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Thank you for drawing attention to this important case. I ask only that you follow it up with additional background and, using the same title, discuss how preservation advocacy groups in Washington failed the historic Third Church -- and compare their efforts to those in Boston where the Christ Scientist headquarters and Boston's City Hall have received significant attention and support from city preservation organizations. Research DOCOMOMO's efforts to encourage reuse of such properties. The failure in this case goes back several years when preservation advocacy groups -- state and local -- sat back and entered in to an agreement with the developer putting a cost on allowing demolition. Ask the DCHPO or the D.C. Preservation League for a copy of the agreement which puts a $450,000 'contribution' price tag on, essentially dropping advocacy efforts. As preservation efforts around mid-century modern properties increase and refine themselves across the country and the globe, Washington has taken a very unfortunate and costly back seat.

by Reed on Jun 14, 2012 10:22 am • link • report