceilings, large windows for ample natural light, numerous doors for easy access and exit, roof ventilators for natural ventilation, and a cellar for cold

Community members enter the new North Hall Continued on page 5

4 • CHRS News July/August 2009 CHRS Board Backs Developer for Hine Site continued from page 1

10 Accommodate one to two meets the criteria. Significantly the Picking a developer is not the underground levels of parking proposal offers the highest LEED end of the process, but the over 100% of the site, so there is certification (Platinum) and twice beginning. The winner will have to parking for the residential, the number of affordable housing go through the Planned Unit commercial, and weekend units than the two next closest Development (PUD) before the parking for the Eastern Market, proposals. The mixed use of the Zoning Commission and will also 11 Provide for green space as well proposal is also superior because it have to get the approval of the as an outdoors area for craft provides for substantially more Historic Preservation Review vendors, food vendors and the office space thus putting more Board. There will be many more flea market. people on the street to patronize opportunities for public comment. the retail and restaurants during The community and the city The city received a number of the daytime. Finally an appealing are fortunate to have three good proposals and winnowed them aspect of the Stanton-Eastbanc proposals, one of which is very down to four: Bozzuto proposal is that it’s the only one good, to choose from. All the Group/Scallan Properties; DSF that includes an arts and culture bidders deserve our thanks for Group/Menkiti Group; Stanton- component by allowing the their hard work, but the Stanton- Eastbanc; and National Leadership Shakepeare Theatre Company Eastbanc proposal best meets the Campus. (CHRS believes the (STC) to consolidate its rehearsal, criteria and, above all, will best Campus proposal is too vague to office, storage, and temporary meet the needs of the Capitol Hill evaluate and has so advised the housing space needs in one community. O appropriate District officials.) The location. It also keeps STC, which Board found that the Stanton- has always been a Hill entity, on Eastbanc proposal most closely the Hill where it started.

The Market Opens continued from page 4 storage: an innovative and the Natatorium, to be functional public market design for used for storage. its time. Center Market was Among the 80 buildings Cluss demolished in 1932, built in the Nation’s Capital and followed by the environs were two other public closing of the City’s markets: the former Center Market remaining public (c. 1872), the nation’s largest, at markets. By the 1950s, Pennsylvania Avenue between Eastern Market was Seventh and Ninth Streets Streets, the last remaining NW (now the site of the National City Market and its Archive), and the Alexandria, South Hall Market Virginia, market house and city was threatened with hall (c. 1873), on Cameron Street, closure. Charles which continues in use as the Glasgow, Sr., who ran Mayor Fenty tours the Market at the reopening Alexandria City Hall. the fish stall at Eastern Market, suggested he Threats to Survival assume management, and formed management, currently with Barry With the advent of supermarkets the Eastern Market Corporation Margeson, an employee of the City Eastern Market lost business and that leased the South and Center serving as Market Manager. O its fate became uncertain. The Halls from the City beginning in North Hall was closed as a Market 1954. Currently, under the Eastern (To be continued. Next in the in 1929, and transferred to the Market Legislation, the entire September issue: The 1960s – adjacent Fire Station, current site of Market is now under unified Threats of closure and demolition)

