Showing posts with label National Park Service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Park Service. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Jefferson's Pursuit of Cleanliness

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Washington DC commercial real estate news
18 months into renovation, a scaffolded Jefferson Memorial, commanding the preeminent position overlooking the tidal basin, remains under construction for a cleansing and roof restoration.  Expected to last 15 months when initiated, the monumental renovation is now expected to go through February of 2021.  A leaky and moldy roof lead to the decision by the National Park Service to hire Grunley Construction to replace two lower layers of the roof beneath the dome and clean the black biofilm (algae, fungi and bacteria) that has accumulated on the marble exterior.  The entirety of the monument's exterior will be cleaned by laser, a new waterproof subsurface will be installed, and the front portico entry will be lifted and have its waterproofing replaced as well, and missing coffers and beams in the portico will get replacements, and all stone surfaces will be re-grouted and cleaned, keeping Mr. Jefferson dry.

click image for photo gallery

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As to the extended renovation time, a park service spokesman says "a variety" of factors contributed to the delay; "Covid didn't help."  The memorial is one of the most photographed places in Washington DC thanks to its epicentral position on the tidal basin surrounded the city's venerated cherry trees.  And while work on the monument may be nearing an end, a larger water problem looms: the land on which the Jefferson sits is sinking, and rising sea levels don't help.  But that is a more protracted problem, and the Trust for the National Mall is leading the charge to think through some solutions, though easy answers seem elusive.

Jefferson Memorial renovation, National Mall, Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial renovation, National Mall, Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial renovation, National Mall, Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial renovation, National Mall, Washington DC

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Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Shakespeare and Ray Charles Were Here

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Washington DC commercial real estate - Carter Barron amphitheater in Rock Creek Park
In normal times, a shuttered and decaying theater on one of DC's main corridors would be unusual, even alarming.  Though normal times these are not, the site of a decaying outdoor theater in one of the nation's great parks is an arresting vision, and while the world searches for outdoor venues as safe havens of fresh, virus-free air, the city's preeminent outdoor theater, tucked benignly into Rock Creek Park, is gradually decaying in silent abandonment.

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - construction news
Closed in the spring of 2017, the victim not of age or accident, but of an engineering study finding that the stage did not meet updated building codes and was therefore not safe for supporting the plays performed  since 1950, the theater was locked down pending an upgrade to the stage floor.  Built in celebration of the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the nation and christened by President Harry S Truman, and by the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission dedicated to commemorate the anniversary, Carter T. Barron.  Shortly after its opening, the latter died of cancer and the theater was renamed in his honor, and before long hosted Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Diana Ross, Harry Belafonte and Ray Charles.

The riots of '68 saw a change of fortune for the Carter Barron Amphitheater, but the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Kool and the Gang still made appearances, though it was not until 1991, when updates to the facility, a group of benefactors and a popular Shakespeare production brought crowds back to venue in the park, with the seating completely rebuilt in 2004.  Little has changed since 1950, with a stage curtain added, then removed, though weeds and graffiti are now slowly winning the battle of attrition, with no anticipated date for reconstruction.

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - park news
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Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - Shakespeare

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - entrance


Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - NPS funding

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - closed theaters


Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - real estate

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - Samuel Johnson

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - real estate sites


Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - outdoor theaters

National Park Service: Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - construction news

urban decay photos, Washington DC

Washington DC theaters

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - commercial real estate site



Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - commercial property brokerage

Washington DC Rock Creek Park property

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC - retail real estate

Carter Barron Amphitheater, Rock Creek Park, Washington District of Columbia

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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

A Modest Icon Returns to D.C., The Washington Globe Streetlight

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Iconic street light design has long been part of A-list cities like New York, Boston and Paris. Paris, mais bien sur, naturally, is nicknamed, "The City of Light." And in the United States, New York indeed, might just be the streetlight capital, where there are more than 34 models, most with intricate ironwork, with names like "The Corvington" and the delightfully-named 24A-W "Bishop's Crook." The street light design, not surprisingly, has added to Gotham's mystique and sense of place.

Not surprisingly, there are even Web sites devoted to preserving New York's streetlight heritage.
The Big Apple actually held a design contest in 2004 to standardize and unify the more than 300,000 streetlights in the city, mainly with an aim to ending the tyranny of the banal 1960's era "form-follows-function" cobra head light.

The cobra head light, otherwise known as a Westinghouse OV25 Silverliner, first designed in 1957, is still a staple in many cities, especially Washington D.C. For many years, streetlight design in a "no-frills" government town like Washington meant cobra heads rearing up everywhere.

Oddly enough, they fit well amid the acres of Brutalist concrete of the 1960s and 1970s as the federal government needed to expand its bureaucracy quickly. And as confidence in city management waned in the Marion Barry years, more concern was understandably paid to getting burnt-out streetlights replaced quickly rather than what they looked like.


