D.C. Mondays: Saving Foggy Bottom’s Historic Buildings

In 1974, rows of 19th-century townhouses, a church, the famed F Street Club and the Lenthall Houses were slated for demolition. To stop it, three George Washington University students helped bring together the neighborhood association, preservation groups, the Washington Post and Star, and key individuals, including local politicians and GW faculty. This coalition confronted university leadership, the World Bank and developers, while navigating federal agencies, court hearings and a local government newly established under home rule. Today GW celebrates the buildings’ preservation. Learn how student activism kept them standing.  

About Steve Sorkin 

A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Steve Sorkin received a B.A. in urban affairs from GW in 1977. He has always worked in the nonprofit sector, focusing on community organizing, coalition building and advocacy on a range of issues. He has worked for several organizations including Planned Parenthood, Missourians Against Handgun Violence, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and the Jewish Community Relations Council. He has also been active in politics, volunteering for candidates and managing local and statewide ballot issue campaigns. 

How to Participate

This program will take place on Zoom. To participate, please register online, and we will email you a link and instructions for joining. Simply follow that link at the time the program starts (12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT). When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.

About the D.C. Mondays Series

Join authors, researchers and community members online for lively discussions about Washington, D.C.’s history, politics, culture and more. Browse upcoming programs