Architectural-preservation rules said that the United House of Prayer could renovate only the interior of a protected house owned by its bishop, S.C. Madison, on N Street NW in the Mount Vernon Square Historic District. After the renovation attempt caused a partial collapse, city inspectors declared that the site was too dangerous and permitted the church on July 25 to knock down the whole thing. Nearby residents are irate. “We’re going to demand that the church rebuild this building just as it was,” says neighbor Michael Nine. —Chris Shott