CHRS News July/August 2009 • 5 Election Results continued from page 3 and the Washington Lawyers’ the National Trust for Historic At Large (two years): Chuck Committee. As a resident of NE Preservation. Before retiring in late Burger is a Capitol Hill real estate just outside the historic district, 2004, she worked over 21 years for agent with Coldwell Banker and she is interested in the Beyond the the President’s Advisory Council has served on a variety of local Boundaries efforts. She also is a on Historic Preservation handling and District Committees, member of the Stanton Park publications, training, awards, and including a stint as chair of the Neighborhood Association, and educational outreach. Shauna is ABC Board. He has served as a participated in the development of committed to working with House Captain for the Tour for a the CHRS House and Garden tour neighbors and community number of years. He currently brochure in 2008 and 2009. organizations to protect Capitol serves as Vice Chair of EMCAC Treasurer: Sharon Ivy Weiss Hill’s historic integrity and and is on the board of CHAMPS received her Bachelor of Science distinctive character. and Barracks Row/Main Street. degree from the University of At Large (two years): Catherine At Large (serving a second year North Carolina in Charlotte. After Davis born in the District and of a two year term): Elizabeth working in public accounting for raised in Northern Virginia, Nelson and her husband, Nick four years, she made the career moved to Capitol Hill with her Alberti, moved to their home in switch to non-profit accounting husband in July of 2007. She the 1300 block of North Carolina and has remained in that field for served the Board as Secretary for in 1985. She is employed by the over 13 years. Sharon has the past year and participated in Federal government as an extensive experience in the development of the House and information technology specialist. supervising the financial functions Garden Tour brochure for 2008 Elizabeth currently serves as the of Federal grants and contracts and 2009. She has worked at the Chair of both the North Lincoln and has worked in the capacity of US Department of Education as Park Neighborhood Association Chief Financial Officer for non- Chief of Staff for the Office of Safe and the ANC 6A Community profit advocacy organizations for and Drug-Free Schools and as Outreach Committee. Her focus the last eight years. She has Deputy Chief of Protocol for the within CHRS has been to increase experience with strategic Secretary of Commerce. A awareness and appreciation of the planning, budgeting and all graduate of the University of organization’s mission and aspects of organizational financial Virginia, Catherine has lived in activities, particularly in areas accounting. She began working as Charleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; and beyond the existing boundaries of an independent consultant in 2008 Chicago, IL. the Capitol Hill Historic District. and currently works with three At Large (two years): Michelle Elizabeth has served in an At different non-profit agencies in Carroll originally from New York, Large seat on the Board for the DC: The National Congress of moved to DC when she was a past five years. American Indians, The Council on freshman at the Corcoran School At Large (serving a second year Library and Information of Art and the George Washington of a two year term: Donna Hanousek Resources and The Atlantic University. After college, moving has served as an At Large Board Council of United States. She has back to NY, getting married, and Member for the past three years worked with the House Tour and having children, her husband, and has been an active member of the Budget Committee of CHRS. Dennis, had an opportunity to CHRS for the past ten years, At Large (one year): Shauna work for USAID. Since her including several years serving on Holmes and her husband David husband had been born and raised the Historic Preservation moved to Capitol Hill as empty- in DC and because of her love for Committee and a few years as the nesters in late 1997 and have been the city, it took no time at all to CHRS EMCAC representative. She CHRS members ever since. She decide that DC was going to be currently chairs the CHRS Beyond has served on the CHRS Board home. Michelle is an events the Boundaries Committee. She since 2007, has been on its Historic planner for the Pew Charitable has served as the director of two Preservation Committee over ten Trusts and other, primarily 501(c)(3) organizations on Capitol years, and has been managing environmental, organizations. She Hill: Penn East, Inc., and Friends CHRS Preservation Cafes for has chaired the CHRS House Tour of the Old Naval Hospital. She several years. She also belongs to twice and has been in charge of also is a member of the the DC Preservation League and the House Tour Tea for five years. Continued on page 7

6 • CHRS News July/August 2009 Did You Know? Welcome CHRS Supporters • Hine Site Development. After the Mayor selects a developer – likely by the end of August – there will be at least 12 to 15 months of We thank the following clearances and approvals before construction (18-20 months) can start. Opportunities for public input will be during the process for new members, patrons, and re-zoning and the development of a PUD (Public Unit sponsors. Development), as well as during the historic preservation review of the resulting plans. • Local ban on coal-tar pavement products. Effective July 1, the District NEW MEMBERS of Columbia has made it illegal to use, sell or permit the use of Laurence Allain coal-tar pavement products. These products typically come in the Donna Barbisch form of pavement sealants and pavement dressing conditioners. The purpose of the ban is to keep toxic chemicals in coal tar from Nancy Collins and Michael Hoare poisoning local streams and threatening the Anacostia and Alison and Sandy Clark Potomac Rivers and Chesapeake Bay. Property owners and General and Mrs. James Conway contractors should avoid using products with listed ingredients Lisa Delolace including the words “coal,” “tar,” “refined coal tar pitch,” or “RT- 12.” The penalty for using, selling or allowing the use of coal-tar Justin Gray products is a fine of up to $2,500 per day. Peggy Hanna Artomatic at Hine? • From all reports, Artomatic 2009 at 55 M Street, Tanetta Isler SE, was a smashing success. Local artist Carol Spils suggests Artomatic at the Hine Jr. High School in 2010 before its demolition. John Fenner • Closure of Seventh Street, SE. At its June 9 meeting, ANC6B voted to Marcella Harshbarger urge Mayor Fenty to set up a public process to fully explore all Heather & Leon Kafele facets of continuing the closure of the Eastern Market block of Minh Le and Tim Cole Seventh Street, SE, following the reopening of Eastern Market. • Another restaurant for Barracks Row? Matchbox, the popular Regino Madrid Barracks Row eatery, is reputed to have leased the former District Joe Munro Lock and Hardware Store, with plans to install an upscale Maureen O’Brien diner/restaurant. O Laura Salarano Patricia Schaub

