ARC Report
Report of the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), January 2025
Meeting Details
- Meeting Date:
- Monday, January 13, 2025
- Format:
- This meeting was held via ZOOM.
Attendees
- Christine Hobbs
- Ron Ngiam
- David Kay
- Win Brown
- Anne Weir
- Danny Ince
- Ana Evans
- Phil Eagleburger
- Stefan Hurray
Additional Attendees
- Andrea Pedolsky, President, Cleveland Park Historical Society
- Stephen Hansen, Executive Director, Cleveland Park Historical Society
3508 Lowell Street, N.W.
Description
Built in 1917, 3508 Lowell Street N.W. is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District. The proposal includes a new curb cut, new driveway, a parking pad located at the side of the front porch, 18-inch-high retaining walls, and a redesigned walkway in the front yard. A "special tree" located in the planting strip will be removed and the driveway will be sloped in order to minimize the height of the retaining walls. The ARC notes that this block of Lowell Street has a number of curb cuts and driveways.
ARC Recommendation
However, the Design Guidelines for the Cleveland Park Historic District states "The addition of curb cuts and associated paving for vehicles and reduction in green space has a negative effect on the neighborhood and is unlikely to receive support. The argument that the creation of a driveway eliminates the need for on-street parking is countered by the loss of parking on the street for residents and visitors and the interruption of sidewalks, tree boxes, and other character-defining features of Cleveland Park's streetscapes…..The placement of automobiles between the public street and the front of a house erodes the concept of a park-like setting. When off-street parking is absolutely necessary, it is preferable to locate it at the side or (preferably) the rear of the property."
3516 Newark Street, N.W.
Description
3516 Newark Street was designed by Frederick Pyle, a noted Cleveland Park architect, and built in 1907 by the Cleveland Park Company. It is a contributing structure in the Historic District. The concept under review includes a two-story rear addition with a third-floor roof deck and a full basement. The footprint of the proposed addition is 16 feet by 16 feet. The roof in the rear of the house will include an expanded gable and the proposed materials will be similar to those of the existing house. This rear addition will not be visible from the street. The design of this proposed addition is evolving, and a revised design was presented to the ARC during the meeting.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC would like to review this proposal again, once the design is more finalized. There are several areas of concern: • The presentation located the house in an incorrect square in the plat presented. Therefore, the relationship of the proposed addition and the neighboring houses could not be determined. • The neighbors were not contacted and were not provided with copies of the current plans, leaving no time for consideration and discussion. • The plans are currently being revised. The ARC would like to reviewed a more clearly defined proposal.
3521 35th Street, N.W.
Description
3521 35th Street was built in 1935 and is a contributing structure in the Historic District. The proposal for side, rear and roof additions in order to create a two-unit building were presented to the ARC in December 2024. At that time, the ARC had concerns about visibility of the raised roof, the relocation of the basement windows, and the alignment of the water table.
ARC Recommendation
The revised plans presented during the January meeting were inconsistent, particularly in regard to the roof line, with one drawing indicating that the raised roof had been pushed behind the chimney and other drawings showing the raised roof more forward. (See drawing S-4 as presented to the ARC.) Also unclear was the relationship between this house and the neighboring houses both to the south and to the north, particularly how the proposal would meet the other half of the duplex at the party wall and at the roof. The issues of the basement windows and the water table were not addressed. Since the design is evolving and the details need to be more defined, the ARC would like to review this project again.