Artists still waiting to revitalize Dupont Underground

Public Spaces

Artists still waiting to revitalize Dupont Underground

by David Alpert • October 19, 2009 1:28 pm

Beneath Dupont Circle lie two long, dank tunnels that were once a bustling underground streetcar station. A coalition of arts groups want to reactivate the space for arts exhibition and performance, but they need community support and action from the Deputy Mayor's office.

Dupont's tunnels.

The tunnels became empty in 1962, as DC was dismantling its streetcar system. Today, the only remnant is the many covered staircases surrounding the circle, which now look more like utility shafts. In 1995, one developer tried to turn the space into a food court, but that project failed quickly and morphed into drawn-out litigation. As reported a year ago, a number of arts groups have banded together to propose renovating the space into a shared arts exhibition and performance space.

Arts space could succeed where fast food failed. Food establishments rely on foot traffic for much of their patronage, and a dark, cavernous underground tunnel is not exactly the ideal dining space. The tunnel is curved, reducing sight lines. But exhibitions and performances typically don't want outside light, and people travel to them purposefully rather than happening by.

Concept sketch for Dupont Underground. Image from Hunt Laudi Studio.

What's the holdup? The organization, the Arts Coalition for Dupont Underground, has been waiting for city government to release an RFP for a new lease. Initially, an outstanding contract mandated that only adjacent property owners could bid for the space, according to coalition representative Adam Griffiths. But, of course, the adjacent owners already have space on Dupont Circle, and aren't necessarily interested in this. The DC Council passed a law voiding that requirement, but the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development has still not moved ahead.

Recently, DMPED officials also told Griffiths and the Coalition that they wanted to conduct community discussions about the future of the space. As a Dupont Circle resident, I think the arts would be a great use for this space where commercial enterprises are unlikely to succeed. Many other residents have expressed enthusiasm for this arts option. It's worthwhile to also consider other possibilities, but would any work?

Back in 2003, the Dupont Circle ANC discussed potential uses (DOC). Suggestions included a movie theater, DC permit offices, storage for nearby residents, and retail. Some suggested a gay and lesbian museum, but GLBT officials were unenthusiastic about the symbolism of locating a museum underground for a civil rights issue that spent too many decades in the figurative closet.

In any event, DMPED has still also not scheduled community meetings, and the coalition is still waiting for the opportunity to bid and begin real fundraising. If they can secure a lease, the coalition will still face obstacles. The tunnels are in bad shape from years of neglect and the water that inevitably collects in underground spaces unless actively removed. They hope to raise money to renovate a small portion of the space for about $100,000, then begin a capital campaign to fund the remainder of a Phase 1 build-out at a cost of about $500,000.

There are actually two tunnels, one on each side of the circle. The group currently proposed to use the western tunnel, which is closer to more of the existing galleries and the P Street commercial area. The tunnels are also much longer than just surrounding the circle, though all of the entrances are on the circle; they include long, straight segments along Connecticut from R nearly to N Streets. The coalition would use the circular section for programming and small pieces of the straight portions for storage. Conceivably, the eastern tunnel could go to another use, if another company or organization were interested enough and could afford to renovate that space.

Concept plan for Dupont Underground. Image from Hunt Laudi Studio.

30 comments — Share	— tags: arts, Dupont Circle, Dupont tunnels, public spaces

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Comments

I remember when they tried to bring the underground back. The main problem was, they only opened up one entrance!!! Mega doh! on that one.

by beatbox on Oct 19, 2009 1:37 pm

why not bring it back as what it was built for?

it was made to be a streetcar turaround/station- not a shopping center or a gallery.

Although- if it will not be used for it's intended purpose- this is not at all a bad thing.

by w on Oct 19, 2009 1:45 pm

how about part arts center & part bike station?

by j on Oct 19, 2009 1:50 pm

I'm highly in favor of this. There are no streetcar plans for Conn. Ave currently. Even if such a plan was expedited it would be at least 3-5 years before any construction.

Why isn't the city helping out. This would be a truly unique art space. Is there any historic signage down there?