Election Results continued from page 6 PATRONS Landmarks Committee of the DC 2009. He also served as President James and Dianne Colgan Preservation League. Donna has a from 1977 to 1980. His particular (new members) Master’s degree in City Planning interests have been the DC Kristin Swanson and and a graduate Certificate in Comprehensive Plan and zoning Historic Preservation. She issues, and he currently chairs the Roy Mustelier currently works for the District of CHRS City Planning Committee. Brodie Remington and Columbia Office of Zoning and He currently serves on the Sapienza Barone has previously been a Main Street planning and zoning committees Pat Taylor Director and a Historic of the Committee of 100 on the Preservation Consultant. Federal City. He is a retired Immediate Past President: Federal government lawyer. O SPONSORS Dick Wolf has been a CHRS Richard and Tracey Stockton member since moving to Capitol Hill in 1964. He has been on the David Crowley and Susan Kelly Board of CHRS since 1969 and (new members) served as President from 2005 to

CHRS News July/August 2009 • 7 Historic Preservation Briefs by Nancy Metzger

Fenty Nominates Pamela Scott, House was known at the time of earlier Meads building). The Architectural Historian, To HPRB – the June Newsletter deadline so possibility of demolition is now Mayor Adrian Fenty has was announced in last month’s imminent as the landmark forwarded to the Council the newsletter.) nomination submitted by CHRS nominations of Pamela Scott as neighborhood was denied by a 5 – 3 vote by the architectural historian on the (bounded by Potomac Avenue, SE, Historic Preservation Review Historic Preservation Review 17th Street, Kentucky Avenue, and Board on May 28, despite the Board and Catherine Buell as Pennsylvania Avenue, SE), is a support of the ANC 6A and citizen member. Chairman Gray residential neighborhood of porch- Stanton Park Neighborhood has scheduled a hearing on July 8 front houses developed during the Association. on those two nominations. Pamela first quarter of the twentieth The Historic Preservation staff Scott, a resident of Ward 4, has century for workforce housing. report, while acknowledging the compiled a lengthy list of writing, DCPL noted that the historic imminent danger to buildings that teaching, research and curatorial nature and architectural character are important to the historic H projects focused on Washington of the neighborhood is largely Street streetscape, argued that they architecture and history. Catherine intact, with only a few did not rise to the level of integrity Buell lives in Historic Anacostia inappropriate alterations. and historic significance required and has served on the HPRB for However, as housing prices and for city landmarks and buildings the past two years. The Council rents have increased over recent that would be submitted for confirmed the nomination of years, development pressures to inclusion on the National Register. architect Chris Landis to the HPRB build larger houses and to enlarge The community, led by David on June 16 but the executive branch existing ones with additional Holmes, ANC 6A commissioner agreed not to swear him in until stories threaten to destroy the and CHRS member, argued that after the June HPRB meeting so historic fabric of the neighborhood, the buildings met the criteria that John Vlach could provide irrevocably compromising its because Meads was an important architectural historian coverage for historic and architectural integrity. although long neglected Capitol the June meeting. It is expected that Meads Row, a set of the earliest Hill designer/builder who Scott and Buell would be remaining buildings on the 1300 deserved recognition, that the confirmed before the Council block of H Street, NE, were trend- buildings were trend-setting for adjourns on July 15 so Scott could setting high-style commercial the developing H Street corridor be seated for the July HPRB buildings when they were built in and were important to the hearing. This arrangement will 1892 as three-story purpose-built neighborhood, that they were an satisfy combinations of store and home. essential element of the requirements for professional Charles C. Meads was a prolific development of H Street, NE, and representation by an architectural 19th century Capitol Hill the near northeast community as historian on the HPRB, thus not developer, designer and builder, an important shopping and jeopardizing the $500,000 federal focusing mainly on middle-class to transportation corridor, and that payment in support of the historic upper middle-class dwellings. The the Comprehensive Plan calls for preservation program. buildings at 1305, 1307 and 1311 H the preservation of H Street’s Barney Circle, Meads Row Join Street, NE, incorporate pressed historic character. After much Friendship House on Endangered List brick, limestone, and patterned discussion, HPRB members – In addition to Friendship House metal to achieve an eclectic mix of Andrew Aurbach, Catherine Buell, at 619 D Street, SE, an 18th century the Italianate and Renaissance Maria Casarella, Robert manor house now entangled in Revival architectural styles. Two Sonderman, and John Vlach voted bankruptcy proceedings, the DC buildings in the row, 1309 and to support the staff report and Preservation League (DCPL) 1311, are threatened with deny landmark status while Elinor named two other Capitol Hill demolition by the owner who has Bacon, Jim Kane, and Joseph historic resources to its Most not maintained the buildings and Taylor voted against denial of Endangered Places list for 2009. now proposes to build a parking landmark status. O (The inclusion of Friendship lot for the site (1309 replaced an

