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Most Endangered Places
2000

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Most Endangered Places for 2000

921-941 F Street, NW

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington intends to demolish all but the facades of the last remaining intact 19th century commercial row in downtown Washington and build an 11-story office building in its place. The three-story buildings, which the Archdiocese has owned since their construction in the 1880s, are adjacent to the nationally landmarked St. Patrick's Church and Carroll Hall. In addition to retail businesses, the row's tenants include artists in the only remaining affordable studio space in the Downtown Arts District. The Archdiocese, planning to consolidate Catholic Charities' regional offices at Carroll Hall and pay for the move with revenues from the new office building, claims the right to demolish these protected buildings through a provision in the local law called "special merit." The Church argues that the public benefits of relocating Catholic Charities far exceed those of historic preservation. DCPL contends that under the law, special merit is only applicable where demolition is "necessary," which the Archdiocese has failed to prove. Last year, the mayor's agent for historic preservation denied the Archdiocese's application for a demolition permit. He reaffirmed DCPL's position, concluding that destroying the buildings would imperil the future of the Downtown Arts District by removing the artists from their studios; set a serious precedent by permitting the demolition of historic buildings through special merit; and compromise the integrity of important District of Columbia historic sites. The Archdiocese has appealed the decision, and is one step closer to leveling the historic buildings.

Chair: Patrick Lally

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