No More Concrete at The Embassy of Congo
No more concrete at the Embassy of The Republic of Congo. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.
Work is underway at the Embassy of the Republic of Congo to remove the recently poured concrete from the front lawn — we’re assuming they’re not simply replacing it with a different type of concrete. The old Toutorsky Mansion at the corner of 16th Street and Riggs Place NW, now the Republic of Congo Embassy, is getting some green back. The action comes after a protest from the Dupont Circle Citizens Association (DCCA) — and even a letter from the State Department complaining about the willful destruction of the front lawn and several large trees during renovation of its new embassy on 16th Street.
The Congo (Brazzaville) purchased the 1894 Toutorsky Mansion earlier this year. In January ANC 2B voted 8-0 to protest the Congo’s plans to turn the mansion into a chancery-embassy location.
Under DC law, front lawns are city property, but Embassy properties are considered foreign soil and exempt from DC law. Knowing this, neighborhood officials had specifically requested that no changes be made to the historic greensward. The sale was approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment’s Foreign Missions Department only after Congo agreed.
Previous Posts
- Pavementgate: State Department Smackdown on Congolese Embassy
- The Other Side on the B&B that Became a Cement Embassy
- Embassies, Trees, B&Bs: Be Careful What You Protest?
- SYMHM: Concrete, Lincoln and Vintage
- DCCA to Protest Congolese Embassy Over 16th Street Renovations
- SYMHM: ANC 2B Says No to Congolese Chancery
- Toutorsky Mansion Owners Apply for Chancery Use
