Monday, April 11, 2022
ARC Members attending: Christine Hobbs, Ron Ngiam, Stefan Hurray, Phil Eagleburger, Tina Mead, and David Kay. Also attending was Camilla Carpenter, Executive Director, Cleveland Park Historical Society.
This meeting was held via ZOOM.
3433 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Owner: Ten Square Development
Agent: Adam McGraw, Studio MBDC
3433 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, located at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Ordway Street, was built in 1922 and the house and the garage are both contributing structures to the Cleveland Park Historic District. The proposal includes relocating the existing house and garage to the side lot so that the house faces Ordway Street and then constructing a multifamily building facing Wisconsin Avenue. The existing curb cut will be maintained and there will be no alternations to the house. The concept presents the relocated house in alignment with the other houses on Ordway Street.
The relocation of this house is part of a larger project. The owner is also proposing to relocate 3427 Wisconsin Avenue, the neighboring house, so that this house faces Norton Place. The Norton Place relocation was presented to the ARC in January. At that time, the ARC supported moving the companion house to Norton Place; however, the ARC had concerns about the design of the proposed multifamily structure. The design of what will now be a larger multifamily building facing Wisconsin Avenue will be presented at a future meeting.
The ARC supports the concept of relocating the house and the garage, both contributing structures to the Historic District, to Ordway Street. Particular attention should be paid to the alignment of the house so that the mass of the relocated house is aligned with the other houses on the south side of Ordway Street.
The motion passed 6-0.
3501-34th Street
Owner: Janine Goodman
Agent: MDC Solar LLC
3501 34th Street was built in 1929 and is a contributing structure to the Historic District. The house is located at the corner of Ordway Street and 34th Street. The proposal includes the installation of visible solar panels on the south and east sides of the roof. The solar panels would be black, set on the dark roof, and would be visible from both Ordway and 34th Streets.
Capturing solar energy is an exciting technology, one that is changing and evolving rapidly. As this approach is used in historic districts, the design and configuration of the panels themselves and the installation hardware becomes very important. Also important is the use of a substructure that is not visible from the street. Solar panels and historic preservation can work together.
The ARC found that the proposed configuration of these panels was somewhat haphazard. The ARC encourages the owners to consider custom-sized panels that follow the shape and profile of the roof and that establish a neat, uniform pattern. The ARC would like to review this redesign.
The motion passed 6-0.
