ARC Report
Report of the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), September 2025
Meeting Details
- Meeting Date:
- Monday, September 8, 2025
- Format:
- This meeting was held via ZOOM.
Attendees
- Danny Ince
- Ron Ngiam
- David Kay
- Anne Weir
- Ana Evans
- Stefan Hurray
- Stephen Hansen
Additional Attendees
- Andrea Pedolsky, President, Cleveland Park Historical Society
- Ellen Goldich, Executive Director, Cleveland Park Historical Society
3401 Lowell St, N.W.
Description
3401 Lowell Street was built in 1915 and is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District. The proposed scope of work mostly matches prior approvals under a different owner submitted in 2018 & 2019. These include the removal of non-original stucco material to return to original wood siding, the reconstruction of a bay window facing Reno Road, and a 2 story stucco rear addition above the garage that is 21.9’ long and 36’ wide. The original 10” wide corner boards would remain, all windows and doors would be replaced, and new synthetic slate would replace the roof material. An existing rear porch would be removed to allow for the addition. A 2nd scheme for the addition’s roof was shown that was considerably lower, but was not officially submitted.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC was glad to see that work would finally commence at the property. The ARC has no objection to the re-submission of the project as submitted but has the following concerns: The smaller roof scheme was preferred, as the taller roof of the addition does not feel sufficiently subservient to the original structure, despite a change in roof materials. The ARC would encourage study in the lower roof and would like to see this project again if the lower roof is considered. The size of the windows in the addition, particularly those facing the Eaton school and Reno Road still seem very large, particularly as they are in a bathroom, and would welcome smaller windows here that match the scale of the windows in the original house. The ARC would like to review the project again when the plans are revised to the lower roof on the addition.
3314 Ordway St, N.W.
Description
The existing colonial revival structure is not a contributing structure to the Cleveland Park Historical District, having been constructed in 1954, and is proposed to be torn down. The new 2 ½ story house would be built of unpainted, red, Roman-style brick and have a flat roof. The proposed new house would continue the side entry design with a wood shutter and glass enclosed front ‘porch’ on the front façade and a low, curved brick wall at the front walkway that would be perforated. The driveway would slope down towards a garage, recessed under an overhang of the structure above. A tower-like light monitor above the porch is in line with the stepped back western side of the front façade.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC appreciated the addition of a modern house on the street with the scale being similar to the adjoining houses. The ARC has no objection to a new house as a replacement as submitted and no objections to the design except for the following concerns. The front of the house appears unfriendly without much glass, unlike the side facades which have larger openings. We appreciate the larger window on the 2nd floor and wonder if more glazing would be possible. The front wall as a curve feels arbitrary from the street and a lower retaining wall, without the curve, would feel friendlier and more appropriate.
3034 Newark St, N.W.
Description
3034 Newark Street was built in 1903 and is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District and has an easement with the L’enfant Trust. The existing house is 2 ½ stories tall with later aluminum siding. The proposed scope of work involves restoring the windows on the front of the original house, repairing the front porch and salvaging the wood trim. The existing aluminum siding would be removed to find the original siding underneath which would be matched. The siding around the turret would be removed to find the original window layout, larger windows are proposed. The central brick chimney would be removed. A 2 story addition is proposed in the east sideyard which would extend 13’-3” towards the 8’-0” side yard setback, 38’-1” back from the street, and extend 32’11” towards the backyard. The rear porch would be removed and replaced with a new 2 story addition.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC appreciates the restoration of the original house and understands the structure requires a substantial amount of work. However, there are concerns the side addition is not subservient to the main house without any demarcation of new to old. Both the scale and wall treatment dominate the original structure despite the setback. Building the addition to the setback makes the house lose the generous and airy feel of the lots seen along Newark Street and feels like a loss to the street fabric. Great care should be given to a street facing garage, despite the precedents, and the ARC is not supportive of the garage door in this location. The glazing on the rear of the house, which we feel will be visible from Macomb street below, should be smaller in scale. The east façade should be given greater thought and have articulation or windows to avoid a large blank wall and be stepped back from the property line to retain the houses’ scale and keep the sense of openness along the historic Newark Streetscape.
3307 Newark St, N.W.
Description
3307 Newark Street was built in 1904, designed by noted architect Waddy Wood, and is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District. The house has previous additions that have been reviewed by the ARC. The proposed scope of work is a 2nd story addition, measuring 14’-6” deep and 13’-5” wide over an existing porch, that mirrors a small ‘enclosed sleeping porch’ style addition flanking an existing Palladian window. The same wood siding and wood casement windows would be used to match the flanking addition.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC has no objections to the project as presented.
3521 35th Street, N.W.
Description
3521 35th Street was built in 1925 and is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District. The proposal for side, rear and roof additions in order to create a two-unit building were presented previously to the ARC in December, 2024, in January, 2025,and in July 2025. In December, the ARC had concerns about the visibility of the raised roof, the relocation of the basement windows and the alignment of the water table. In January, the ARC expressed concerns about the inconsistencies found in the revised plans, particularly regarding the roof line. Also unclear was the relationship between this house and the other half of the duplex. The issues of the basement windows and the water table were not addressed. In July, alternative plans for the roof were presented to the ARC. Again, the ARC expressed concerns about the plans not being properly drawn. For example, the chimney and the front dormer were drawn at different heights in various drawings and the relationship of this house to its neighboring duplex where the party wall and the roof meet were not presented. Interior floor plans did not always match elevation drawings. The current presentation proposes a smaller 3rd floor addition, set further back from the street and the north side elevation.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC does not support the current proposal or the 3rd floor addition. The renderings do not match the elevations nor what has already been built, seen in the site photograph below. The ARC feels this sets a dangerous precedent for other semi-attached houses in the neighborhood. The relationship to the attached neighbor is not compatible with the original design intent of the 2 houses acting as one structure and the addition pops up high above the roof in an alarming way, visible from surrounding streets.