OG 05-301

REPORT OF THE OLD GEORGETOWN BOARD TO THE COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS

REPORT:  At their meeting of 7 October, the Old Georgetown Board reviewed the concept design for a new house, part of a development of four houses proposed by Georgetown 32nd LLC and Strategic Redevelopment LLC for the 1500 block of 32nd Street, NW on lots that once belonged to the historic Bowie-Sevier House (formerly Episcopal Church Home property and subsequently owned by Mr. Herbert Miller).  The single family residence adjacent to the alley behind the Q Street rowhouses was approved in December 2003 (O.G. 04-042) and its construction is almost completed.  The two rowhouses at the south end were reviewed through the Mayor's Agent appeal process when the Board and the Commission raised their concertns about the scale of the row of four houses as proposed in May 2003 (O.G. 03-047) and in September 2003 (O.G. 03-264 and O.G. 03-265).

Since then, the two central lots have been combined into one lot.  The Old Georgetown Board reviewed and disapproved the concept design for the house proposed for this new lot at their meeting of 2 December 2004 (O.G. 05-042).  At that time, the Board was opposed to the garage facing 32nd Street, which required a curb cut, and to the height of the new house in relation to the historic two-story houses across the street, giving the recommendation that the garden be terraced to eliminate a retaining wall along the proposed sidewalk.

The present application is a resubmission of the same design a second time for concept review.  Neighbors, who previously had opposed the new house, now support this design as part of an agreement in which the neighbors, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, and Councilman Jack Evans (who lives on the same block) are signatories.  Aware that the project will require a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment, the Board approved the concept with the recommendations that the proportions of the first floor windows be studied further and that a treatment for the face of the retaining walls on the garden in the remaining lot be found to minimize their adverse impact.

As such, the Board offers the following recommendation:

RECOMMENDATION:  No objection to concept design for proposed new building.  Recommend further study of proportions of the first floor windows and of a treatment for the face of the garden retaining walls.  File new submission of working drawings, including dimensions, details, and material samples, with permit application for review by the Commission when ready.  Note is made that approval of the concept design by the Commission of Fine Arts does not assume any approval by the Board of Zoning Adjustment.