Capitol Hill Restoration Society NEWS www.chrs.org September 2006 NCPC Planners to Address CHRS September 26 by Barbara Eck avid Zaidain and Elizabeth DMiller, planners with the National Capital Planning Commission, will present two proj- ects related to the city’s monumen- tal core and the Capitol Hill neigh- borhood at a CHRS Community Forum on September 26th, at 7:30 pm in St. Peter’s Church Hall, 2nd and C Streets, SE. Mr. Zaidain will present the project relating to redevelopment of the RFK site. NCPC held a public meeting in July that focused on the RFK Stadium Site Redevelopment Study. More than 70 residents attended the meeting and contrib- uted comments and suggestions. The study covers future land use The RFK Stadium Site opportunities for this federally- Redevelopment Study is examining owned site in the context of the potential future uses for the 190 NCPC “Extending the Legacy” acres of federal land and is part of vision plan. An overview of the RFK the National Capitol Framework project and a summary of the com- Stadium Plan. "By creating new destina- ments received at the public meet- Site tions and improving connections ing can be found at www.ncpc. to and from nearby areas, the gov/planning_init/RFK/RFK.html. Framework Plan aims to provide Ms. Miller will introduce the accessible, inviting and attractive National Capital Framework Plan, places for public commemora- a new initiative that will address tion, participation and celebration plans to develop monument sites beyond the National Mall." around and beyond the National Top photo: David Holmes Mall, which continues to be the monument site of choice in spite of oped as a cultural destination for Everyone is invited to enjoy limited space. She will also discuss future generations. refreshments and socializing at 7:00 improvement of visitor services Plan to attend. Bring your pm, followed by a brief business and the quality of life for residents friends and neighbors AND your meeting and our two speakers. and workers as the city is devel- questions and comments. President’s Column: Vote! by Dick Wolf Ever since L’Enfant, planning has including a new 11th Street Bridge. been the determiner for the shape, How will the election affect these his is a most important time for look, and feel of Washington DC. issues? TCHRS. The issues that are at the Will it continue to be so? CHRS has been a leader among heart of our organization—plan- Among the issues affecting DC civic groups in advocating for a ning, zoning, historic preservation, Capitol Hill and CHRS are the local planning commission, remov- the protection and enhancement of Dreyfus condo development; al of the Office of Planning as a our neighborhood—are also central the Appletree charter school; subordinate agency to economic concerns in this month’s elections. the former Medlink Hospital; development, better appointments There is a new Comprehensive Plan for DC before the Council now which will affect the shape and A new Mayor, a new Council Chair, and a new council- nature of our community for many member for Ward 6 will all be critical in determining… years to come. It will drive a com- prehensive overhaul of our 1958 a revitalized preservation office; better appointments zoning code, and will also deter- to our land use regulatory bodies; and whether or not mine the importance of historic preservation in the development we will get—as almost every other city in the country of the city. has—our own planning commission. Land use is a central politi- cal issue in every state and local government in the United States. Congressional security actions; the to the Zoning Commission and the It is particularly important in the development plans of the Anacostia Board of Zoning Adjustment, and District, which is both the national Waterfront Corporation; the devel- improved assistance to neighbor- capital and a local government. opment of Reservation 13; water- hoods from the Office of Planning. Because of this dual governance, front planning for the area between In particular, a new Mayor, a new our local government is responsible Reservation 13 and Benning Road; Council Chair, and a new coun- only for a city of 39 square miles: expansion of the Historic District cilmember for Ward 6 will all be tiny, dense, filled with historic both north and east; planning for critical in determining the content buildings and homes, diverse, and Pennsylvania Avenue SE between of a Comprehensive Plan and the experiencing the greatest develop- 13th Street and Barney Circle; and means of its implementation; a ment boom since the Civil War. all the new transportation plans, revitalized preservation office; bet- ter appointments to our land use regulatory bodies; and whether or not we will get—as almost every Citizen Groups Urge Delay in other city in the country has—our