Tuesday, November 02, 2010

DC Metrocentric: Vintage Photo Near Union Station

Check out this 1976 shot of the construction of Union Station's parking garage (via DC Metrocentric).

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Threadjack: Anyone know anything about this?

TBD.com: H Street's weird little wooden locker problem

I know the proprietor of Philly Water Ice frequents the comments here... Care to be any more forthcoming? Maybe Elise knows something?

inked said...

I've read the article, but I don't know who is responsible for the locker.

For anyone who hasn't read the article, 12:06 is asking about an illegally constructed wooden locker in the 1300 block. The issues are:
1. nobody will admit to owning the locker;
2. the locker is in public space;
3. despite being notified repeatedly about the box, no District agency has removed the box, because of the ownership issue.
4. the sidewalk was poured around the box, so it's now encased in the sidewalk.

Matt Ashburn said...

I seem to recall there being a sign affixed to that box at one point indicating that it was used for baby stroller storage for patrons visiting the Spoiled & Rotten Kids Spa (which used to be upstairs, I think, but since moved down the street).

Just going off of memory, so may not be 100% correct.

Unknown said...

Very cool photo. I wish we still had trains like that. Maybe I'll see more Tuesday when I head to the Wash Historal Society to research Trinidad and the Village of Montello.

Drew Ronneberg said...

The wooden locker saga is turning out to be a classic example to DC government ineptitude.

DDOT determined that the locker isn't permitted and should be removed from public space, so they have asked Department of Public Works (DPW) to remove the locker.

DPW decided to send out its own inspector, Mr. Thomas Day, who decided that it wasn't illegal, based on his own reading of the public space rules (which I assure you are flawed).

Its like a building inspector walking into a bar and shutting it down based on his own reading of the ABRA regulations.

Anyone want to guess how long it will take the City to remove the locker?

Anonymous said...

Is there anything preventing me from going down there with a bolt cutter and/or crowbar to open and/or remove it myself? It just seems odd that no one has taken ownership of it... Which may also be an issue as far as the city is concerned: They have no one to lay responsibility on, and since they can't be bothered to do anything about it themselves, we're left with an eyesore/safety hazard.

oboe said...

Is there anything preventing me from going down there with a bolt cutter and/or crowbar to open and/or remove it myself? It just seems odd that no one has taken ownership of it...

Nope, be my guest.

ro said...

Those DPW guys are hilarious. Wouldn't trust them any farther than I could throw them. Someone should just go and demolish the box. No one is claiming it anyway. Right. Im sure the owner of Philadelphia Water Ice wouldn't mind. Riiiight?

peter gabriel said...

sledgehammer