That's not to say Washington didn't have its own iconic design. The Washington Globe and its bigger brother, the "Twin-20" was, and still is a recognizable staple along Constitution Avenue, New York Avenue and other historic routes. "The Washington Globe is the most pleasing design, architecturally," the city's Fine Arts Commission declared in 1980.

But decades of neglect and disrepair took its toll on a Washington icon. Part of which was due to cost of the globes. A glass globe was the hardiest design, and didn't yellow when exposed to sunlight, but cost more than $300 each and were a danger to cars and pedestrians alike if the heavy, inch-thick glass shattered. The District sent its inventory of glass globes to a dumpster more than 20 years ago.

Replacements for the glass were far from perfect. Polycarbonate globes were tougher, could be bought for less, but yellowed when exposed to sunlight and the lights lost their luminosity. They only last about 5-10 years to boot. Acrylic globes didn't yellow, lasted longer, about 10-15 years, but they weren't cheap either, about $125 a globe.

Indifferent administrations, and the District's subordinate relationship to the federal government also contributed to the lack of appreciation of such uniqueness. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the Carter administration urged electricity savings. At the White House's prompting, many federal agencies in town disconnected street lighting and eschewed illuminating government buildings, save the Capitol, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and the Washington Monument.

The issue of streetlights in the District played a role in one of the more tragic, and galling incidents in the city. According to the DC Inspector General's report on the death of former New York Times editor David Rosenbaum in January 2006, inadequate street lighting along Granmercy Street was a contributing factor in both his attack and the inability of responding police, firefighters and EMTs in determining the seriousness of Rosenbaum's condition, who was presumed to be drunk, rather than a victim of a robbery with a serious head injury which proved fatal.

While treating Rosenbaum, firefighters needed to turn on side floodlights of their engine to illuminate the scene, the inspector general's report said. "The area was dark, even with the fire (engine)'s lights on," the report said.

Even before Rosenbaum's death, attention had begun to focus on the dismal state of DC's 62,000-plus streetlights and their design. In 1998, the city adopted streetscape and sidewalk standards for downtown DC. Streetscape standards required that builders of commercial properties, among other things, incorporate Washington Globe streetlight design.

And in 2005, the city followed New York's lead and initiated its own streetlight design committee which identified so-called "Special Streets" and "Historic Streets" to upgrade streetlight design as funds permitted. "The historic significance of the City must be reflected through all aesthetic elements including the appearance of streetlights," the committee declared in March 2005 in its final report.
Still, city administrators will freely admit that not every "Special" or "Historic" street will get the upgraded lighting, given other more pressing budget priorities amid an economic downturn. Teardrop lights cost as much as $600, compared to $200 for a cobra head light. But DC recently used Recovery Act funding to replace outdated streetlights along the Dalecarlia Parkway in Northwest. The Dalecarlia Parkway is one of 120 "Special Street" corridors the city has identified for upgraded lighting, including Wisconsin and Connecticut Avenues, MacArthur Boulevard, and the roads making up DC's borders with Montgomery County and Prince Georges County.

But where the city is lacking funds, some of the Business Improvement Districts are stepping up. The Downtown DC BID has also used its funds to pay for new pendant lights, such as the one above seen at 12th and F NW downtown, as well as Washington Globe lights around Gallery Place. In addition, the National Park Service included new "Twin 20" lighting as part of their $10 million remake of Constitution Avenue to be completed in March.

Former Mayor Adrian Fenty also made it a priority for a portion of DC's new streetlights to be green, as well as iconic. The District uses 60.7 million kWh annually and has a lighting bill of about $3.6 million, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The new Metropolitan Branch Trail along the CSX-right-of-way includes nineteen solar-powered LED streetlights. The District is also using $1 million in Recovery Act money for new LED lights in alleys.

Washington D.C. redevelopment news.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Eisenhower Memorial Metal Tapestries on Display

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In order to clearly demonstrate the artistry of the forthcoming Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial designed by Frank Gehry, the commission responsible for the memorial displayed two good-sized samples, showcasing two different production methods for bringing heavy metal tapestries to life.

The samples were on display at the site last week, and will return at the site - on Independence Avenue between 4th and 6th Streets, SW - next week, remaining up from the 12th to the 16th, during which time the Commission of Fine Arts will scrutinize the materials in question.





The Eisenhower Memorial Commission will meet with the National Capital Planning Commission for an informal design review on October 6th in advance of seeking preliminary design approval - from the NCPC - on December 1st.

Target date for delivery of the Eisenhower memorial is Memorial Day 2015.