own planning commission, Consideration of Comprehensive Plan which will have among its tasks the implementation of the new HRS has recently been all of the city’s needs for devel- Comprehensive Plan. Cjoined by the Federation of opment, neighborhoods, and Members of CHRS need to Citizens Associations of D.C. social welfare initiatives much determine where the candidates and the Committee of 100 on more contentious and divisive are on these issues. A number of the Federal City in a request than it is already. As the let- candidates for the seats mentioned to delay formal consideration ter explains, this proposed have expressed support for our ini- of the Comprehensive Plan new plan requires much work tiatives, and some have been either bill recently forwarded to the before it can properly serve the vague or lukewarm. Your partici- Council by the Mayor. As will needs of this city. (Dick Wolf is pation in this election is important be noted in the letter and the a trustee of the Committee of because whoever we elect will have accompanying list of problems 100 and served on the informal real consequences for Capitol Hill on pages 10 and 11, the Plan committee that drafted the let- as well as the rest of the city. So is a deeply flawed proposal. It ter. CHRS is a member of the vote on September 12th! will make the work of fitting Federation.) 2 • CHRS News September 2006 Capitol Hill Restoration Fall Preservation Café Line-Up Society (CHRS) by Nancy Metzger will have an opportunity to ask Board of Directors: questions and make comments in President. .Dick Wolf eading off this fall’s season of an informal setting. Afterwards, 1st Vice President. .Barbara Eck LPreservation Cafés will be a spe- of course, there will be a chance to 2nd Vice President. .Gary Peterson cial look at “Barracks Row Below relax with friends over a plate of Treasurer. .Mike Canning the Freeway” on Wednesday, Trattoria’s wonderful pasta. Secretary. .Mary Withum September 20, from 6:30—7:15 pm The October 18 Preservation Past President. Rob Nevitt at Trattoria Alberto, 506 8th Street, Café will feature a presentation At Large . .Tom Grahame SE (upstairs room). This slide-show by John Deatrick and the DC At Large. Donna Hanousek tour will focus on one of the most Department of Transportation on At Large. Elizabeth Nelson historic areas of the Hill—and one the city’s Historic Streets and Alleys At Large. Monte Edwards that everyone expects will be the program. Capitol Hill can claim COMMITTEE CHAIRS: site of much new construction in some very special alleys—residen- Paul Cromwell, Budget the coming years. Bill McLeod, tial alleys with historic houses from Dick Wolf, City Planning executive director of Barracks Row the 1880s and 1890s, alleys paved Amanda Molson, Communications Main Street, will be highlight- with cobblestone, and many with Barbara Eck, Community Development ing some of the renovations and red and yellow brick paving. Some Beth Purcell, Environment new ventures that have occurred of our alleys have been repaved Larry Pearl, Grants since these blocks were incorpo- under this DDOT program— Nancy Metzger, Historic Preservation rated into the Capitol Hill Historic Gessford Court and Brown’s Court, Ann Richards, House and Garden Tour District five years ago. Nancy for example. Residents will have an Elizabeth Nelson, Membership Metzger, chair of CHRS’s Historic opportunity to ask DDOT represen- Tom Grahame, Transportation Preservation Committee, will tatives about the program. Gary Peterson, Zoning add commentary on the historic On November 15, Robert NEWS: resources of the area—the buildings Sonderman, an archaeologist with David Holmes, Larry Janezich, Jane that provide the framework for new the National Park Service and a Ruyle, Allison Lewis, Editors construction that will fill many of Capitol Hill resident, will be spot- Roxanne Walker, design and layout the now-empty lots. lighting the archaeological finds of WEBSITE: This Preservation Café will Capitol Hill, particularly the Indian Martha Huizenga, DC Access, give residents a chance to take a artifacts collected near Barney Webmaster close look at a historic area just Circle. There will also be an oppor- before changes begin, learn about tunity for residents to have bits of OFFICE MANAGER: its past, and understand what pottery, glass, and other mysteri- Jeff Fletcher Barracks Row Main Street hopes ous lumps dug up in the gardens To contact any of the above, please will be here in the future. And, as of Capitol Hill identified by this contact the Society offices by calling 202-543-0425 or sending email to at all Preservation Cafés, attendees expert. [email protected]. www.chrs.org Celebrating our fiftieth year helping Welcome CHRS Supporters to preserve and protect Capitol Hill’s We thank the following new members, patrons, and sponsors.