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JustMe -- while I don't care that you don't read my stuff cause it's too long, I do care when points are misconstrued and improperly conveyed.

I don't care how big buildings are, just that they are in context. There's nothing wrong with a four story rowhouse-except when it is the only one on a block and from the standpoint of height and mass, isn't consistent with the era of significance.

I am fine with new construction, just not s***** design and quality.

My experiences working on these issues in the city are what led me to make the points I make.

Tom C. I think used the word pastiche. The problem comes from the fact that the Sec. of Interior guidelines say new construction should be new construction/new design. The problem with that is that it can be problematic/out of context, a point that Stephen Semes argues far better than I ever could. Except in rare instances, most new consruction with new designs doesn't work in historic districts.

There is some new construction of buildings designed to look old that is incredible. The rowhouses at 500, 502, 504, and maybe 506 (I don't remember) East Capitol St. NE are an example--the buildings are 10-12 years old. And while not incredible, EYA's buildings on the 1500? block of Independence Ave. SE are quite good. There are many decent examples across the city, they aren't cheap though. (There is also a lot of s***** examples, especially in the H St. neighborhood, on the 700 blocks of 8th and 10th St., arguably on the 700 block of 3rd St., definitely on the 800 block of 10th St., and huge oversize examples on the 1100 block of 5th and the 500 block of M St., oh and the horrid example of the Wylie Court Condominiums.)

In other places, there is a lot of new construction bungalows mostly but sometimes four square that are also truly excellent.

-- the building on M NE Street that is pre 1870 is in bad condition, it's light green still probably, towards 5th, on the north side of the block. It has a pitched roof. A similar building was on the 300 block of K St. but was torn down as part of the development of that intern apartment building (it didn't need to be, it was across the alley).

by Richard Layman on May 26, 2012 9:25 am • link • report