Washington D.C. real estate development news

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

President's Park South, Designs Unveiled

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President's Park South - design for a portion of the National Mall
President’s Park South takes up a substantial 52 acres between the White House grounds and Constitution Avenue NW. Considering the importance of the site’s location and history, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) hosted a design competition, and invited five design firms to submit design concepts for the area which will assist the National Park Service and the Secret Service in forming a plan for the site, as these two government bodies will ultimately be in control of the park’s redevelopment. Today through June 27th, the designs will be on display at the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave NW, open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, and available online. Design reps will present their ideas on Tuesday, June 28th, at 12:30pm at NCPC, 401 9th Street, NW (Suite 500N). The lunchtime event is open to the public, and feedback is welcomed. The design winner will be selected by the NCPC’s Interagency Security Task Force and will be announced on June 30th. Image from Rogers Marvel Architects Presentation The designs center on the key element of President’s Park South, the Ellipse, a defining aspect of Andrew Jackson Downing’s 1851 design for the area, “Public Grounds at Washington.” The Ellipse is surrounded by side panels, which contain other significant aspects of the site, including Sherman Park and the First Division Monument. Roadways also cut through the area, most notably E St NW, laid out in 1967 to ease traffic downtown, now impassable to unauthorized vehicles, since 9/11. Participating firms:  

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Friday, April 02, 2010

Reflecting Change on the Mall

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On Thursday, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approved changes to the reflecting pool area of the National Mall. Modifications to the celebrated vista will include a fresh source of water, revitalized pedestrian walkways and, of course, increased security measures, though NCPC officials assure us the new security features will visually improve the site.

In what NCPC staff report called "a comprehensive rehabilitation," the Commission voted to approve the National Park Service (NPS) plan to upgrade the Elm Walks by repaving the walkway and adding better lighting and seating. On the immediate north and south of the reflecting pool NPS will add pavers to replace the dirt paths. A less obvious upgrade will be the water source that fills the reflecting pool, which will switch from potable (treated) drinking water to tapping the Tidal Basin. In the works is a plan to dig a trench and lay a plumbing system that will pump water from the Tidal Basin directly into the reflecting pool.

According to David Levy, Director of Urban Design and Plan Review at NCPC, this feature and the repair of leaks in the pool will result in a cleaner, "more sustainable" and less wasteful water supply. Levy says the same changes will eventually be applied to Constitution Gardens to the immediate north.

This being DC, enhanced security is also on order. But in a welcome change, NPS will use natural boundaries as entry barriers to the Lincoln Memorial, lowering the floor of the reflecting pool to create a natural barrier for crazies driving land vehicles approaching from the east. "The most brilliant part of the whole design, is that they will use the edge of the reflecting pool as part of the barrier...This is the kind of innovate security that NCPC encourages, you get increased security without impacting public space," says Levy. Unless of course a terrorist manages to obtain a DC Ducks vehicle, but odds of that are pretty low. Once the changes are in place, NPS will remove some of the protective bollards and all of the temporary planters now on the site for an overall aesthetic improvement.

Washington DC real estate development news

Friday, February 12, 2010

Have a Say in the Future of the Mall

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On February 18th, the National Park Service (NPS) will hold a public meeting to present (in brief) the various alternatives for revamping the National Mall. The NPS released a 600-page draft plan in December with a public comment period that lasts through March 18th. The goal is to create a comprehensive plan for the upkeep and improvement of the National Mall, including the various monuments and parkland within.

The plan has five options: a do-nothing option, a preferred alternative and three other options focusing on either historic landscape and education (signs and trees), a national civic space (think Forrest Gump) or urban recreation and ecology (baseball fields). According to the NPS website, the Agency Preferred Alternative is a combination of the three action alternatives.

See for yourself next week from 5 to 7 PM at the Old Post Office building near Federal Triangle Metro.

Washington DC real estate development news

Sunday, October 04, 2009

WWI Memorial Refurbishment Approved

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National Mall - WWI Memorial, Washington DCThe National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) met Thursday to review several project that fall under its purview, ultimately "commenting favorably" on all. One of the bigger items on the agenda was improvements to the District's World War I Memorial on the National Mall. Washington DC retail for leaseThe National Park Service (NPS) plans to restore the District of Columbia World War I Memorial, located on the Mall just above Independence Avenue, SW. It is the only District monument on the National Mall and honors residents of the District who fought in the war. Originally dedicated by President Herbert Hoover on November 11, 1931, the 47-foot tall memorial was used as a band stand, able to hold an 80-person band with space enough on the surrounding lawn to seat 300 people. It's last recorded use for public music was in 1960, since that time, the memorial has fallen victim to wear, tear, and obscurity. The NPS will clean and repair the memorial by adding bluestone and Elm trees, replacing non-historic paving with granite, and removing "non-historic trees." When completed, the memorial could once again be used as a bandstand. Restoration is expected to be complete by September 2012 and will cost an estimated $5.2 million, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But that won't remedy the security fences and lack of parking that make visiting the memorial difficult, and comparatively rare.

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