WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The D.C. Preservation League is taking a broad tack this year with its list of the most endangered historic properties and places in Washington: In general, if it’s owned by the District government, sought by the federal government or desired by developers, then it’s imperiled.

“Basically, D.C. land is under siege by the federal government,” said Rebecca Miller, the league’s executive director.

The Potomac Annex, home to the U.S. Naval Observatory, is being discussed as a site for the headquarters of the Director of National Intelligence. The East Campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital is the likely future home of the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. Both sites offer panoramic views and both could be cut off from the public if the feds move in, the league contends.

“DCPL and other preservation organizations have been adamant that 6.3 million square feet of new development on the site would destroy the historic significance of the campus …” the league said in its report of the St. Elizabeths project.

Most frequently cited on the league’s 2007 list are properties owned by the D.C. government, including the Franklin School, currently in use as a downtown homeless shelter, numerous historic D.C. public school buildings and much of the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Southeast.

The buildings in Southeast were “left vacant and abandoned for years,” the league claims, and “are a clear case of the District government failing to comply with its own laws with regards to demolition by neglect.”

In a statement, Mayor Adrian Fenty said the city “must find creative ways to preserve and utilize our historic architecture so that it enhances the quality of life for all District residents.”

For the first time, the league is cataloguing entire row house neighborhoods as most endangered, among them Columbia Heights, Hill East and Eckington. All are under pressure from developers for either “ill advised alterations” or “insensitive infill,” according to the league.

But promoting and protecting historic neighborhoods is critical to a developer’s success, countered Brian Jackson, vice president of Bethesda-based EYA development.

“You talk about neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and Eckington, for a long period of time there was disinvestment, disrepair and neglect there,” Jackson said. “It’s not about whether or not to redevelop, because if you don’t develop, the neighborhoods just fall in on themselves.

mneibauer@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:43 AM MST on Sun., May. 6, 2007 re: "Official: Boys and Girls Club in Southeast may close after review"

Jenna taylor said:
This is terribly unfortunate. As a college student who works part-time at my local Boys & Girls Club I know how devastating this will be to some of the club's members. Many of the children see their Boys & Girls Club as a safe haven from the harsh realities they are exposed to at such a young age... being around adults who are good role-models and care about their futures is so critical to their development... with all the loaded people in D.C. someone with big bucks should step in and get the club financially back afloat.

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10:38 PM MST on Sat., May. 5, 2007 re: "Official: Boys and Girls Club in Southeast may close after review"

Examiner Reader said:
Maybe if they didn't their Executive Director a quarter of a million dollar$ a year they could afford to keep thier clubs open!

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