The other half could totally work as a bike station too, better than the one at Union Station. If there was a food court previously, that means there's water/plumbing, etc. to support showers/restrooms. That would be a MAJOR amenity for any neighborhood: secure, underground bike storage/bikeshop.

by Justin from ReadysetDC on Oct 19, 2009 1:55 pm

j: haha. Thinking the same thing at the same time!

by Justin from ReadysetDC on Oct 19, 2009 1:57 pm

I'm assuming the north arrow on that last image would be pointing the right. It's sort of confusing from this perspective. Could the image be rotated or labeled?

by Nick on Oct 19, 2009 2:00 pm

the DC arts & humanities is an incestuous organization devoted to giving grants monies out to the same people over & over again with little interest in promoting or lending a helping hand to new & emerging and capable artists who are not part of the elite.

They are also not particularly interested in new ideas unless they originate from their bureaucracy and if they can take the credit for these ideas.

by w on Oct 19, 2009 2:28 pm

Could someone enlighten me as to the current condition of this space? Reason being: I wonder if this is a place that could house Art-O-Matic in the interim (even house a semi permanent Art-O-Matic until other plans come through).

by JTS on Oct 19, 2009 2:32 pm

@JTS - there is presently no shortage of empty office buildings expressing interest in hosting Artomatic.

by Paul S on Oct 19, 2009 2:42 pm

@JTS - This space would be way too small for Art-O-Matic.

by Hiya on Oct 19, 2009 2:50 pm

Dupont Circle ANC 2B has in recent years supported both arts use and use by a GLBT group for a museum at what is the historic epicenter of DC's gay community.

But we have always kept in mind that this was and remains a streetcar tunnel, and - should the trolley system eventually include K Street, it might be a good idea to take it up Connecticut Avenue - under the circle - and perhaps up into Adams Morgan. If not, the Circle might be the natural turnaround.

The bones of the old system are still there. They can rise again and be part of a new system.

by Mike Silverstein on Oct 19, 2009 4:12 pm

How about an underground parking facility/art gallery? I hate having to look for parking in that area. Park your car and check out some art at the same time.

by Todd on Oct 19, 2009 4:16 pm

Here are some photos showing the condition of the subway station.

http://www.conoperative.com/blog/2009/08/26/dupont-circle-underground/

by Matt Johnson on Oct 19, 2009 4:16 pm

It's pathetic that the city has sat on this for years and years. The city needs to first immediately clean the space up and make it functioning with working bathrooms and utilities - at the very least organizations need to be able to rent it out, to open it up to the public. We could host art exhibits there, or even a haunted house for next Halloween. For the long-term, yes, hold a charette to get the public involved, and open up proposals to all interested parties. The original proposal for a gym would still be a good fit, or a pool hall, or artist space - perhaps a la The Torpedo Arts Center.

by Michael on Oct 19, 2009 4:22 pm

or make it a car-parking facility IF AND ONLY IF you eliminate street parking, turning current parking spaces on conneticut avenue and P street into (protected) bike lanes.

todd hates to look FOR parking but i hate to look AT parking taking up all that lovely public real estate that could be better used by people in motion, making the streets better for drivers and cyclists alike.

by j on Oct 19, 2009 5:39 pm

I wonder how this space fits into current fire codes and ADA rules? Is it exempt due to its historic nature? I remember the old food court being cramped with only one staircase in and out. In other words, a death trap if anything were to happen.

by metronic on Oct 19, 2009 5:40 pm

Did you see those pics? Mold, ew.

If it could still function for future transit, it should definitely be reserved for that use.

I've given up on seeing it for any other functional non-municipal use in my lifetime. It probably has all kinds of HVAC, ADA, etc issues.

by spookiness on Oct 19, 2009 5:45 pm

There's something about these underground spaces that is awfully alluring. I sure hope they can work this out as an art space seems an ideal usage.
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http://sexlivesandliterature.blogspot.com/

by Cryin' on Oct 19, 2009 10:23 pm

Thanks for bringing this to the public's attention again, David. I emailed DMPED about this space and why they're sitting on it. Honestly, why don't they just give it for virtually free? This is clearly not a space where they need to maximize the highest and best use. And it's not good for anything else- not schools, not restaurants. MAYBE bar or live music, but that might be controversial to NIMBYs. Cutting edge art space makes the most sense and would act as a really cool new (and large) venue for artists.

by SG on Oct 20, 2009 12:28 am

For a (geographically) small city, DC sure doesn't seem to mind letting its real estate go to waste.

