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42-548: Prior to its construction, the Convention Hall located on 5th Street NW, between K and L had been used as an armory. Construction on the new armory began on June 2, 1940, and it opened on July 13, 1941. The structure was designed by the city's Municipal Architect, Nathan C. Wyeth . The D.C. Armory replaced the National Armory, a 1910 structure which was designed by New York City architect Electus D. Litchfield . OPLAN 1954,

84-455: A 1954 war game preparing for an atomic bomb exploding over Washington, D.C., supposed that a vacant parking lot near the Armory could be turned into an emergency airstrip for delivering medical supplies. Initially, nonmilitary use of the Armory was facilitated by the D.C. Armory Board, which was formed in 1948. During its existence the board oversaw the use of both the Armory and RFK Stadium. In 1994

126-661: A concert venue for Marilyn Manson , and hosted the Longest Yard Football Classic, a charity game pitting Members of Congress (aided by former NFL stars) against the Capitol Police . In 2007, the first sanctioned pro mixed martial arts event in Washington, D.C. was held at the armory. The Armory has been home to the DC Rollergirls , D.C.'s female flat track roller derby league, since February 2008. In 2009,

168-453: A dairy bottling plant, warehouses and other industrial facilities. Commercial development increased in the neighborhood in the 1910s and 1920s. Increased traffic on New York Avenue resulted in the addition of gas stations, garages and car repair shops, many of which replaced residential buildings. By 1930, Northern Liberty Market (called Center Market at the time) was under threat of closing and demolition. A new and modern building for vendors

210-455: A few hours only before Governor Shepherd arrived with 200 or 300 men at midnight with torches. By morning, the market was completely torn down. Claims were made by several vendors in Court. The District of Columbia was not held responsible. Rather Governor Shepherd was held responsible for the destruction of the market. But Congress paid the demands as a gratuity by an act passed January 26, 1897 for

252-479: A major celebration in the city and gathered some of the most prominent individuals in the city. The building was one of the biggest venues at the time, allowing for large gatherings. At some point in the 1920s or 1930s, the Hall became a bowling alley before its destruction in 1946. In 1931, the market was renamed Center Market after the original Center Market building between Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue

294-705: A movie theater for silent movies, religious conventions, a roller skate rink, food shows, the Washington Auto Show and dog shows organized by the Washington Kennel Club. It was also used for High School graduations and an armory for the DC National Guard . On June 8-9, 1912, the Convention Hall was used for a banquet and a concert during the unveiling of the Columbus Fountain . The event was

336-447: A total of $ 392,215. Some payments were made before Congress passed a resolution suspending the payments. Finally, twenty-five years later in April 1899, checks totaling $ 125,346.35 were paid out to the few surviving victims and their descendants since many had passed away by then. A new Northern Liberty Market is built in 1874 on K Street NW between 4th and 5th Street NW, a couple blocks from

378-472: Is approximately 80,000 square feet (7,400 m) and has hosted trade shows, concerts, warehouse sales, the Washington Auto Show, sporting events, and Presidential inauguration balls. The Washington Diplomats played indoor soccer at the armory in 1978. The armory has hosted the WCW Capital Combat professional wrestling event in 1990, served as a preliminary tryout venue for American Idol , been

420-608: The Great Recession , but development has since resumed. As of 2011, the neighborhood had an estimated population of 2,840, consisting of mostly young professionals. The Washington Post has described the neighborhood as a "vibrant, thriving urban center" and "a textbook example of urban planning and design, connectivity among people, and walkability." In 2014, there were 3,691 condominium units, 2,607 apartments, 40 restaurants, and 1.7 million sq ft (160,000 m ) of office space either built or under construction in

462-503: The Northern Liberty Market , a large public market with 284 vending stalls that stood at 5th and K Streets NW. As the population grew, older dwellings were replaced with permanent brick homes and businesses and the demographics changed dramatically. German, Irish and Jewish immigrants moved to the neighborhood and opened shops. African Americans also moved to the area, though they tended to live in alley dwellings. In addition to

