Historic House Toolbox – June 9, 2012

Give Your House Some Love

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
921 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Metro Station: Eastern Market
Saturday, June 9, 2012
10:00AM-1:00PM

Click here to register.

Join DC Preservation League and Capitol Hill Restoration Society for the opportunity to receive FREE individualized attention from contractors and seasoned professionals who will answer your questions on a range of topics including: working with architects and contractors, roofing, wood windows, ironwork, energy efficiency and much more.

Two on-site learning sessions will focus on researching the history of your property; and energy audits and greening your house without compromising its historic integrity.

FREE to the public!

Click here to register.

Sessions

10:20am Audits You Don’t Need to Fear: A Path to Efficiency – James Carroll, EcoHouse

11:30am How To Research Your House – Peter Sefton, DC Preservation League

Contractor Tables

Architecture – Fowler Architects, Jennifer Fowler

Green/Energy Efficiency – Everyday Green, Andrea Foss

Masonry – Pointing Plus Historic Masonry Restoration, Danny Palousek

Paint – Tech Painting Co., Jim Nicolson

Carpentry /Millwork/Plaster – Worcester Eisenbrandt, Inc., Amy Hollis and Matt Hankins

Roofing/ Gutters – Wagner Roofing, Chuck Wagner

What Style Is My House – DC Historic Preservation Office, Kim Williams

Windows and General Contracting – Mozner Works, Inc., Neil Mozner

Windows and General Regulations – National Park Service, John Sandor

St. Elizabeths Walking Tour – December 15, 2012

St. Elizabeths Walking Tour
Saturday, December 15, 2012
10:00am – 12:o0pm

Click here to register.

Join the DC Preservation League in partnership with the General Services Administration for a walking tour of the historic west campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital, a National Historic Landmark. Tours of the St. Elizabeths campus are being offered on a limited basis depending on the course of construction activity.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Because of security issues walk-ons will not be permitted on the tour.

Click here to register.

 

Once a bank and a nightclub, historic F Street building readies for next step

by John Muller, May 3, 2012 10:21am, Greater Greater Washington

>>>Read original article.

 

“Is this a nightclub, again?” a passerby asked last week, walking along the 900 block of F Street NW. “Nope, DC Preservation League party,” a middle-aged man said as he walked through the wood doors to the Equitable Building at 915 F Street NW, formerly the Platinum nightclub.

Once an innovative community bank, the property has been vacant for the past year. Douglas Development Corporation purchased this historic building last fall and plans to redevelop it, potentially as part of an emerging fashion district in the area.

“This is a significant building to F Street,” said DCPL’s Executive Director Rebecca Miller. “It’s a mix of eclectic and classic architectural styles that over the years has maintained its integrity. This is one of only 15 interiors designated an historic landmark in the city.”

“People cherish their recent memories of this building as a nightclub, but this was one of the first progressive community banks in Washington,” said John DeFerrari of Streets of Washington, who attended the Preservation League fundraiser.

According to DeFerrari, the Equitable Co-Operative Building was built in 1912, and was the headquarters for the Equitable Co-Operative Building Association. Equitable was a pioneering thrift institution co-founded by John Joy Edson, a leading financier and philanthropist who believed that facilitating home ownership would provide stability to the city by improving its housing stock.

In 1985, Equitable moved out of the city. A nightclub called The Bank moved into the space and proceeded to remove the mahogany teller counters to make space for a dance floor. Within a couple years, the Fifth Column, another dance club, moved in and featured avant garde artwork juxtaposed against the restrained elegance of the building’s original architecture. In 1995, Fifth Column closed. Before the end of the decade, Platinum nightclub debuted, but by 2008 it, too, closed.

Despite the changes in the building over the years, the architectural value of the building and its interiors remain intact.

“You’re never going to see this type of craftsmanship,” said John D. Bellingham of Monarc Construction and President of DCPL’s Board of Trustees, remarking on the dentil molding, cornices, and frieze architecture.

“It’s proven that a city that retains its historic character attracts more tourists,” Bellingham said while lamenting “slap-happy” renovations that can do more to distort historic preservation than support it.

