The Old Naval Hospital Foundation will renovate the historic building into the Hill Center
The Old Naval Hospital at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, has been falling into disrepair for far too many years, but things are finally about to change. The Old Naval Hospital Foundation is about to begin a major renovation to turn the historic site into the Hill Center, an “educational and cultural institution for our Capitol Hill community.” The Foundation is holding a reception tonight from 6:30 – 8 pm to celebrate the start of this major project.
If you’ve ever attended a community meeting at the Old Naval Hospital — such as the monthly ANC6B meeting there — or simply walked by the property, you know just how sad the building and property has been looking. Its historic nature, beautiful architecture, central location, and large property leave it begging to be utilized by the community. The Foundation’s plans to turn the building into the Hill Center is intended to bring new education and cultural opportunities to all members of the community, as well as meeting and event space for neighborhood groups and organizations.
The Old Naval Hospital Foundation is a coalition of Capitol Hill neighbors “committed to seeing this landmark property fully restored and kept in community use” governed by an volunteer board of directors. The Foundation plans to hire a professional staff to manage the Center’s operation. You can learn more about their plans for the Center on their Web site or by attending tonight’s reception.
This is a public building on public land, being renovated largely with DC and Federal taxpayer dollars.
It is wonderful news that this building is being restored. It is not such wonderful news that the developer is so unwilling to discuss with residents what programs should be included in our Hill Center.
The president of this developer group publicly announced that they would hold a meeting about programming in June 2009. That meeting may have been initially postponed for good reason. There is no good reason to explain why, nine months later, that meeting still has not been held.
Now construction is about to begin? Before engaging in discussions with the community about what programs would best benefit the greatest number?
Why is The Hill Center development group so opposed to incorporating viewpoints other than their own in developing this public property using public funds?
Isn’t it strange that the Hill Center has time to plan this party, but cannot find time to fulfill its promise to meet with the neighbors in dialogue?
I would like to receive more info on the activities planned for the center