VACANT BUILDINGS: Committee Backs Plan to Designate Old Firehouse as a Historic Landmark

Here are excerpts of a report by the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A Economic Development and Zoning Committee, from its meeting on Tuesday. The excerpts pertain to an application by a private group, the Capitol Fire Museum, to designate the Old Engine House 10, at 1341 Maryland Ave. NE a historic landmark. The committee's recommendation to support the application will likely be discussed at the full ANC meeting on May 13 (see Calendar)..

The committee discussed an application for historic landmark designation for Old Engine House 10 by the Capitol Fire Museum. This application is one of a series of historic landmark applications by the Capitol Fire Museum for DC firehouses. According to the application, this firehouse has a "Queen Anne Revival façade. . .characterized by ornate brickwork and terra cotta." A decorative tablet on the faced indicates that the firehouse was "Erected 1894." In 1940, Engine Company 10 was combined with Truck Company 13 at 1342 Florida Avenue, NE and this property was vacated.

Historic landmark status would protect the external appearance of the building from significant modification without the approval of the Historic Preservation Review Board, would make the property eligible for certain tax incentives, and would still allow the adaptive reuse of the interior. Since this building is not in a historic district, without landmark status it could be demolished or razed without community input. The property is currently owned by the DC government and under the control of DHCD.

Committee Recommendation: That the ANC send a letter of support for the historic landmark designation application to the Historic Preservation Office. §