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Most Endangered Places
2005

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Most Endangered Places for 2005

SOUTH CAPITOL STREET CORRIDOR

Bounded by G Street to the north, Anacostia River to the
south, 2nd St, SE and 2nd St, SW

STEWARD: VARIOUS PRIVATE OWNERS
NOMINATED BY: HAYDEN WETZEL & DCPL LANDMARKS COMMITTEE

This neighborhood is what remains of a once very large working-class residential and semi-industrialarea. While little of the architecture is unique, the neighborhood as a whole represents a way of lifethat is seen in few places in the rest of the city. Some streets continue to show almost fully intactrows of housing and shops. The area includes a significant power station in art deco style, rows of"sanitary housing" from the early 20th century, World War II-era worker housing, and industrialbuildings, warehouses and rowhouses (both brick and frame) from the 1870s to the 1920s.

Current redevelopment plans including the city’s new baseball stadium have few provisions forprotecting the fragile historic buildings of this area and many have already been demolished. Onlypart of the area is slated for preservation.

In 2004, the South Capital Task Force prepared Prepare a detailed presentation of the buildings inthe area and identified clusters of buildings that have the potential for preservation and presentedthis to the Historic Preservation Office and to the public.

Next Steps/Actions:

• Through a Task Force, DCPL is working to build a coalition of neighbors, community groups and preservationorganizations to work with the city’s Office of Planning and other agencies to ensure that historic preservation concernsare included in the planning and development of this area. The task force has already surveyed and documented thearea. Within the next six months the group plans to:
  • Form a coalition of neighborhood groups and individuals interested in this project.
  • Make initial but specific proposals to the city's Office of Planning and Historic Preservation Office.
  • Consider preparation of landmark nominations for select buildings.

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