Comments on: ANC Fights Preservation Group Over Designation of AU’s Tenley Campus

By: Ross

Ross — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:52:52 +0000

all the time i used to read smaller articles or reviews that as well clear their motive,
and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am reading here.

By: Typical DC BS

Typical DC BS — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:20:09 +0000

Historic Preservation, for that crap there? The whole HP process needs to be revised. So much time and energy wasted on telling someone else what to do with their property.

After having to go through numerous DC agencies just to get anything built in DC, there are numerous ways the DC government can influence design and construction. Historic Preservation just gives another busybody a say in how you build / renovate your property.

By: David NW

David NW — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:40:42 +0000

You are wrong about there being only an element here of the famous Tenleytown tendency to try to minimize development just for the hell of it, which would be another sad abuse of the District's historic preservation law. That is the whole thing. These Tenleytown NIMBYs want their mattress stores and dilapidated or boarded up buildings on Wisconsin Avenue, thank you very much. Wisconsin Avenue, a quiet country lane. I'm surprised they haven't tried to landmark the whole avenue above Tenley Circle.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:13:05 +0000

Bender is the same Commissioner who, at a recent ANC meeting on the Wilson pool's configuration, asked the police officer to shut people up. She declined.

From the NW Current's coverage (available at
http://currentnewspapers.com/admin/uploadfiles/NW%2009.21.11%201.pdf):

"Many audience members left in the midst of debate, expressing disgust at the meeting's tone and at chair Bender's move to limit each attendee to one comment.

The police officer, who had attended the [ANC] meeting to present a crime briefing, rebuffed Bender's request for intervention against residents Bender said were speaking out of turn. 'I thought an ANC meeting is where they can share their opinions,' the officer said. She, too, left early, saying, 'If somebody gets assaulted, call me.'"

By: Maeve

Maeve — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:56:04 +0000

@DC Guy

Hold on -- I need to get my boots!

By: Maeve

Maeve — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:55:44 +0000

2DC Guy

Hold on -- I need to get my boots!

By: DC Guy

DC Guy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:57:12 +0000

While I don't know Bender, it sounds like the refrain is not unique. Like I said, to each their own, but the subjective nature of historic preservation leads to some extolling the virtues of such design, while others deride it.

By: Maeve

Maeve — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:30:39 +0000

@DC Guy

The really Butt Ugly comments from ANC Commissioner Jon Bender reflect the attitude of ANC 3E and you seem to continue in the same vein.

By: DC Guy

DC Guy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:50:29 +0000

@Bob

The old Sears, nee Cityline is a matter of taste in terms of successful adaptive re-use. There are many in the neighborhood, across the city and elsewhere who think the sleek spaceship on top of the art deco facade is butt ugly.

To each their own.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:48:44 +0000

Before anyone starts hyperventilating about NIMBYs and preservationists, it's good to remember the saga of the old Sears, now Cityline and Best Buy in Tenleytown. Not to many years ago, locals and preservationists landmarked the building. Oh, the howls of protest about NIMBYism and "hysterical preservation" from some quarters, including Marc Fisher, then a Post columnist. If the building hadn't been landmarked, it's likely that that visible corner would have ended up with a clone of Van Ness Center or perhaps at best something really mediocre like 4000 Wisconsin. Instead the adaptive reuse of the landmarked property resulted in something that is creative, well-situated and preserves the old architecture et seems very modern at the same time.