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504-510: The Supreme Court of the United States as Northern Liberty Market Co. v. Kelly . The case involved a conflict between the company managing the market and a vendor who had leased a stall for a period of 99 years, renewable forever while the company's existence was limited to only twenty years. As early as 1887, discussions were taking place of building a large hall above the market. The Hall

546-405: The northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The neighborhood is located adjacent to Mount Vernon Square . Originally a working-class neighborhood established in the 19th century, present-day Mount Vernon Triangle experienced a decline in the mid-20th century as it transitioned from residential to commercial and industrial use. The neighborhood has undergone significant and rapid redevelopment in

588-421: The 1980s, much of the neighborhood was decrepit, consisted of large parking lots and had become a haven for prostitutes and drug dealers. Redevelopment of large areas of Mount Vernon Triangle began in the 21st century as more people moved into the city and local government officials offered tax abatement for residential construction. City officials and real estate developers began to push for revitalization of

630-493: The 20001 ZIP code. The triangular neighborhood is bordered by: K Street is considered to be the neighborhood's "Main Street", with the intersection of 5th and K Streets acting as a "community focal point and heart of the neighborhood." Present-day Mount Vernon Triangle was featured on the L'Enfant Plan for the city, although it was north of the populated areas at the time and remained largely unsettled. In 1810, Congress chartered

672-507: The 21st century. It now consists mostly of high-rise condominium, apartment and office buildings. Several historic buildings in the neighborhood have been preserved and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Mount Vernon Triangle is now considered a good example of urban planning and a walkable neighborhood. Mount Vernon Triangle, consisting of 17 blocks, is in Ward 6 and

714-532: The 7th Street Turnpike, an extension of 7th Street that ran from Center Market ( National Archives Building present site) to the Maryland border. This led to some minor development in the area, although prior to the Civil War , most of the residences consisted of only modest frame dwellings. The exception was Douglas Row, three large homes built in 1856 by two senators and Vice President John C. Breckinridge . Douglas Row

756-578: The Armory became home to the D.C. Armor , an American Indoor Football Association team. Popular Dutch trance artist Armin van Buuren played a six-hour set at the Armory in 2011. In 2013, facility hosted the IBF Junior Welterweight title fight featuring Lamont Peterson and Kendall Holt . During World War II , the Armory was used by the FBI Identification Division to house fingerprint records. Inauguration balls spanning from

798-558: The Chief Building Inspector, J. J. Kimball. Merchants hoped to re-open the market within two weeks of the fire. Prior to re-opening, the Health Department inspectors were to inspect the meats to determine if they were fit for consumption. The power had been cut with the fire and so the refrigeration system was not functioning for several days. The market was reopened, but with a flat roof. Leo and Norman Bernstein bought

840-554: The Kennedy Center. It did not last long, with the Museum moving to Southwest Washington in 1975. The empty building was finally demolished in 1985. The CityVista condominiums are now on the site with a Safeway supermarket and several other businesses on the ground floor. It is included in the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites. Mount Vernon Triangle Mount Vernon Triangle is a neighborhood and community improvement district in

882-610: The Northern Liberty Market, the neighborhood experienced rapid growth due to improvements made by the Board of Public Works led by Alexander "Boss" Shepherd and the installation of streetcars. Horse-drawn streetcars began service on the neighborhood portion of Massachusetts Avenue and 4th Street in 1884 while Washington, D.C.'s first electric streetcar line began operating on New York Avenue in 1888. The transportation options and proximity to downtown led to speculative development in

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924-430: The area in 2000. The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District, a nonprofit that coordinates and markets the community improvement district, was established in 2004. The turning point for Mount Vernon Triangle was the 2008 completion of the neighborhood's largest development, CityVista, a complex consisting of 441 condominium units, 224 apartments, and retail space. There was a decline in construction during

