It is by the People declared the public policy of the District of Columbia to support, advocate, and promote the preservation, restoration, and reuse of the Historic Rhodes Tavern on its present site at the northeast corner of 15th and F Streets, Northwest in the District of Columbia. The objectives of this policy are: To preserve, restore, and reuse Rhodes Tavern on its present site; to protect the District of Columbia's historic, political, cultural, social, economic, and architectural heritage as reflected and embodied in Rhodes Tavern, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and which is a Category II Landmark on the District of Columbia's Inventory of Historic Sites; to foster civic pride in the noble accomplishments of the past, including the efforts of citizens who met at Rhodes Tavern, the City of Washington's first town hall, in 1801 to debate and draft petitions in the continuing struggle for self-government and representation in Congress; to recognize the role of Rhodes Tavern as a polling place in the first municipal elections in the City of Washington on June 7, 1802; to commemorate other meetings held at Rhodes Tavern which resulted in the establishment of the City of Washington's first public school, theatre, and market place; to enhance the District of Columbia's attraction to tourists and visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided; to promote the use of Rhodes Tavern for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the District of Columbia; and to establish a central landmark for the District of Columbia that will symbolize its local and national historic origins, continuity and identity.
(Mar. 15, 1984, D.C. Law 5-69, § 2, 31 DCR 445.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 5-1021.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 5-69, the "District of Columbia Historic Rhodes Tavern Preservation Initiative of 1982," was submitted to the electors of the District of Columbia on November 8, 1983, as Initiative No. 11. The results of the voting, certified by the Board of Elections and Ethics on November 21, 1983, were 22, 977 for the Initiative and 15,420 against the Initiative. It was transmitted to Congress on January 24, 1984, published in the D.C. Register on February 3, 1984, and became law on March 15, 1984.
The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, shall appoint an uncompensated Historic Rhodes Tavern Advisory Board of 7 residents of the District of Columbia. The Board shall be composed of 2 historians with expertise in local District of Columbia history, an architect, an architectural historian, an attorney, an economist with expertise in the field of real estate development, and a lay person. Board members shall be appointed to 2-year terms. The Board shall continue in existence until the Mayor and the Council determine that the objectives of the policy declared in § 6-1131 have been fully attained, and that the Board has fulfilled its duties as outlined in § 6-1133.
(Mar. 15, 1984, D.C. Law 5-69, § 3, 31 DCR 445.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 5-1022.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 5-69, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 6-1131.
The Board shall:
(1) Negotiate with the owners of the Rhodes Tavern to determine whether said owners will enter into an agreement to fulfill the objectives declared in § 6-1131. If the Board determines that such an agreement cannot be achieved, then the Board will prepare a report to the Mayor and the Council outlining actions that should be taken by the District of Columbia government to implement the policy declared in § 6-1131;
(2) Prepare reports and information for the Mayor and Council concerning:
(A) How Rhodes Tavern can be preserved, restored, reused, and integrated into any proposed development;
(B) A complete documented history of Rhodes Tavern; and
(C) Any other matter which the Board deems appropriate;
(3) Prepare an application nominating Rhodes Tavern as a Category I Landmark on The District of Columbia's Inventory of Historic Sites; and
(4) Undertake any other activities which it determines are appropriate to achieve the objectives of the policy declared in § 6-1131.
(Mar. 15, 1984, D.C. Law 5-69, § 4, 31 DCR 445.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 5-1023.
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 5-69, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 6-1131.
