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CLEVELAND PARK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPPOSING
PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AT
3211 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W. IN THE CLEVELAND PARK HISTORIC DISTRICT
Whereas, Mark Kaufman dba Hastings Development Company is seeking permission of the
District of Columbia Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) to demolish a 1905 Queen
Anne-style house at 3211 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., in the Cleveland Park
Historic District, in order to construct a condominium development;
Whereas, the house at 3211 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. is listed as a contributing structure in the
Cleveland Park Historic District and is listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic
Sites (the “Contributing Structure”);
Whereas, according to a report prepared by E.H.T. Traceries, Inc. (August 31, 2004) the
Contributing Structure is a largely unchanged and remarkably intact example of Queen Annestyle architecture in the Cleveland Park Historic District and one of the first houses to be
constructed in the Oak View section of the Cleveland Park Historic District;
Whereas, the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Park Historic District met at a regular Board
meeting on January 25, 2005 with Hastings Development Co. and its representatives with respect
to the Contributing Structure;
Whereas, the Cleveland Park Historical Society believes that the demolition of the Contributing
Structure would be the first such demolition of any contributing structure in the Cleveland Park
Historic District; would result in the loss of a virtually unchanged example of the Cleveland Park
Historic District’s architectural and historic heritage; and might create a precedent for future
demolition of other contributing structures in the Cleveland Park Historic District and in other
predominantly residential historic districts in the District of Columbia; and
Whereas, the Cleveland Park Historic Society notes that not only is the Contributing Structure’s
exterior “little changed” with no additions since the original construction, the interior is
“remarkably intact” with original materials and the floor plan is “virtually unchanged” (Traceries
Report at 5), the Cleveland Park Historical Society is deeply concerned that Hastings
Development Company has seriously neglected the basic maintenance of the Contributing
Structure, with the possible intention of causing its “demolition by neglect.”
Now therefore be it Resolved:
That the Cleveland Park Historical Society opposes the demolition of the Contributing Structure
and urges its preservation;
That the Cleveland Park Historical Society urges the HPRB and the District of Columbia Mayor’s
Agent not to issue a demolition permit for the Contributing Structure;
That the Cleveland Park Historical Society also urges the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
Office of the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) to
take all appropriate actions to ensure that the Contributing Structure is in compliance with
provisions of the D.C. Housing Code and of other applicable laws and regulations, in order to
prevent “demolition by neglect” of the Contributing Structure;
and be it further Resolved:
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That any officer of the Cleveland Park Historical Society be and hereby is authorized to file these
resolutions with, and to submit comments, provide testimony and send other communications to
HPRB, the Mayor’s Agent, DCRA, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C and other agencies of
the District of Columbia Government related to the matters set forth in these resolutions.
Passed by the Board of Directors at a regular meeting on January 17, 2006