RSS FeedHPRB Approves New Plans For 7th & H St NW Development
Rendering courtesy of R2L Architects’ website
Our friends at DCMUD wrote last month about new plans for the NE corner of 7th & H St NW. As we all know, this is the same corner of 7th & H St NW where the CVS used to operate and is also on the north side of the friendship arch. Previous plans for the site included a 10-story condominium that would fit in with the Gallery Place development directly across the street. The new proposed plan is underwhelming when compared to the old, to say the least.
While the plans were revealed with ANC approval, the Historic Preservation Review Board still had to weigh in on the plans. On Septemeber 22, 2011, the HPRB approved the concept contingent on the one-story addition on 7th Street being pulled back sufficient to ensure that it won’t be visible from the street. Here is the 2-page staff report provided by HPRB.
R2L Architects has some more renderings of the development on their website.
Confirmed: Freshii Opening At 10th & E St NW
Freshii is opening in the old Gifford’s space on E St just off of 10th (in between the Washington Welcome Center and Qdoba). The windows of the space were very recently papered and some QR codes appeared indicating Freshii’s intention.
There is one other Freshii in the city operating at 20th & M St NW, if you are interested in checking it out!
History on Foot: Civil War Era
While enjoying the lovely weather walking around the neighborhood this past weekend, I noticed this plaque. How fascinating and inspiring to think about one of our greatest statesmen and orators working right here in Penn Quarter?! I got curious about what other obscure (at least to me) historical sites might be in the area, so I searched the Web. I discovered a number of interesting memorials, monuments, and historic sites, etc. Here are just a few sites in our neighborhood specific to the Civil War era.
Mary Surratt Boarding House (541 H Street) – A boarding house run by Mary Surratt from 1864-1865 was reportedly the location of secret meetings to plan the kidnapping and assassination of President Lincoln. Surratt was convicted and sentenced to death for her role in the assassination plot and became the first woman executed by the United States federal government.
Clara Barton’s Office of Missing Soldiers (437 7th Street) – Most remembered as the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton was instrumental on establishing battlefield nursing during the Civil War, including on the frontlines. In 1865, President Lincoln asked her to be in charge of finding missing soldiers, some of which was done at this location.
Statue of Brigadier General Albert Pike (C Street, between 3rd and 4th) – Albert Pike is the only Confederate officer honored with an outdoor statue in DC (allegedly because of his leadership with the Freemasons and connection to President Andrew Johnson).
Statue of General Winfield Scott Hancock (Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th) – “Hancock the Superb” was a prominent figure in the Union Army, especially at the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the Democratic nominee for President in 1880.
Statue of President Abraham Lincoln (D Street, between 4th and 5th) (among others) – No need to tell you about this guy, but interesting to note that this statue was first erected in 1868, on the third anniversary of Lincoln’s death, and was the first public monument to him (and funded by the citizens of Washington, DC!).
Statue of General George Gordon Meade (Constitution Avenue, between 3rd and 4th) – Best known as the Union General who defeated Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Statue honoring Benjamin Stephenson and the Grand Army of the Republic (Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street) – The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization for military veterans of the Civil War formed by Benjamin Franklin Stephenson in Decatur, Illinois in 1866. The organization was a pioneer in advocating for veterans’ rights, including lobbying Congress to establish pensions for veterans.
Credit: I first found information about the location of the statues on dcmemorials.com and applaud their efforts to catalogue these sites in one place. All other reference material is paraphrased from Wikipedia.
DC Link Roundup: Heard In The ‘Hood
Photo: The Chicago group Styx wraps up Taste of DC on Sunday night
Follow PQ Living via Facebook here and Twitter here. Our Flickr tag is pqliving.
Here’s what we were reading recently about neighborhood news in DC. Have something to add? Leave it in the comments!
Mount Vernon Triangle – Caldo, an Italian restaurant, announces that it will open in the Mass Court building at 4th and H St NW. We will happily try more pasta dishes! [The Triangle]
Chinatown – The Corner Bakery opened yesterday at the corner of 6th and H. Hooray! [Washington CityPaper]
Penn Quarter – As reported here, Anthropologie opens on F Street NW in Penn Quarter. Others have more detailed and may we add, fashionable, coverage. This includes a video walkthrough of the store. What do you think of the store? [You, Me & Anthropologie] & [Stuff Jewish Girls Like]
Shaw – Rogue 24, the Minibar-like restaurant, gets broadsided by the Washington CityPaper. We haven’t tried it yet so we can’t comment. Can you? [Washington CityPaper]
Downtown – The Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting is tonight starting at 6:30 pm at the Calvary Baptist Church. [DC DNA website]
Penn Quarter – The Central Liquor sign has been removed from the F Street souvenir storefront and streetscape. The owner of Comet Ping Pong up on Connecticut Avenue bought the neon sign. [DCist] Hat tip: Streets of Washington
All Over DC – We enjoy sport shooting here at PQ Living and would enjoy an easier time of registering our double barrels. Fortunately, Councilmember Mendelson is working on it. Maybe one of the new Wal-Marts scheduled to open in DC will take up the cause too. [DCist]
Penn Quarter – Sunday hours at the MLK Library disappear and then reappear right before your very eyes. The magicians? DC City Hall. [DCist]
Chinatown – Another review of Mike Isabella’s Graffiato (707 6th St NW). This time from uberluxe magazine Modern Luxury. [Modern Luxury]
Penn Quarter – The 12th Annual DC Asian American Film Festival is still running through next weekend. Catch films at the E St Cinema, the Navy Memorial, or the Goethe Institut. [Asian American Film Festival website]
National Mall – The Hirshhorn hosts After Hours this upcoming Friday, October 14. Not to be missed! [Hirshhorn Museum – After Hours website]