(The closest cities by population to DC are Seattle, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Portland, all of which are at least twice the geographic size of DC.)

by Gavin Baker on Oct 20, 2009 1:46 am

Why wasnt it ever converted to a bus tunnel? Harvard Square in Boston is an example of where this was done.

by J on Oct 20, 2009 2:30 am

The reason why this project has languished is because the District's real estate development contracting process is a zero-oversight joke. The Tivoli Theater project languished throughout the 1980s because of a sweetheart deal with Robert Haft gone sour, which was followed by the charette process which was itself manipulated by insiders. Then there's the whole paralyzed crony-infested fiasco that was the Redevelopment Land Agency. This one went to a Barry-era crony who promised the moon and delivered a dank basement full of mold with only one entrance. The project has been in litigation ever since. They might as well set up a memorial and call this the Marion Barry Memorial Hole in the Ground.

Until DC stops giving 99-year development rights to the insider with the most connections, look forward to more vacant properties languishing for decades.

by monkeyrotica on Oct 20, 2009 7:39 am

Local business owners (who the mayor seems extra eager to please) should step up and start pressuring the city to move forward on this. An art space would bring more foot traffic to Dupont Circle, which existing businesses would benefit from.

I hope there's a plan for a small theater space in the mix that could host several troupe--something along the model of the Source theater, which brings some nice crowds into the 14&U area.

by John on Oct 20, 2009 9:22 am

They also talked about moving those adult entertainment industries from the Navy Yard to here at one point.

by Zac on Oct 20, 2009 9:38 am

I agree with pretty much everyone's comments except the one about putting parking down there. Why on earth would you want to use precious real estate for parking...you live in a metropolitan city....use your mass transit system...WALK, bike....but please keep your cars in the burbs where they belong!!

by Scott on Oct 20, 2009 10:24 am

One of the reasons the original development failed was that it was a sweetheart deal between then-Mayor Marion Barry and one of the many crooked developers he was/is connected to. There was never any intention to create a viable space, only a way to siphon public money into a developer's pocket.

by Katz on Oct 20, 2009 12:20 pm

The place is a Dungeon, it's not ADA Compliant, very limited access, Clostrophobic, dark with little ventilation. I recall the '95 opening and went down for 2-3 times, it was always empty of people despite all the advertising. There was laundry mat down there, I couldn't imagine dragging baskets of clothing down & up from that place. Dupont "Underground" is not special, *THINK* about something else.

by Roger on Oct 20, 2009 2:11 pm

With public transportation, trams/street cars specifically making such a resurgence I think it would be criminal to completely abandon it's original use. I mean, digging the tunnels is the most expensive part, throw down some new tracks, a coat of paint and voila, the cheapest "new" streetcar system ever.

I've seen dcdot concept plans showing street cars on K street. The lines here go practially to K street already. It is just itching to be used again for it's original purpose. Take it up Florida ave to adams morgan or to U stree and run it the full length. It can be the "circulator" equivalent for metro.

In a time where digging holes for tunnels etc costs hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars, giving up one already built for transportation seems like a huge waste. You can have all your other stuff down there (art,bars,clubs etc) just don't give up the tracks!

by loki on Oct 20, 2009 4:34 pm

There is nothing inconsistent in using the DuPont tunnels as an arts space until DC light rail takes the decade or so it will require in order to mature. They are not antithetical.

Putting in elevators, exhaust fans and lighting does not mean destroying the space for future mass transit. Art space has about the least-demanding build-out requirements of any usage.

Art space is a low-investment, high-return strategy that does not preclude transit use later on, if funding is ever secured for transit.

Yes, some commercial involvement is needed to get Mayor Fenty to sit on the DMPED's head and make him/her take action. Publicity and money motivate him in ways almost nothing else does. (He reminds me of Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly in that regard.)

In any case, it is not because of inattention or accident that DMPED has not moved. Fenty will be microcontrolling this situation as usual (which Kelly did not do much of only because she did not know how to.)

by slangwhanger-in-chief on Oct 20, 2009 5:36 pm

DC needs art production space much more than exhibition space -- visual arts galleries have been dropping like flies.

Why not use the tunnels for performing arts rehearsal space?

by Mike Licht on Oct 26, 2009 6:06 pm