Home About In the News Business Member Directory Join Calendar Newsletter DC's Most Endangered DC's Historic Districts Historic Site Inventory Contact Third Church Documents Landmark Hearing Landmark Nominiaton files in 1991 (.pdf) HPO Staff Report presented to the HPRB for the Landmark Hearing (.pdf) HPRB Record of Decision (.pdf) Letters of Support for Landmark Designation from 1991 (.pdf) Letters of Support for Landmark Designation from 2007 (.pdf) Letter from Architect Araldo Cossutta regarding Third Church Building (.pdf) Testimony of Richard Longstreth on behalf of DCPL and the C100 (.pdf) Testimony of former Washington Post Architecture Critic Benjamin Forgey (.pdf) Letter from Paul Ivey, author of "Prayers in Stone: Christian Science Architecture in the United States" (.pdf) Raze Hearing Raze Permit Application (.pdf) DCPL Testimony in Opposition of Raze Permit (.pdf) Mayor's Agent Hearing DCPL & C100 Proposed Order (.pdf) Third Church Filing 10/08 (.pdf) DCPL Suplemental Filing 10/08 (.pdf) DCPL Letter to Mayor's Agent 10/27/08 (.pdf) DCPL Letter RE: Acting Mayor's Agent (.pdf) Federal Lawsuit Third Church Filing (.pdf) DC Filing to Dismiss (.pdf) NTHP & C100 Amicus Brief (.pdf)		Third Church of Christ, Scientist Third Church of Christ, Scientist, May, 2008. Built in 1971 and designed by Araldo Cassutta of I.M. Pei & Partners, the Third Church of Christ, Scientist is located on the northwest corner of 16th and I Streets NW.  Using concrete in new and creative ways, the architect created a building that is a sculpted art form, one of only a handful of such edifices in the United States in this style. A Landmark nomination was prepared for the complex in 1991. At the request of the Church, the hearing was delayed until 2007 when a sale and proposed demolition strategy came to light.  The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) landmarked the property in December 2007.  The Third Church of Christ filed for a raze permit.  The raze permit was heard before the HPRB in June 2008, the application was denied.  In August 2008, the church joined forces with the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty to file a complaint in US District Court claiming the landmark designation violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This case is complex and has national implications.  Below are a series of documents and talking points designed to better inform DCPL members, the public, and the press on the case.  Important Points The Church complex consists of a sanctuary and an office tower separated by a brick plaza.  A developer (ICG) is the contract purchaser of the office tower and the land the plaza and the sanctuary rests upon.  The Third Church congregation has retained ownership of the Sanctuary building. ICG was aware of the church's pending landmark status prior to moving forward. The developer has plans to construct a new building covering the entire site, including the space occupied by the sanctuary. The congregation contends that their sanctuary does not meet their needs calling it unwelcoming and ugly.  Until August of 2008, their very own website touted the architecture of the building and a version of the "Visitors Guide" distributed to guests cited the award-winning architecture.  The DC Board of Trade cited the complex for its architectural excellence and, at the time of construction, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects called it "perhaps the most satisfying new complex in the city." Landmark designation does not cover the interior of the building.  In fact the congregation can redesign the interior as they see fit.  One of the regularly cited issues is that of lightbulb replacement - fixtures can be replaced with whatever they wish. Landmark designation does not mean exterior alterations are impossible - they simply require review. Scores of other churches are either individually designated on the DC Inventory of Historic Sites or are located within a designated Historic District throughout Washington, DC and nationwide.   If the building is demolished, it is unclear what exactly will be built in its place and, further, if the issue is suitability for the congregation, why only demolition and reconstruction as a part of a development deal is the only option. The consideration of the Landmark Application was delayed between 1991 and 2008 at the request of the church - not due to bureaucratic incompetency.  DCPL remains willing to work with the Church to identify strategies and solutions to make the building better suit their needs. Upcoming Hearings: Mayor's Agent Hearing on Raze Permit Tuesday, November 25th 9:00 am 801 North Capitol Street, NE 9th Floor Open to the public

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