“Walking into this place is like walking into the National Portrait Gallery,” said Douglas Jemal, president of Douglas Development Corporation, as his eyes scanned the interior. “Look at the grandeur. This is a special place and deserves a special tenant. None of that strip mall [expletive].”

Noting clothier Ralph Lauren as a possible tenant, Jemal said there is a growing interest among European and American fashion retailers to establish a presence in Washington. Forever 21, H&M, and Zara have stores nearby.

Whether the Equitable Building becomes part of an reemerging downtown fashion district or an upscale restaurant, preservationists agree the development of the Equitable Building will retain the neighborhood’s historic character.

“Like so much of the city, I’d love to see another old ghost of a building get a second chance at a new life,” said another preservationist. “Saving buildings like this one preserves the soul of our city and keeps us connected.”

Reinterpreting Dumbarton House – May 23rd, 2012

Reinterpreting Dumbarton House
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
2715 Que Street, NW
6:00-8:00PM

Click here to register.

Attribution: Wikipedia

How does the staff at this historic house museum accurately interpret the lives of its early residents? Explore this question with Dumbarton House Museum Curator, S. Scott Scholz through a “behind the scenes” tour of one of Georgetown’s historic gems. Highlights will include information on the museum’s on-going research, preservation, and restoration efforts. In addition, master preservation craftsmen will discuss paint analysis and methods for restoring plaster and paint at historic homes.

$15 for members (DCPL and DH/NSCDA);
$25 for non-members.

Space is Limited!

Click here to register.

 

Historic Preservation 101/201

Historic Preservation 101/201
Friday, May 18, 2012
Gallaudet University, Kellogg Conference Center
800 Florida Avenue, NE
9:00am – 12:00pm

Click here to register.

Historic Preservation 101 provides a brief history of the DC historic preservation movement, advice on how to navigate the historic district requirements, tips on historic preservation funding and the value of façade easements.

Historic Preservation 201 delves deeper in to the process of designating historic landmarks and districts, renovation of a historic property, the historic preservation review process and integration historic resources with new construction.

No Cost 3 Hour Continuing Education Credit Available to
DC Real Estate Licensees and DC Real Estate Appraiser Licensee
$60 to Non Licensees

Click here to register.

 

St. Elizabeths West Campus Walking Tour

Must Sign Up By Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14!

St. Elizabeths West Campus Walking Tour
Saturday, May 18, 2013
10:00am-12:00pm

Join the DC Preservation League in partnership with the General Services Administration for a walking tour of the historic west campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital, a National Historic Landmark. Tours of St. Elizabeths campus are being offered on a limited basis depending on the course of construction activity.

Space is limited and reservations are required.

Because of security issues walk-ons will not be permitted on the tour.

Click here to register.

Wonder Bread Building Becomes DC Landmark

At its November 17th hearing, the DC Historic Preservation Review Board voted unanimously to include Dorsch’s White Cross Bakery (also known as the Wonder Bread Factory), 641 S Street, NW, as an individual landmark in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites. The nomination was co-sponsored by DCPL and Douglas Development Corporation (the building’s owner).

Read more

We Need Your Help!

The New Year is upon us and DCPL’s Education Committeeis gearing up to plan the 2012 program calendar. Conception and coordination of programs is vitally important to the organization’s mission, and is a great opportunity to be an important part of DCPL. Join the Education Committee as we sketch out the upcoming year’s tours, lectures and conference sessions. The success of such programs is in a large part due to people like you who give of their time, knowledge, and or skills. Join us at our January 2012 meeting and help educate DCPL’s members and the public on the benefits of historic preservation.

Please contact Amanda McDonald at amanda@dcpreservation.org for more information and meeting times.

A Look Back at 2011

In its 40th Anniversary year, the DC Preservation League (DCPL) has been as busy as ever!

We filed landmark nominations on several buildings including the Recorder of Deeds (515 D Street, NW), and the Old Naval Observatory/Potomac Annex (23rd and E Streets, NW). DCPL’s staff and board members presented testimony to DC Council on agency oversight and to the Historic Preservation Review Board on development projects throughout the city.  We also spearheaded advocacy efforts to ensure that plans for the re-use of the National Historic Landmark St. Elizabeths East Campus and improvements to the Great Hall at Union Station use sound preservation practices; both projects that will continue into 2012.