Posts tagged Historic Preservation
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Bloomingdale’s ANC has voted against historic status, but the final decision is still out
The Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) that includes Bloomingdale in DC has voted against supporting historic status for the neighborhood at a heated meeting this week. The main point of contention was over what the best measure of resident sentiment is: a non-binding postcard survey of homeowners, or the vote of Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) members. Keep reading…
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Three months of organizing urbanists, and one historic night (morning) - GGWash housing digest
We're through the first three months of the year and a lot has been happening. Take a moment to catch up on historic preservation, competition over a football stadium, growth in Reston, redlining, segregation, and more. Keep reading…
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A tomato trellis popup is tearing this historic neighborhood apart
In recent years, some homeowners and small-scale developers have created infill density in DC by adding new floors to existing homes to convert single-family townhouses to multi-family structures. These “pop-ups” have been very controversial, and have triggered pushback from the DC Zoning Commission. Now, this building trend is expanding from residential to other land uses — and the controversy is riper than ever. Keep reading…
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See details for Union Station’s future expansion
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is continuing to refine plans for the future of Union Station, which include preserving historical elements, facilitating inter-modal travel, and expanding rail capacity. On Thursday, March 22 the FRA is hosting a public meeting on the project’s Environmental Impact Statement. Keep reading…
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This Bloomingdale historic district survey shows neighborhood opposition
The survey comes in the middle of a multi-year debate in the neighborhood over this issue, a debate that has only intensified since this summer when a group of neighbors partnered with the DC Preservation League to formally file an application for historic designation. Keep reading…
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Is anything old not “historic”? Preservation doesn’t have a good answer
The historic preservation office doesn't seem willing to reckon with the fundamental question about whether everything — regardless of merit — ought to be historically designated, or how to balance preservation against other needs. Is every story, about everything, worth preserving? Keep reading…
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DC’s 2018 primary matters, though the action isn’t the race for mayor
Transportation (including the streetcar, Vision Zero, and bike infrastructure) and affordable housing (think DC's Comprehensive Plan update, historic districts, and debates over what kind of development taxpayers should subsidize) are all big issues in the District's elections this year. Here are the candidates so far. Keep reading…
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DC’s historic preservation board delays its vote on the controversial Kingman Park application
In an unusual move, the Historic Preservation Review Board delayed its decision on the proposed Kingman Park historic district. The case continues to highlight the limitations of DC’s current preservation guidelines on community support. Keep reading…
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Historic preservation in DC prioritizes the loudest neighbors, not the finest buildings
Squeaky wheels turn to historic preservation because it’s the most powerful regulatory tool in a municipality's land-use arsenal. Since every resident “squeaky wheel” is invited to request historic designation for just about any site in the District, many do — and overwhelmingly, they succeed. Keep reading…
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What is a historic district, anyway?
Historic designation can be complicated, but since DC has more than 50 historic districts, it's important to understand. Here's a breakdown of what it actually does. Keep reading…