8 • CHRS News July/August 2009 Gas Station at 1400 Maryland Avenue Advances Through the Regulatory Process by David Holmes the Advisory Neighborhood In addition, the motion to motion authorizing the Commission, and letters from three approve is provisional on Acontroversial location of a gas Councilmembers (Tommy Wells, restriction of the hours for fuel station at the corner of Fourteenth Kwame Brown and Mary Cheh) delivery to between 9 pm to 7 am; Street and Maryland Avenue, NE, were insufficient to stop the project. the developer extending the was adopted by the city’s Public The developer has withdrawn median of Maryland Avenue five Space Committee (PSC) on June 25. construction from public space feet to the west (to prevent illegal If the developer can meet a series except for the driveways necessary left turns from the station to go of conditions included in the to access the private property; has eastbound on Maryland); that there motion, this leaves only the Board agreed to do extensive plantings in be no increase in government- of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) as a the public space area; and has found documented unsafe behavior potential barrier to construction. and committed to exclusively use a resulting in crashes between The names and signatures of 35 foot-long fuel tanker, instead of vehicles, pedestrian, or into about a thousand neighbors on a the normal 55 foot tanker (to avoid physical structures; and that there petition in opposition to the Shell needing to prohibit public parking be no increases in traffic crashes station (Shell, No), the resistance of on Fourteenth Street). Continued on page 11

Eastern Market Metro Plaza continued from page 2 further planning. Amy Weinstein “Central Park” design, which now and a more formal space in the was chosen as the lead architect/ creates out of the four parts of the middle. Intense landscaping would planner, assisted by Ohme van plaza a rectangular park of provide both an abundance of Sweden. Gorove/Slade & substantial acreage that would be greenery as well as opportunities Associates was selected for traffic more on the order of Stanton Park for public gatherings. studies. The steering committee in NE. Pennsylvania Avenue would A 45-day period for submitting was enlarged to include run around the Park, much as comments on the proposals began representatives from the several Massachusetts Avenue, NE, circles at the end of the July 1 public streets that are adjacent to the Stanton Park. However, both Metro meeting. During the comment plaza. This group has met several buses and emergency vehicles (but period, the design team will meet times to view the progress of the not private automobiles and trucks) with staff from the District, consultants. A community-wide would be able to pass through the WMATA, and two Federal agencies meeting on July 1 saw the three park in a north-south direction via – the Fine Arts Commission and design concepts for the plaza that a narrow roadway through the the National Capital Planning have resulted from the work of the middle of the park, making Eighth Commission (NCPC). Early in the consultants and the steering Street, SE, an uninterrupted street fall, the steering committee will committee. Several Federal and for those purposes. Third, the reconvene and will attempt to local agencies would have to “Triptych” design would create in select a preferred alternative from approve any proposed changes to the center a space similar in size to all the design ideas put forward. the Plaza. with the Northeast Even if the community The three design concepts that and Southwest plaza areas coalesces around a single proposal, have received detailed analysis are remaining largely intact. nothing can move forward without as follows. First, the “as is” design, Pennsylvania Avenue would run the approval of the DC government, which does not propose changes to around the Circle but would not WMATA, Fine Arts, and NCPC. In Pennsylvania Avenue but does put intrude on existing businesses and initiating this design study, we have forth a much stronger landscape residences substantially more than taken a very important first step. design with more in the way of it does now. The Triptych would But if change is to come to the trees, plantings, and useful result in three parts to the plaza Eastern Market Metro Plaza, the community areas. Second, the with substantial park space as it is journey will be a long one. O

