What to Do With That Hideous Church…

This month’s Preservation magazine weighs in with a back page article on the Third Church of Christ, Scientist, known to many as that “really, really, really hideous church down on 16th Street that everyone would like to see demolished.” The structure was designed by I.M. Pei’s firm, and has been designated as a historical landmark. It is an example of Brutalist architecture.

Not surprisingly, Preservation defends the building, but acknowledges its awfulness, and the difficulty its owners face.

“Where does that leave the disgruntled congregation? It could sell the property and use the money to build a new church elsewhere. But who would buy this much-vilified building , and what would the new owner do with it?”

One word: club.

Clubs don’t need windows. They don’t need pretty exteriors. They just need to be big. Call it “Brutal” or “Octagon” or “Ugly” or “Cement”—no better than “Fix,” “Velour,”"Home,” or “Ultra.” I don’t know if the zoning rules will allow it. But there are a ton of clubs around the corner on K Street.

In other notes, according to Greater, Greater Washington, no decisions were reached today at a meeting to discuss the building’s fate. Instead, Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning granted a request by the DC Preservation League to “continue” the hearing in a month, according to the blog.

Photo by Rodeomilano