Washington Business Journal - by Marc Leh
From the highly publicized Christian Science Church downtown to the little known Maples house on Capitol Hill, the D.C. Preservation League is back again with its list of most endangered historic properties in D.C.
Rebecca Miller, executive director of the D.C. Preservation League, announced the list Tuesday at the site of an on the list, the Maples, 619 D St. SE near Eastern Market. The D.C. nonprofit has published the list annually since 1996, hoping to draw attention to Washington’ historic and cultural landmarks most threatened by ill-advised alteration, demolition through neglect or abandonment.
The Maples, one of Capitol Hill’s oldest residences, was built between 1795 and 1798 for William Duncanson, personal friend to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although the property has gone through periods of neglect and prosperity during its 135-year history, recent developers hope to restore it to its former state. Friendship House, as it’s affectionately called, once served as the home of Francis Scott Key, Sen. John Clayton, and Major Augustus Nicholson.
Another of this year’s entries, the Third Church of Christ Scientist, 900 16th St., NW, is particularly endangered, given the recent decision by Planning Director Harriet Tregoning, acting as the mayor’s agent, to allow the church to proceed with demolition so it can build a new one. Built in 1971, the complex was designed by I.M. Pei partner Araldo Cassutta. While church’s “brutalistic” concrete design has its champions and critics, it has been cited for architectural excellence by various publications, including Architecture magazine. The church’s efforts to raze the building has ignited passions on both sides.
The other properties on the list are:
The Foundry Branch Trolley trestle (crossing Foundry Branch of Potomac River in Glover Archbold Park, just north of Canal Road NW). This line, constructed in 1900, was used by Washingtonians to access the Glen Echo Amusement Park in southern Maryland. All tracks have been removed from the former trolley line, but the right-of-way still serves as a trail along the Potomac River overlooking D.C.’s Palisades neighborhood.
The Barney Circle neighborhood — bounded by Potomac Avenue, 17th Street, Kentucky Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue SE just east of Capitol Hill — was developed to provide affordable housing for people moving to Washington following World War I. As housing prices and rents have increased in recent years, developers have moved to build larger houses there.
Mead’s Row, 1305-1331 H St. NE, comprises row houses with two living levels above retail storefront shops. A proposal to build a new parking lot for H Street’s up-and-coming restaurant/bar scene threatens these unique properties.
The Superintendent’s House, 5211 Little Falls Road NW, a two-story Civil War-era home, and the adjacent Dalecarlia Reservoir are National Historic Landmarks. The Washington Aqueduct, owner of the property, recently proposed to demolish the building. DCPL officials have encouraged the aqueduct to either rehabilitate the building or lease it to a user who would better maintain it.
Three of the structures are repeats from last year: the church, the Foundry Branch Trolley trestle and the Barney Circle neighborhood.
Miller said preservation needs to be a community effort. “It’s not as productive to have preservation put down on someone as it is to have it percolate from the residents,” she said.
Row Homes in Barney Circle
