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Working with Section 106 ACHP
Case Digest Spring
2005 District of Columbia: Reuse
of the West Campus of St. Elizabeth's Hospital
District of Columbia:
Reuse of the West Campus of St. Elizabeth's Hospital Agency:
General Services Administration
When
it was established in 1852, St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC, was
the first Federal mental health facility in the United States. The National Historic
Landmark, which was founded by 19th-century mental health reformer Dorothea Dix,
features a building designed by the Architect of the Capitol, landscaping by Frederick
Olmsteads design firm, a room where Lincoln stayed when he visited soldiers,
and two Civil War cemeteries. Today,
the hospital operations are under city authority, but the west campus is owned
by the General Services Administration, which plans to reuse its section to house
Federal offices. The proposed project is seen as an opportunity to help revitalize
the neighborhood. |
A
wing of St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, DC (staff photo)
| The General Services Administration (GSA) is preparing a
master plan to reuse St. Elizabeths Hospitals west campus for Federal
offices. Located on a hill in southeast Washington, DC, overlooking the Anacostia
and Potomac Rivers, St. Elizabeths offers a panoramic view of the city and
is an important asset in the Governments real estate portfolio. The
National Historic Landmark was originally known as the Government Hospital for
the Insane, a name that was later changed to its present name. As the first Federal
mental health facility in the country, the hospital was established through the
Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Act of 1852, and admitted its first patients
in 1855. Its campus includes two Civil War cemeteries where both black and white
soldiers are buried. Many legendary Americans were associated with the hospitals
early days. It was founded by Dorothea Dix, the leading mental health reformer
of the 19th century. During a short period as a general hospital for Union soldiers,
a room was reserved for President Lincoln during his frequent overnight visits
to soldiers. In 1862, wounded General Joseph Hooker was admitted to the hospital.
Finally, Architect of the Capitol Thomas Walter designed one of the buildings,
and the 182-acre campus boasts landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsteads design
firm. In 1987, the Federal Government retained ownership of the hospitals
west campus but transferred the hospitals operations to the District of
Columbia, which now ministers to about 600 patients. GSA sees the site as a premiere
Washington, DC, property that can meet the needs of Federal agencies that require
a large space. It will be challenged by its plan to incorporate new uses
of a historic landmark while managing an extremely significant cultural resource.
In addition, security issues for the future Federal tenant must be factored into
the plan. Finally, the project must consider its significant effect on the immediate
neighborhood, which it is hoped will be revitalized by the project. In February
2005, the ACHP met with the District of Columbia State Historic Preservation Officer
to discuss initial consultation procedures under the Section 106 review process.
Under its plan, GSA anticipates the first Federal tenant to move in to the property
by 2010. In the meantime, however, in addition to developing its master plan for
the project, GSA is currently establishing design guidelines and conducting a
cultural resource survey and building, landscape, and archeology assessment. As
part of the Section 106 review process, the agency expects to produce a draft
environmental impact statement on the projects potential effects by January
2006, and has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed project for February
2006. Staff contact: Hector
Abreu Cintron Posted August 31, 2005
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