The alleys of DC and the stables were the pulse of the city. To destroy an original stable and replace it with a building of "that looks like a stable" reveals profound ignorance of the value of architectural originality. The stables and the alleys were where the ecology of urban change occurred. Their stories reflect many lives and are living artifacts of 200 years of human experience in Washington. Historic replication is no substitute for historic preservation.
Contact Information
If you would like to contact the author to discuss the preservation of alley structures please feel comfortable to do so through the e-mail address alleysdc@yahoo.com . The world of D.C. alley dwellers is small and meaningful change can only come through connecting with each other.
Neglected Neighbors by Weller 1909 - The John C Winston Company
The Mews of London by Rosen 1982 - Webb and Bower
The Secret City by Green 1967 - Princeton University Press
Alley Life in Washington by Borchert 1982 - University of Illinois Press
About Me
stable preservationist
Washington, DC, United States
I live in an 1899 stable in the middle of an historic landmark alley collection of stables. There is much work to do to raise the awareness of the historic contribution of alley lives in DC from the past as well as the present. This is a living ecology that is recognized by very few. Please share your thoughts with the community on the blog.
According to a reliable and well placed source within Washington’s architectural preservation community, this stable (the white one on the left) was nearly destroyed several years ago. Outrage from the Georgetown citizens resulted in “a bonanza of stop work orders,” the demolition ceased after half of the building had been destroyed and the contractor was forced to restore the building to its original configuration. Parenthetically, it was unusual for a WashingtonD.C. stable to be built facing a main street rather than within an alley.
At a community function several months ago, the editor asked Jack Evans about the July 2008 destruction of the 1863 Historic Landmark protected Civil War stable in Naylor court (1316 rear 9th Street). He said he couldn’t understand why it was allowed to be torn down and that if something like that had ever happened in Georgetown the outcry would be overwhelming. He’s right!
In 1954 when developers threatened to destroy the historic stables and warehouses along the canal in Georgetown, the residents of Foggy Bottom and Georgetown created a coalition to save the properties and succeeded. Today, 54 years later, this area has become a destination landmark. Small businesses – such as Blues Alley - are thriving.
“It may be a jazz world, but it looks like it’s going to be a BluesAlley universe-BluesAlley clubs everywhere, BluesAlley CDs and videos, a BluesAlley clothing collection, and even a BluesAlley crystal decanter.
Washington’s well-known jazz club-which attracts legendary jazz performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Byrd and Wynton Marsalis-has signed a $57 million licensing agreement with a group of Japanese investors to open three clubs next year in Japan, according to BluesAlley owner John T. Bunyan.
And other deals with investors in the United States, Germany and Spain are in the works to capitalize on the popular supper club’s name and knack for booking jazz …”
1316 rear 9th Street (originally a Civil War stable) was a home and furniture repair
shop up until a year before its destruction by a developer/investment company.
Few can see clearly into the future, but it shouldn’t be difficult for all of us to recognize and respect the past. WashingtonD.C. is blessed with many small alley structures that have earned the right of preservation. The history of Georgetown and Foggy Bottom preservation activism should serve to educate the rest of the city. There is no reason why these lessons cannot be used to guide other sections of the city as development continues to threaten our history one brick at a time.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment