Steel 'Monstrosity' In Tenleytown To Be Dismantled

American Tower filed a $250 million lawsuit against the District in 2000 after the Williams administration, pressured by neighborhood residents, revoked its building permit. The city cited several mistakes in the permitting process.

A federal judge dismissed American Tower's suit, prompting the company to file an unsuccessful appeal before eventually engaging in settlement negotiations.

American Tower had obtained permits to build a $5 million tower that would reach a height of 756 feet at 41st Street near Wisconsin Avenue.

By the time work was halted, the structure was more than a third finished and joined two other communications towers within walking distance in the neighborhood.

But residents did not protest the two other towers because they were set back a considerable distance from roads and sidewalks. American Tower's structure, on the other hand, was erected just off 41st Street.

"This was to be more than 700 feet high, and it would have been within feet of the sidewalk," Cooper said. "People were afraid of falling ice."

Council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), whose district includes Tenleytown, had called for a moratorium on cellular towers. She said that she was delighted by the settlement and that she eagerly anticipated "the day when that unsightly monstrosity is taken down. The community has been waiting for this for six years."

But not everyone applauded.

The tower is only yards from Wisconsin Avenue, where the manager of at least one establishment fretted that the demolition would make it inconvenient for customers coming and going.

James Oberg, manager of the Dancing Crab, said that he was never so offended by the tower's appearance and that he views it as a kind of neighborhood landmark, a way to easily find his restaurant.

"I think it will hurt business, and it will be horrible," Oberg said. "I don't think it's that bad."

But Cooper said almost the entire neighborhood -- "99.9 percent" -- finds nothing redeeming in the tower.

"The will of the people has spoken," he said. "Their wish has been fulfilled, and they will be rejoicing."