http://www.restoremassave.org/historical.shtml

Reviving A Great Grand

AvenuePresentation by

Deborah Shapley, authorA Grand Avenue Revival: Massachusetts Avenue

Landscape History & Design Guide

The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

December 6, 2014

©Restore Mass Ave 2014

L’Enfant’s Grand Plan

Post-Civil War GreeningWashington population was 60,000 in 1860; grew to 110,000 by 1870.

Huge public works program 1871-73 under Alexander “Boss” Shepherd. Paving, utilities, 60,000 trees.

“Parking” was created on public land between sidewalk and buildings.

Why these people built fancy driveways….

(Not everybody lived like this.)

Connecting Long Views

Continuous lawn framed by trees

creates a flowing public “parked”

space.

Long axis to focal point

Current projects: 2211 Mass Ave.Greek Embassy

&

2209 Mass Ave.Reza Ghassabeh, new owner (pictured)

Historic landscape project so far…

“We’ve begun”

JOIN US in A Grand Avenue Revival

www.restoremassave.org/