ARC Report
Report of the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), May 2026
Meeting Details
- Meeting Date:
- Monday, May 11, 2026
- Format:
- This meeting was held via ZOOM.
Attendees
- Christine Hobbs
- Ron Ngiam
- David Kay
- Winthrop Brown
- Ana Evans
- Danny Ince
- Tina Mead
- Stefan Hurray
- Stephen Hansen
- Anne Weir
Additional Attendees
- Andrea Pedolsky, President, Cleveland Park Historical Society
- Rick Nash, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (3C08)
3141 34th Street N.W.
Description
3141 34th Street is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District, dating from 1924 and sits prominently at the corner of 34th Street and Lowell Street, across from John Eaton School. This project was first presented to the ARC on April 6, 2026. At that time, the proposal included removing the existing rear addition, formerly a sleeping porch and replacing it with a new, slightly larger addition separated from the original house with a glass hyphen. It was also proposed to expand the south facing 3rd floor dormer with an expanded dormer, approximately doubling the length of the dormer. The materials include a textured, patterned brick on the new addition. In April, the ARC supported the concept of the proposed addition but encouraged the use of patterned brick rather than the previously proposed fiber cement panels. The ARC did not support painting the brick in order to maintain the distinction between the new addition and the historic house. The ARC was also concerned that the expansion of the 3rd floor dormer would move it too close to the front façade of the house and to the street.
ARC Recommendation
In May, a slightly revised proposal was presented. On the north side, the new addition will align with the existing addition and be set back from Lowell Street an additional 6 inches while maintaining the expanded depth. The roof on the addition will step down from the existing house. The north side of the addition will now include two windows, one each on the first and second floors and the glass hyphen between the old and the new will be eliminated. Brick siding has been selected and will not be painted. The ARC appreciates the decision to use unpainted brick for the addition and the lowering of the roof of the addition. The ARC suggests that the sills of the two new windows align with the existing windows and the ARC supports the use of a deep, bronze frame which will add much needed articulation to the windows. The ARC still has concerns about the prominence of the proposed expanded south-facing dormer and suggests moving it back from the front of the house.
2939 Macomb N.W.
Description
2939 Macomb Street N.W. , built in 1911, is a Sears kit house, Avondale model, and is a contributing structure in the Cleveland Park Historic District. The proposal includes the construction of three new dormers, on the east, west and north (rear) side of the house. Also proposed is the addition of two new risers to the currently very steep front steps. With the exception of the work on the exterior steps, no alternations to the footprint are proposed. The dormers will be 14 ft, 4 in. in width east to west; several new skylights will be added; and the materials will match the existing materials on the house including asphalt shingles. The siding of the dormers will be wood shake, again to match the existing. The windows in the new dormers will be wood double hung with wood trim.
ARC Recommendation
The ARC has no objection to the concept of the addition of the dormers; based on historical records, dormers were a common add-on to the Avondale model. However, the ARC suggests that the side dormers be set back at least an additional one foot, preferably two feet from the face of the wall below. This additional set back will make the dormers subservient to the original house. The ARC has no objection to the additional risers.