[2] As the 2000 Block of Eye Street, NW, the houses were named a DC Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places, both in 1977.

[2] The largest unit in the block was a corner structure, at 832 20th St. and 2004 I St. Three stories tall, it was constructed with a flat roof and metal cornice; imitation stone covered the facade.

The earliest Washington city directory, published in 1822, lists a grocery store owned by Christian and Matthew Hines on the corner.

Other occupants of the property included Francis Jarboe, George Fillebrown, and William Brown, the latter running a grocery store on the site beginning in 1872 and continuing past the turn of the century.

Earl is listed in records as having lived in the neighborhood, on H St. between 20th and 21st, as early as 1830; for over forty years he ran a livery stable nearby.

His son, Charles, took over in 1874, moving the business a short distance to 19th St. 2040 I St. is not owned by George Washington University, the only structure on the block which is under different ownership.

Battles to preserve the row of houses began in October 1976, when the developer who owned several of them began demolishing the house at 2022 I St.[6] Don't Tear It Down (forerunner to the DC Preservation League),[9] a group of historical preservationists organized in 1971 to save the Old Post Office building from destruction,[10] convinced a judge to order a temporary restraining order stopping destruction, as a request to declare the entire block a historic landmark was pending at the time.

[6] When this expired, the developer began demolition of the house; preservationists managed to get a restraining order in time to preserve the front half of the structure.

[2] Construction of the office building, between 1982 and 1983, involved demolishing the backs of the houses while retaining their facades; it was the first time the practice of partial demolition was used in Washington, DC.

[1] In addition to office space, the complex contained restaurants and other commercial establishments,[12] including a Bertucci's[13] and a CVS Pharmacy.

[2][15] The 2000 Penn complex was renovated to include more vendors, additional entrances, and various other modernizations with a layout similar to Eastern Market.