CHRS News July/August 2009 • 9 Rosedale Historic Walking Tour Uncovers Rosedale’s Hidden History by Donna Hanousek and Beth Purcell

n May 30, Rosedale Citizens’ OAlliance (RCA) and CHRS held a walking tour of the Rosedale NELSON ELIZABETH PHOTO: neighborhood. About 30 neighbors attended. The tour began at the Rosedale Recreation Center, Seventeenth and Gales Streets, NE, with a survey of the area’s earliest history. The tour went on to cover a variety of topics and eras, including a look at some early residents of Kramer Street, 20th century row houses, a description and examples of 1920s porch-front CHRS Board member Donna Hanousek leads Rosedale Walking Tour houses, and examination of Graceland Court. (Future editions real estate records show that some He was born in DC and his of the News will include features were owner-occupied and others wife was born in Virginia. They on “The Oldest Houses in were rented to tenants. were renters. Rosedale,” and the “Early The Panic of 1893 – The Panic of • At 1658 Kramer Street was a Demographics of Rosedale.”) 1893 ended the construction boom white family of three. The 66- Earliest History – RCA members in Rosedale. Dana Wyckoff year old father came from New Ken Granata and Frank Madrigal explained that first, railroads had York; his parents were Irish. He offered a survey of area history. over-expanded and began to go and their 24-year old son were During the Civil War, Camp Barry, bankrupt, and then bank failures bricklayers (the building trades an army artillery camp, was followed. Runs on banks caused were a predominant located near the northeast corner of still more bank failures and a credit occupation in Rosedale). His and Fifteenth Street, crunch. Many people lost their wife did not work outside the NE. Graceland Cemetery (an savings and their jobs – home. They owned their home integrated cemetery) was at the unemployment nationwide was and had a mortgage. same corner from 1872 to1895. estimated at 12% or higher. As a • At 1648 Kramer Street was a Most of the persons buried there result, some walked away from German immigrant family of were later re-interred at Woodlawn their homes and mortgages. This four. He was 44 and worked as Cemetery. depression lasted about five years, a laborer. The wife did not 19th Century Buildings – 1892 and left its mark on Rosedale. Very work outside the home; their was a boom year when many small few houses were built here 17-year old daughter was a frame row houses went up in between 1893 and 1898. saleslady. They were renters. Rosedale. These houses were Early Residents of Kramer Street Early 20th Century Buildings – typically 12 to 14 feet wide and – Kramer Street was a diverse, By 1908 row house building was approximately 28 feet deep. These integrated street in the early 20th picking up in Rosedale. J. A. Clark include 1626-1684 Kramer Street, century. The 1910 census offers a hired Speiden & Speiden to design NE, and 1615-1627 Rosedale Street, snapshot: brick row houses at 1686-1694 NE. These houses are two stories • An African-American couple Kramer Street, NE, and around the and two bays wide (i.e., one door and their nine children lived at corner at 624 Seventeenth Street, and one window), have a 1652 Kramer Street. The NE. Albert H. Beers (the well- pediment (triangle) over the husband was 39, a laborer; his known architect who worked with windows and doorway, and have wife and two daughters age 16 Harry Wardman) designed brick wood brackets at the cornice. The and 19 worked as laundresses. Continued on page 12

10 • CHRS News July/August 2009 New Traffic Circle for Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenues? by Dick Wolf and Beth Purcell Urban Forestry Administration and Fourteenth Street from the DC Department of Environment to Potomac Avenue Metro Plaza were Department of study the type and depth of soil built in 1907 by Harry Wardman, DCTransportation (DDOT) is required to sustain shade trees vs. one of the most important builders undertaking an Environmental other types of vegetation. A rain in Washington history. If the circle Assessment (EA) to determine if the garden inside the circle should be goes forward, its design needs to intersection of Pennsylvania and considered. Trash traps would be take into account the design Potomac Avenue should be needed in all the nearby storm recommendations for the Eastern transformed into a Washington drains. Market Metro Plaza. traffic circle, with a pedestrian area Other questions regarding The 2005 plan for the traffic and cross walks inside the new effects on the surrounding circle had X-shaped sidewalks circle. The traffic circle appears in neighborhood need to be inside the circle. But the design DDOT’s 2005 Middle Anacostia addressed and answered. How will shown at the ANC 6B meeting on Crossings Study. The EA considers the project affect volume of vehicle June 9, 2009, has only a single two options: (1) “Build” (the traffic traffic and air quality? Will the sidewalk bisecting the circle. circle) or (2) “No-build.” Whether project redirect traffic into the Because people always want to this project is a good idea is unclear. surrounding neighborhood streets? walk the shortest distance, we The concept appears to be sound, Will the placement of bus stops believe that they will create a but DDOT has not yet performed an serve the needs of the community? muddy path through the center of adequate study integrating and Will the lighting at the crosswalks the circle where the “missing” answering design, traffic, and inside the circle be adequate to sidewalk would have been. Short- environmental, and safety insure pedestrian safety at night? cut dirt paths have already proven questions. For this reason, CHRS has In addition, there are design to be a problem on Pennsylvania limited its comments sent to DDOT issues. Will the design for the Avenue, SE. There was a mess at primarily to environmental issues. proposed traffic circle respect the the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Water runoff is the most serious L’Enfant plan and the until a walkway was built between environmental problem affecting neighborhood? This area is one the escalator and Eighth Street, SE. the Anacostia River. Vegetation and block from the Capitol Hill Historic DDOT needs to hold additional permeable sidewalks inside the District, and shares the same public meetings to present the circle would help reduce runoff. If architecture and design as the project to the community, respond DDOT decides to build the traffic Capitol Hill Historic District. For to these and other questions and circle, they need to work with the example, all the row houses across learn of community concerns. O

