Posts tagged Historic Preservation
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DC has more historic buildings than Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia combined. Why?
As of 2016, DC had designated 26,749 properties as historic landmarks or historic districts. That’s 19.4 percent of all properties in the District — a proportion many times higher than in cities that are larger and/or older than Washington. Keep reading…
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DC’s height restrictions are contentious. Here’s what we could learn from cities around the world.
Height restrictions aren’t a black-and-white issue; cities around the world have balanced historical preservation and modern development in a variety of different ways. What could DC learn from Paris, Milan, London, and others? Keep reading…
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Should this plain box Pepco substation in Tenleytown really be a landmark?
Designating historic landmarks is a valuable piece of the land use policy landscape, but this mechanism isn't immune to abuse by those who don't want new development. Case in point? Efforts to preserve this decidedly unremarkable Pepco substation. Keep reading…
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“Instant neighborhoods” don’t make for great cities, but DC insists on them
The best approach to development accepts that all neighborhoods – like the world around them and the people within them – are always going to change. Just as biodiversity boosts ecosystems, so embracing diverse and evolving buildings can help cities be more resilient. Keep reading…
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This new building includes parts of three old buildings
As DC grows, new buildings are often required to incorporate historic structures. That’s easier said than done, but the results can be worth the effort. Here’s how one new apartment building in Mount Vernon Triangle incorporated three historic buildings for new uses. Keep reading…
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Historic preservation isn’t always about saving buildings. Here’s one example.
Historic preservation is an important way to save buildings that make major aesthetic or historic contributions to our communities. But sometimes, it can be used as an excuse to stop future development from occurring. That’s what two groups are doing in Friendship Heights. Keep reading…
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Building of the Week: River Park
Washington is home to myriad mid-century residential buildings by nationally known architects. The most unique among these is the River Park development, located on 4th Street SW between N and O Streets. Its aluminum details and barrel-roofed townhouses stand out in a sea of concrete and brick boxes. Keep reading…
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In 1931, a parking lot in Cleveland Park changed how Washington shopped
Many people are perplexed as to why Sam’s Park & Shop in Cleveland Park is a historical landmark. While it may look like an ordinary strip mall, the Park & Shop was one of the first examples of retail architecture designed around the automobile. Keep reading…
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This great tool will teach you about historic buildings
Historic preservation is constantly battling a reputation for being low-tech, but two weeks ago, DC’s Historic Preservation Office took a major technological step forward. HistoryQuest DC, an interactive map from HPO, provides detailed and valuable information about more than 125,000 Washington buildings. Keep reading…
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A court just halted DC’s McMillan development
DC’s highest court just blocked development at the McMillan Sand Filtration Site. This is a setback for the city’s effort to turn an empty yet historic field, which previously served to filter drinking water, into a complex of housing, offices, and more active parks. This may not be end of the project, but it’s added some significant new hurdles. Keep reading…