966-682: The board was dissolved and the city's use of the Armory came under the authority of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission (DCSEC), which later became the Washington Convention and Sports Authority . The Armory is served by the Stadium–Armory station on the Blue , Orange , and Silver Lines of the Washington Metro . The Armory shares a 10,000 car parking lot with the adjacent Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium . The Armory's Drill Field

1008-497: The concrete ceiling. The next morning, K. F. Knudsen, general manager and superintendent of the Washington Convention Hall Company announced that they hoped to convert the building to a one-story building. He estimated the damages to $ 800,000 ($ 500,000 for the building and $ 300,000 for other damages). For the safety of the public, a 20-foot section of the wall on 5th Street NW was pulled down on March 2 by order of

1050-423: The finishes used in the bowling alley lead to a rapid spread of the fire. While the fire did not spread to the market underneath thanks to the reinforced cement ceiling, there was severe damage to products due to the water used. A total of 70 butcher, grocery and flower stalls were damaged. The one owned by Charles Carrington (a smoked meat dealer) was completely crushed by an iron girder which fell in an opening in

1092-607: The foundations were made of stone sunken to a depth of 12 feet (3.7 m). The walls were made of red bricks and the entire roof made of wrought iron weighing 209 tons. Many of the vendors from old Northern Liberty Market moved to the new market which opened in January 1875 and managed by the Northern Liberty Company organized by George W. King. In 1885, a case involving the Northern Liberty Company made it to

1134-438: The neighborhood, though middle-class rows of houses were not built, unlike most neighborhoods in the area. In addition to residential and commercial development, there was an active industrial center in the neighborhood, centered around Prather's Alley (located between 4th and 5th and I and K Streets). In the late 19th century and early 20th century, buildings and stables on Prather's Alley were demolished or converted into bakeries,

1176-526: The neighborhood. Focal points of business on 5th Street include a 24-hour Safeway grocery store and Busboys and Poets . Two outdoor sculptures, Lift Off and Inspiration , were installed on the corner of 5th and K Streets in 2009 and 2010, respectively. There are several 19th and early 20th century buildings in the neighborhood which have been preserved and restored. The Mount Vernon Triangle Historic District , originally composed of 24 buildings mostly located between 4th and 5th and I and K Streets,

1218-706: The neighborhood. Three Capital Bikeshare stations are also located in the neighborhood. Elementary and middle school students attend Walker-Jones Education Campus, which lies on the eastern boundary of the neighborhood. Older students attend Dunbar High School in nearby Truxton Circle . There are several pocket parks in Mount Vernon Triangle: two at 7th and K Streets, Cobb Park (2nd Street and Massachusetts Avenue), Milian Park (5th and I Streets) and Seaton Park (500 block of Massachusetts Avenue). Most of these parks are small triangular lots sited between busy streets and intersections. Local advocates are pursuing

1260-413: The old market. Built on a site previously called "Savage Square". The land was purchased at the time for the enormous price of $ 100,000 and the building was built at a cost of $ 150,000. It was designed by architect James H. McGill . The building was 324 feet (99 m) long, 126 feet (38 m) wide, 35 feet (11 m) high on the side and 85 feet (26 m) high in the middle. Due to the marshy land,

1302-647: The presidencies of Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama have also been hosted at the Armory. Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford produced President Kennedy's pre-inaugural gala at the Armory on January 19, 1961. The cast of performers included Harry Belafonte , Milton Berle , Leonard Bernstein , Joey Bishop , Nat King Cole , Tony Curtis , Jimmy Durante , Ella Fitzgerald , Gene Kelly , Alan King , Janet Leigh , Ethel Merman , Louis Prima , Keely Smith , Pat Suzuki , and Helen Traubel . Northern Liberty Market#Convention Hall The Northern Liberty Market , later called Convention Hall Market and Center Market ,

