Shuttered Mount Pleasant Church Becoming Condos

The Meridian Hill Church building at 3146 Mount Pleasant Street NW is closer to being converted into condominium units. The church building was damaged beyond use during the fire that started in the Deauville Apartments building in 2008. They Deauville was recently rebuilt and has reopened as the Monseñor Romero Apartments.

Urban Turf is reporting that the DC Historic Preservation Review Board has provided final approved for the church to condos project (PDF). Urban Turf's post notes that the new project will be comprised of 70 condos. The project developer, Valor, indicates 85 units. They're also calling the project "The McIntyre." In addition to renovating the current structure, a narrow tower will be build on the southern and western sides of the property.

The congregation that previously made up Meridian Hill Church still meets. Then new location is just over the District line in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

Rendering via Valor Development

Rendering via Valor Development

Rendering via Valor Development

Keeping Tabs: More Bikes!

Giant grocery CaBi station

Big Red Bikes: Obtaining a Capital Bikeshare bike in Mount Pleasant may become easier, and soon. DDOT and Capital Bikeshare have decided where they'll be expanding the system this fall. There are 32 new stations scattered around the city. Mount Pleasant isn't getting a new station. However, we will benefit from one expanded station in the neighborhood and several nearby. The station at Lamont Park is slated for expansion; as are the stations at 16th and Harvard NW and at Giant grocery in Columbia Heights (Park Rd & Holmead Pl NW). Great news! 

Old Church, New Condos?: DC Mud updated us recently on the plight of Meridian Hill Baptist Church. It was heavily damaged in 2008 in the 3145 Mt Pleasant St fire. The church is located at 3146 16th Street NW, directly behind the aprtment building which caught fire (and destroyed).

Apparently, the structure will not become a church after renovation; it will become housing. Specifically, condos. According to DC Mud, 55-60 condos are slated to fill the structure which is nearly 100 years old, but has been vacant since the fire. The church's insurance and cash on hand weren't enough to fully rebuild over the years. Pretty sad. No word if any former 3145 residents will be able to secure housing in the Meridian Hill Church project. That would be just fantastic. More updates as they come. Have a great weekend folks. Be safe.

Meridian Hill Baptist Church hours after March 2008 fire.

Our Friends and Neighbors; the 3145 and Meridian Hill Church Fires

Right now our neighbors from 3145 Mt Pleasant Street and the Meridian Hill Baptist Church are trying to begin the process of putting their lives back together after the fires of Thursday morning. According to NBC 4, small fires were still smoldering in some parts of the gutted building at 11:30 last night, nearly 24 hours after initial 911 calls. Investigators may not get access to all reaches of the building for at least a week. We can all be thankful that not one person was killed or seriously injured in the 3145 building (the Winston) or the at Meridian Hill Church. Those who were using the shelter housed in the basement of Meridian Hill now have a temporary home at Sacred Heart Catholic Church across 16th Street. The shelter was and is run by Catholic Charities. They accept donations online.

The 42 and this blogger are thinking good thoughts on behalf of all Mount Pleasant and wishes a speedy return of everyone involved to their homes in 3145. Thankfully, there are several ways to help out if you are so inclined. Thanks to Hear Mount Pleasant, Neighbors Consejo, Pfeiffer's Hardware, La Casa and other local groups and individuals.

• Cash Donations are probably the most helpful right now; possibly more than clothes and toiletries. Make a cash donation to be used for emergency shelter, medications, etc. For now, Pfeiffer's Hardware (3219 Mt P Street) is accepting cash donations on behalf of Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative.
• Volunteer you time or offer up a place to stay for residents of 3145, again through CHSFSC.
• Donate food, clothing or both at Neighbor's Consejo. Its at 3118 16th St, only a few doors down from Meridian Hill Church, but you can donate NOW online.
• Eat and drink; Don Jaime's (3209 Mt P Street) is donating 20% of this weekend's breakfast sales and a March 18 wine tasting at Marx Cafe (3203 Mt P Street), sponsored by Mount Pleasant Main Street; a portion of the $15 entrance will be donated to victim support.

Major Fire Damages Mt Pleasant Buildings, Destroys One

A 5-Alarm fire destroyed the apartment building at 3145 Mt Pleasant Street NW this morning. All residents were displaced and many exited the building by way of ladder truck. There are no known causes of the fire as of yet and no tenants were injured, thankfully. As of 8am, the fire was still burning. According to the Washington Post, one firefighter was injured. There were nearly 90 apartments in the building.

At an early morning news conference, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham chastised the owner of the building. Graham accused the unnamed owner, who lives in Pennsylvania, of repeatedly attempting to force tenants out through building neglect in order to convert the building into condos or luxury apartments.

The Meridian Hill Baptist Church, on 16th Street NW, also received major damage, with 3/4 of the roof destroyed by fire. According to media reports most of the sanctuary and religious items were spared and offices on the upper floors bore most of the damage. Mt Pleasant Street was closed this morning south of Lamont Street. Also, 16th Street was closed from Meridan Place down to Harvard and Irving Street was closed east of Mt Pleasant Street.