The Old Post Office Pavillion stands on the corner of 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in downtown DC. When it opened in 1899, the New York Times critqued it as "a cross between a cathedral and a cotton mill", and almost immediately there were cries to tear it down. About the time I moved to Washington, in the early 1970's, this talk got quite serious to the point that the city actually issued demolition permits. There were almost daily protests, with fans of this historic building carrying "DON'T TEAR IT DOWN" placards.
Instead of the wrecking ball, the Old Post Office got a facelift and a new lease on life. And now it's in the news again, with Donald Trump's plans to convert the old office building into a luxury hotel. Me? I'd rather see it go condo!
And whether you live here or are visiting, it's worth grabbing your favorite camera and heading down to check the views. And it would be prudent to do it soon, before the renovations begin.
I snapped the photo at the top of the page while stuck in traffic - and no, I wasn't driving! All I could see was the tip of the tower, but somehow I liked the final result. The shot to the right isn't mine - it's from Wikopedia and gives you an idea of the overall size of the building.
If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC metropolitan area, I can help. I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.
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