HPA No. 1988-825, 1988-826 (In re. King's Palace, House and Herrmann Building/McCrory's Building)

HPA Number: 1988-825, 1988-826
Building Name: King's Palace, House and Herrmann Building/McCrory's Building
Addresses: 810-820 7th St. NW
Date of Order: March 1, 1989

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HPA Number: 1988-825 and 1988-826
Building Name: King's Palace, House and Herrmann Building/McCrory's Building
Location of Property: 810–820 7th St., N.W.
Date of Decision: December 7, 1992
Type of Case/Type of Permit Sought: Modification of Prior Order
Disposition: Approved
Date of Summary: December 4, 2014
Issue Area(s): Project of Special Merit – Specific Features of Land Planning

Summary of Decision:

Development Resources, Inc. (the “Applicant”), previously sought demolition permits for the King’s Palace building at 810 – 816 7th Street, N.W., the addition to King’s Palace, and the House at Herrmann building at 820 – 826 7th Street, N.W. The Mayor’s Agent granted the application, finding that issuance of the permits was necessary in the public interest to allow a project that was consistent with the purposes of the Act and also to allow a project of special merit. The issuance of certificates of occupancy for the project was conditioned on the continued provision of 3,500 square feet of space for arts use (1,000 square feet at the street level and 2,500 square feet below grade), rent-free other than operating expenses for the life of the project. The Applicant sought a modification of the prior order to allow one contiguous 3,500 square feet of space devoted to arts use above grade, as most potential “art users” had found the below-grade space undesirable. The Mayor’s Agent granted the Applicant’s request for modification of the prior order because it was “within the spirit of ‘special merit’ of the original plan.” The Mayor’s Agent ordered that the 3,500 square feet designated for arts use be contiguous space on the mezzanine level of the House and Herrmann building and that the previously designated 1,000 square feet of street level arts space be reserved for retail.

Project of Special Merit – Specific Features of Land Planning:

The Mayor’s Agent granted the request for modification of the prior order, concluding that the modification remained in the “spirit of ‘special merit’ of the original plan as approved by the previous Mayor’s Agent.” Specifically, the Mayor’s Agent concluded that the modification would “enhance the project’s contribution to the furtherance of the arts in the community” and would be a benefit to the interests of Chinatown and the Chinese community.

Consistent with the Purposes of the Act:

The Mayor’s Agent also noted that the proposed modification was consistent with the purposes of the Act.

Prior History:

This property is the subject of a prior Mayor’s Agent Order (HPA Nos. 88-825 & 88-826, order of March 1, 1989) in which the Mayor’s Agent granted the application for demolition permits, concluding that the issuance of the permits was necessary in the public interest to allow a project consistent with the purposes of the Act and to allow the construction of a project of special merit.

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