Gas Station at 1400 Maryland Avenue continued from page 9 owing to traffic arriving or stands two to three feet away from carrying people to the Capitol or departing from property as the pump island (which itself is other federal buildings. documented in police reports. usually two and a half to three feet The H Street Commercial The Chair of the PSC stated wide), then add the width of the Overlay prohibits gas stations that “…the question of internal car, van, truck or mini-bus (five to along H Street. This is the only flow is not before us,…”, that the eight feet wide) plus enough space property on this small triangular movement of vehicles in the tight for another vehicle to pass around block that does not touch H Street. quarters around the pumps and either to advance to the forward And the Comprehensive Plan mini-mart is a matter for the BZA. pump or to exit the station after admonishes that gas station Since the total space between the fueling. It’s feasible if the vehicles location on Capitol Hill should be center of the pump island and the are smaller cars, but doubtful if discouraged. Regrettably the city curb is only 20 feet, this will be they are SUVs and impossible if agencies seem to treat the Comp very tight. one of them is a large van or one of Plan as if it has no prescriptive or A vehicle at a pump typically the mini-buses seen so often enforceable power. O

CHRS News July/August 2009 • 11 Mark Your Calendar! Rosedale Tour continued from page 10 JULY row houses at 1635-1633 Kramer build row houses with Colonial 1 Monday, 6:30 pm Street, NE, for the Zepp Brothers. Revival and bungalow design CHRS Historic Preservation Committee, Rosedale also has many 1920s elements. Examples of developers’ Kirby House, 420 10th Street SE, first brick porch-front houses, a success in incorporating these floor. Details: Nancy Metzger, 202-546- product of cultural and economic designs include the beige brick 1034 trends. The Philadelphia row houses at 1612-1656 Gales 21 Tuesday 6:30 pm Centennial celebration in 1876 Street, NE, (front porch across the CHRS Board of Directors, Capitol Hill sparked interest in Federal-period entire front of the house) built by Townhomes, 750 6th Street SE, second architecture, leading to the Herman R. Howenstein in 1924, floor. Details: Beth Purcell 202-622-4303 “Colonial Revival” style, featuring and 1645-1673 Rosedale Street, 23 Thursday, 10:00 am a two-story symmetrical design NE, (front porch, paired windows) Historic Preservation Review Board, 441 with equal numbers of windows built by J. F. Mills in 1925. 4th Street NW, Room 220 South. Details: on either side of the front door, a Graceland Court – Dana Nancy Metzger, 202-546-1034 front porch, and double-hung Wyckoff talked about alley living Saturdays - May 2 to November windows, often in pairs. In the in Washington, DC. In 1892-1893, 21, 9 am to noon early decades of the 20th century, five frame dwellings were built in H Street NE FRESHFARM MARKET, middle class homebuyers also the alley, Graceland Court 625 H Street NE (across from H Street liked bungalows (deep front (Fifteenth/ Sixteenth Streets, Self Storage). Shop for fresh fruits and porch, over-hanging roof, Benning Road and Gales Street, vegetables, pasture-raised meats, local projecting eaves). But land prices NE). They were demolished cheeses, yogurt, breads and baked goods, cut flowers and more. Open rain in Washington were too high to sometime before 1960. O or shine! WIC, Seniors’ Farmers Market build detached houses for these Coupons and Food Stamps accepted. buyers, so developers had to build (More on alley life in Graceland www.freshfarmmarkets.org. row houses. The challenge was to Court in the September issue)

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