Posts tagged Historic Preservation
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Breakfast links: Looking backward, moving forward
Historic thumbs down to Chevy Chase: The Chevy Chase ANC sent a survey to homeowners living in the proposed historic district; 77% of respondents voted against designating Chevy Chase, reports Marc Fisher. Opponents worry about the increased approvals and bureaucracy from HPO/HPRB; proponents worry about teardowns and McMansions (Fisher, for his part, believes McMansion fears… Keep reading…
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Not another landmarked parking lot!
November’s HPRB meeting will consider landmark status for the Sheridan Theatre and Park and Shop, on Georgia Avenue in Brightwood. The DC Preservation League named the Sheridan one of its most endangered properties in 2007. This 1937 Art Deco community theater is now a dollar store; it was built a year before Silver Spring’s Silver Theatre, which was recently restored… Keep reading…
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Boasberg dismisses “irrelevancies” at Hilton hearing
Today’s HPRB meeting followed a familiar pattern, with Chairman Tersh Boasberg repeatedly cutting off witnesses for bringing up issues the Board can’t consider—even those that were mentioned in the staff report. Keep reading…
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Making an un-urban Hilton slightly more urban
Constructed, as it was, during an era of pedestrian-unfriendly designs and intended to flank a planned freeway, the Washington Hilton at Connecticut Avenue and Columbia Road is one of DC’s most suburban buildings. The HPO staff report writes, Keep reading…
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On Hilton, HPO takes broad view of historic compatibility
The Historic Preservation Office is recommending that HPRB wait to approve the Hilton’s proposed renovations until the hotel can work out an agreement with the community over loading docks. Once that is done, the staff report recommends moving ahead with the project. Keep reading…
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Tonight’s and tomorrow’s meetings
[Autoposted while I’m in France] Keep reading…
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Tenant abuse among several controversies at the Dupont ANC
At the first few meetings of the Dupont Circle ANC I attended, the Commission voted unanimously on almost every issue. I criticized the appearance, if not also the reality, that Commissioners were voting on important resolutions without much discussion, or going along to vote for resolutions even when some privately told me they disagreed. Keep reading…
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HPRB might prohibit my rocking horse!
The battle is heating up over establishing a new historic district in Chevy Chase, DC. Residents opposed to the designation have been distributing “No Historic District” lawn signs and emailing neighborhood lists. The ANC is about to conduct a survey of residents to gauge support, and Councilmember Mary Cheh has introduced legislation to require a resident vote,… Keep reading…
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Lunch links: Sprawl advocacy pro and con edition
Safety for their schools, not others: The Town of Chevy Chase is slowing traffic around one of its schools while, as ACT points out, advocating for a Purple Line bus alignment that would send rapid buses right past another school outside their limits. Keep reading…
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Technological change, part 3: Construction and renovation
In part 1 and part 2, I discussed the possible effects of automation on transportation. But if we can more cheaply build tunnels robotically, what about buildings? Keep reading…