When construction in Rock Creek Park threatened to collide with two Black cemeteries, including the final resting place of a mutual aid group formed by freed Black women, Lisa Fager sprung into action.

The D.C. Preservation League has released its list of the most endangered sites in D.C., one of which might soon be razed and another that recently received a reprieve of sorts.

A quick update to a story we noted back in August — the District’s Historic Preservation Review Board has officially granted landmark status to the Wonder Bread Factory (officially known as Dorsch’s White Cross Bakery) at 641 S Street NW in Shaw.

Earlier this month, we passed along the news that the Wonder Bread/Hostess Cake Factory at 641 S Street NW in Shaw was being considered for inclusion on the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites as it underwent redevelopment. Now we know how new owner Douglas Development would like to update the site.

The District’s Historic Preservation Review Board is going through a long-standing vacancy crisis, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t considering buildings for preservation. The latest high-profile nominee to cross the HPRB’s desk? The Wonder Bread Factory at 641 S Street NW in Shaw.

The future of Third Church of Christ, Scientist, the controversial building located at 16th and I Streets NW, has been a matter of furious debate for some time. But Jonathan O’Connell brings an update today — an infusion of cash means plans to demolish the structure and replace it with an office building with a space for the church’s congregation to worship are back on track. The property’s owner, ICG Properties, plans to submit the required zoning changes sometime in 2011 after Chevy Chase development firm JBG Cos. bought into the project.

Photo by NCinDC Yesterday the Washington Post wrote about a preservation effort for Maryland’s historic tobacco barns, which were named as among the 11 most endangered historic buildings in the nation back in 2004. That part you know already. For its 2010 list of America’s Most Endangered Places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation just named a building even closer to home: the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. The spiritual home of Frederick Douglass needs…

Photo used with permission under a Creative Commons license with rodeomilanoMarc Fisher and David Alpert both get a yuk from the following exchange between U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson and D.C. Assistant Attorney General Leah Taylor, which took place last week during a hearing that all but decided the fate of the controversial Third Church of Christ, Scientist: “Have you seen the church?” Judge Robertson asked . . . “Yes, your honor,” she…

If so, the DC Preservation League needs your help. They’re putting together their annual Most Endangered Places in Washington list and they’re calling for submissions from the public. Endangered places can be “buildings, parks or other landscaped areas, or even vistas and other aspects of the city’s unique planned history.” Nomination forms and past lists can be found on their website, but hurry! Submissions must be postmarked by this Friday, February 6. Photo by…