the Bloomingdale (for now) blog wrote about the buildings here.
Look at this post about what will replace them
did you guess condos before you clicked? me too.
Thoron Development’s Dunbar Place, a five-story 29 unit condominium building will fill the space.
10 comments:
Eh... early 20th century rowhouses aren't too scarce in DC. I won't cry many tears if these are razed. However, I think the developer is pretty foolish. I can't imagine too many people willing to pay luxury condo prices to live along that grim stretch of North Capitol.
- JM
what do you think would make that stretch less grim?
Cleaning up the public housing across New York Ave., no methadone clinic across NY Ave., clearing out the drug crews that operate on 1st and O, rehabilitating or replacing the housing on the unit block of Florida, rezoning the industrial buildings and used-tire lots on the unit block of Florida, reducing the impact of SOME on 1st and North Capitol... it's a big list.
- JM
i think it's pretty short sighted to say that row houses aren't too scarce and that we can afford to lose a few. it's a slippery slope, and i believe we should fight to keep the architectural heritage that we have in the neighborhood.
would you say the same if we were just talking about a few houses on logan circle, or on east capitol? all of these are worth fighting for.
Well, I basically agree with you. I'm usually in favor of historic preservation and would certainly prefer to see the developer reuse the existing structures. But my point is (a) the area can use all the help it can get, and (IMHO) development with new buildings is better than no development at all; and... (b) that particular stretch of N Capitol is already an architectural wreck, what with the KFC, gas station, ugly freeway, etc. Given that NOMA is going to be essentially all new construction I think one could envision new, modern architecture that would act as a "bridge" between the older, residential buildings to the north and the more modern NOMA development to the south.
In addition, I don't think that all buildings are equally valuable simply because of age. These particular rowhouses are not particularly unique or distinguised. Logan Circle is worth preserving because (1) the inherent uniqueness of many of the houses (as examples of classic late-Victorian brownstones) and (2) the fact that Logan has preserved a residential and architectural "fabric" that N. Capitol has (sadly) lost for good.
Interesting discussion!
- JM
I'm not sure it can be said any better than JM posted, but I wanted to chime in with my concurrence. Some areas are worth preserving, some are not. This stretch clearly falls into the "not" category and this development is tasteful & appropriate. Preservationists should choose their battles wisely, lest they stifle progress and lose any support they may have among the silent majority that is tired of looking at vacant, dilapidated buildings.
well, anon, i'll respectfully disagree with you. there is a stretch of 5 intact houses here that would be eliminated, and i think it's worth trying to save an intact block. i could see that, if there were a few empty lots here, it might make sense to raze things and start over. but there's a full urban block that could be saved.
imgoph,
From what I understand, you are a renter in Bloomingdale. Whether you rent or not... THANK YOU for caring so much about the area. And if you are indeed a renter... THANK YOU X 2 for caring as much as you do!
-M. Alan
m. alan: yes, i am a renter, and an aspiring homeowner, though it most likely won't be in bloomingdale, i can't afford anything in the neighborhood. maybe eckington, though...
they've done been leveled.
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