why yes, you can punch holes in the walls of landmarked buildings for passage

Community education here.

At the Tuesday, 12/17/2020, ANC5E meeting, the developers for the Maison Kesh project on North Capitol Street NW, which is now the big empty lot/hole in the ground + the adjoining Maedwell Companies building (but not including the Pub & the People building) mentioned that they were in the process of purchasing the historically landmarked Firehouse No. 12 building at 1626 North Capitol Street NW.  

They indicated that they plan to incorporate the firehouse building into the Maison Kesh project – as in creating passageways between the landmarked firehouse and the not-yet-constructed building next door.

I asked HPO’s Timothy Dennee how that works.


See the Email thread below.

So, in general, creating passageways is allowed. 

Stay tuned as the Maison Kesh development project rolls out.

== Scott ==

P.S.  See this Washington Business Journal article about another project in DC where a landmarked building is to be incorporated into new construction next door.
                 
First New York. Then South Beach. Now D.C.'s in line for this growing hotel brand.
Jan 6, 2020, 3:28pm EST
Katishi Maake, Staff Reporter
Washington Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/01/06/first-new-york-then-south-beach-now-d-c-s-in-line.html


+++++++++++++++++

From: Dennee, Timothy (OP) <timothy.dennee@dc.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 9:46 AM
To: Scott Roberts
Subject: RE: potential future of the landmarked Engine Company 12 firehouse in Bloomingdale

Scott,

Thank you for your email.  Like any historic building, a landmark building may altered compatibly, weighing the program against the strict preservation interest.  Demolition is often part of rehab alterations.  Of course, we are interested mainly in the demolition of exterior walls and structure such as roof and floor framing and bearing walls.  Demolition becomes problematic when it reaches a level of demolition of the property in significant part.  The regulations define demolition beyond that which is considered an alteration.

It is common for historic buildings, even landmark buildings, to be connected to others, which requires some demolition for passage.  We are pretty careful, however, about limited the extent of the demolition to what appears necessary.

Without seeing a project, it is hard to comment on whether the proposal is problematic.

Tim Dennee • Architectural Historian
DC Office of Planning/Historic Preservation Office
1100 4th Street SW, Suite E650 • Washington, DC 20024
202.442.8847
timothy.dennee@dc.gov
planning.dc.gov/hpo

From: Scott Roberts outlook.com <ScottRoberts01@outlook.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 10:03 PM
To: Dennee, Timothy (OP) <timothy.dennee@dc.gov>
Subject: potential future of the landmarked Engine Company 12 firehouse in Bloomingdale

Tim:

Greetings.   This is Scott Roberts from the Bloomingdale Historic District.

At our ANC5E meeting this evening, Maedwell Companies’ developer Syga Thomas advised that he was purchasing the landmarked Old Engine Company 12 firehouse, 1626 North Capitol Street NW.

His firm controls the three neighboring properties on North Capitol Street NW.  So he will control that entire block, except for the Pub and the People building on the corner of North Capitol Street NW and R Street NW.  The project has been branded as “Maison Kesh.”

He mentioned that he plans to create “holes in the wall of the firehouse” – or something similar -- to connect the firehouse space with his to-be-constructed building next door.

Can the exterior walls of a landmarked building be partially or fully removed?

Clearly, the property has not yet sold and no plans have been submitted for review, etc etc.

So this would be hypothetical question for now.

Could you perhaps shed some light?

Thanks for your feedback.

== Scott ==