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D.C. Landmark Church on Verge of Major Revitalization Project

Historic Church in Adams Morgan Faces Demolition for Nine-Story Condo Development

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historic church in Washington, D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood is set to undergo a significant transformation with the proposed development of a nine-story condominium building adjacent to it. Dila Development & Construction has filed conceptual plans for the condo at 1610 Columbia Road NW, which would be situated between the church and a Freemasonry temple.

    According to the plans, the condo project is part of a larger redevelopment that includes the "rehabilitation and adaptive reuse" of the Washington Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. However, it remains unclear if Dila has acquired the property or how many units would be included in the building. The Historic Preservation Review Board will review the plans before a more refined concept is filed.

    Historic preservation consultant EHT Traceries is working on a redevelopment plan for the church, which dates back nearly a century and was added to the city's Inventory of Historic Sites in 1964. Dila Construction, led by Utku Aslantuk since 2008, has overseen over $450 million in residential and commercial projects in Washington, D.C.

    The proposed development highlights the challenges of adapting historic sites for creative reuse, balancing regulations, architecture, and landmark designations with potential profits from valuable real estate.

Historic D.C. church undergoing revitalization project, potential landmark restoration.