As with many things in life, not all alleys have an equal
potential for meaningful development to become a livable part of a growing city
of laneways within a city of roads.
An alley for trash, rats and cats in that order.
The Historic Preservation Office alley survey project is an
extremely important undertaking that will become increasingly valuable in the
years ahead. Many small enclaves are being discovered along with hundreds of
hidden little gems of buildings that once lived as shops, stables, and homes or
led some other fascinating life. No doubt, in the course of doing this work,
many losses through decay or destruction and unauthorized modifications will be
discovered. D.C. alleys have mostly been ignored. The alley survey as our era’s
snapshot will not only document what exists today but also help to protect
otherwise defenseless properties tomorrow.
D.C. alleys are inhomogeneous. Some are narrow. Others are
wide. Some are traditional “trash, services and parking” alleys. In some, there
is almost no vestige of past human living because large condo and apartment
complexes have usurped the entire outer and inner block spaces.
Cady's Alley in Georgetown
Yet, some have been beautifully preserved, refined and integrated with 20th and 21st century architecture and flourish as thriving destinations. Others await
rescue. The process of restoring or reclaiming potentially livable alleys will
require well thought out triage to finely focus on areas with the
greatest potential for salvage. There may only be a handful of alleys still
worth the energy and resources. However, in a city where livable and affordable
space is disappearing (as is land for new construction) exploring, documenting
and protecting potentially habitable alleys is a wise investment for the future
of D.C. and urban planning.
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