Pope Benedict to Hold Mass at Washington Nationals Stadium:
Expect the "... King of the World!!!"

The Pope will tentatively hold Mass next April at Washington Nationals Stadium, days after its opening day.

In describing this stadium's clubhouse, Jacqueline Dupree uses the term "I'm King of the World".

I think that's a plausible description of someone who will be there next April.

With the Douglass Bridge viaduct now demolished, the views looking north on South Capitol Street easily encompass both the ballpark and the Capitol dome. The Administration building at right is now topped out. (10/21/07)
Above photo and caption by Washington Post real estate reporter Jacqueline Dupree http://www.jdland.com/dc/stadium.cfm?tab=no2

Note the knife-edged clubhouse to the right.

Looking across the roof of the under-construction admin building (or, as I call it, the bow of the S.S. Nationals), toward South Capitol Street and points south, including the new intersection at South Capitol and Potomac. I'm King of the World!!! (9/1/07) above photo and caption Washington Post real estate reporter Jacqueline Dupree http://www.jdland.com/dc/stadium.cfm?tab=no3

Jacqueline Dupree said it. That's the sentiment of someone who will be standing near that "bow" next April!

More...

U.S. N.C.P.C.'s Lies about Latest Demolition Special-
Camden's 1325 South Capitol Street
Falsely Claims Compliance with recommendations of Extending the Legacy

NCPC Executive Director Patricia E. Gallagher (center),
with NCPC Chairman John V. Cogbill, III (right)

http://www.ncpc.gov/UserFiles/File/NCPC%20Commission%20Actions%20and%20EDRs/2007%20NCPC%20Commission%20Actions%20and%20EDRs/August%202007/8.2.07%20-%20ZC%2006-41%20(delegated)%20Camden%20dev.%20on%20South%20Capitol%20St._.pdf

Pursuant to delegations of authority adopted by the Commission on August 6, 1999, 40 U.S.C. §8724(a), and DC Code §2-1006(a), I find that the proposed planned unit development and related map amendment for the Camden residential development at 1325 South Capitol Street would not be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, nor would it have an adverse impact on any federal interests. ...

The project is located at 1325 South Capitol Street on Square 653, Lot 111. The proposed map amendment will rezone the property to C-3-C (Commercial) from C-2-C. The C-3-C zoning permits a maximum height of 90 feet and Floor-to-Area Ratio (FAR) of 6.5. The C-2-C permits 90 feet in height and an FAR of 6.0. The project consists of an 11-story residential structure at 110 feet in height. The project is setback 15 feet from the South Capitol Street right-of-way, and steps down to 70 feet on its western side, adjacent to the existing residential town homes.

This map amendment is consistent with the recommendations of the South Capitol Street Task Force and the Extending the Legacy Plan. The project respects the 15-foot setback for South Capitol Street as recommended by the Task Force [BUT NOT BY EXTENDING THE LEGACY] and provides new residential opportunities for the emerging redeveloped neighborhood. As such, this proposal will not negatively impact any federal interests nor be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital.

Opening up the South Capitol vista was a major point of NCPC's planning through the 1990s with Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for the 21st Century, and as late as September 2001 with its publication Memorials and Museums.


But NCPC like the rest of our government would mysteriously go apostate- a decision benefiting only a single building along South Capitol Street, the St. Vincent de Paul Church at the intersection with M Street.

Demolition to Begin for New Demolition Special:
The Continuing Desecration of the Extending the Legacy Plan

Future -- post 2012 -- Eminent Domain for Public Use?

A rendering of 1345 South Capitol Street, a 244-unit residential building under development by Camden. Plans are for construction to start in 2008; site demolition is scheduled for late October/early November 2007. (Rendering from the WDG Architecture web site.) Illustration and caption from Jacqueline Dupree

Land to be cleared for condo project -- 1345 South Capitol Street SW -- which itself conflicts with U.S. National Capital Planning Commission's South Capitol Mall seen on the cover of Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for the 21st Century, and hence will require eminent domain for public use.

Anyone moving into this structure should know of this conflict, and thus understand that it will need to be removed, via eminent domain for public use.

Of course this could be avoided simply if the project were shifted a few hundred feet west.

Then it would ultimately be worth more money because it would be fronting the grand monumental promenade of the South Capitol Mall.

As of this writing, that could still be done.