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1344-551: The property after the fire from the Washington Hall Company for $ 500,000. It reopened as only a market. It finally closed in 1963 due to the pressure of supermarkets with only 110 stalls occupied by that time. A new Convention Center was planned in the area and the property attracted investors. In 1964, the National Historical Wax Museum moved to the site leaving its former home of Foggy Bottom because of

1386-436: Was built on the opposite corner. As the number of commercial and industrial businesses increased, many residents moved elsewhere. Many homes became boarding houses for poor residents, a trend that significantly increased following World War II . In 1946, a fire destroyed much of Center Market, resulting in many local businesses supported by the market to close or move to other parts of the city. The streetcar on New York Avenue

1428-461: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2006. Two of the buildings, 470 and 472 K Street NW, collapsed in 2014. The Emily Wiley House , completed in 1871, is a former townhouse located at 3rd and I Streets NW that was listed on the NRHP in 2006. The Jefferson Apartment Building , built in 1899 and designed by local architect George S. Cooper , is located at 315 H Street NW and

1470-551: Was listed on the NRHP in 1994. Second Baptist Church , built in 1894 on the site of the church's former 1856 property, is located at 816 3rd Street NW and was listed on the NRHP in 2004. Several public transportation options are available for neighborhood residents and visitors. There are three Metro stations within short walking distance: Gallery Place , Judiciary Square , and Mount Vernon Square . The DC Circulator 's Georgetown-Union Station route runs along Massachusetts Avenue and there are several Metrobus stops throughout

1512-587: Was located on the east side of 5th Street NW, between K and L, in the present-day Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It operated from 1875 to 1963. Northern Liberty Market used to operate at Mount Vernon Square , one of the busiest parts of town at the time. This market was a collection of what was described as "dilapidated sheds". On September 3 1871, the market was torn down by order of President Ulysses Grant to General Orville Babock , Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds for Washington, DC authorizing Governor Alexander Shepherd . It

1554-508: Was removed in 1949 and many of the residential buildings along that road were demolished and replaced with parking lots. In the 1960s, a large portion of the neighborhood's eastern section, including the remaining portion of Douglas Row, was demolished to make room for Interstate 395 . During the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. , several buildings on the west side of Mount Vernon Triangle were burned. By

1596-535: Was started by the police offices at the Second Precinct at 1:51 am and followed by four others. Large flames engulfed the metal structure and at 2:09 am, the roof made of 209 tons of wrought iron collapsed. It was fought with over 60 pieces of apparatus. It was finally subdued at 3:30 am thanks to large amounts of water which continued until dawn. According to the Fire Marshall, Ray Roberts, the high vaulted roof and

1638-613: Was started in 1891. On May 22, 1893, the Convention Hall, also known as the Northern Liberty Auditorium was officially dedicated under the auspices of the Washington Lodge, No. 15, BPO Elks. An audience of 5,000 people watched The War in song by Silas Gamaliel Pratt , a military and musical allegory of the Civil War sung by a chorus of 500 voices. The Convention Hall was used extensively for various activities including

1680-471: Was to become a public park before being later replaced by the Carnegie Library in 1903. The Governor had planned to destroy the market. When the vendors learned about his plan, they appealed for an injunction. He counteracted their action with some political influence. The market by that point was guarded day and night by armed men in what looked like a siege of war. At night, the men laid down their arms

1722-516: Was torn down to make way for the National Archives Building . The two markets were direct competitors though Northern Liberty Market was less than half the size of the old Center Market. Many of the vendors from Constitution Avenue also moved to this smaller market. On March 1, 1946, a fire destroyed the top floor of the structure where Convention Hall was located. According to reports at the time, five alarms were triggered. The first one

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1764-400: Was used as a hospital during the Civil War and served as the residence of notable figures after the war concluded, including Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman . Stanton Hospital, one of the city's largest temporary hospitals during the war, was located in the neighborhood, across the street from Douglas Row. The rapid growth of the neighborhood was spurred by the 1875 opening of

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