Last month in the Washington Business Journal, Erin Killian and Melissa Castro reported that District Councilman Jack Evans decided to drop legislation exempting churches from historic designations—a dead giveaway to the Third Church of Christ, Science, whose building at 900 16th St. NW is the subject of some controversy. (Background here and here.) A detail from the WBJ report caught my eye:
The preservation board then designated the church as a historic landmark despite the congregation's opposition. In order to redevelop the land and build a new chapel, the church and ICG Properties are seeking a demolition permit, which is scheduled for a March 27 hearing before the preservation board.Why should Dupont Circle residents care? The building is two blocks from the White House, nearly a mile from Dupont. I seem to recall the same residents raising a stink when it was announced that a high-rise would be built at 14th and U Streets NW—which is also not Dupont Circle. Posted by Kriston at April 14, 2008 12:48 PMA number of Dupont Circle residents are also in favor of tearing down the church, Evans said.
