Posts tagged Preservation
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Environmentalists and development: a complex relationship in a hyperbolic election season
In election races in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, candidates are claiming they “support the environment” or “are for smart growth.” Some of those candidates also seem to be against most development while others are more supportive. It’s hard to make sense of all this. What’s the green view of growth? Keep reading…
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“Green” features are okay with DC preservation, but only if they’re invisible
DC's Historic Preservation Office has a new, proposed guide for homeowners who want to make their buildings more environmentally friendly. Environmentalists may not be so pleased, though, with the way the guidelines still prioritize keeping buildings looking the same over enabling green features. Keep reading…
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Historic preservation in DC needs reform
DC is undoubtedly a historic place, and it is essential that we use the tools we have to protect that history. However, DC is also a growing place, and a number of historic preservation cases and debates have revealed a preservation system in need of reform. Keep reading…
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A small group just pushed through a historic district in my neighborhood. Here’s what happened.
Last week, DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) voted to designate our neighborhood, Kingman Park, as a historic district. This happened even though a review of comments to HPRB found a majority of residents opposed the designation. Keep reading…
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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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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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A fix or a setback? DC may strip tenant purchase rights from all single-family homes
A new bill introduced by councilmember Anita Bonds would exempt single-family homes from the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). Realtors say that's necessary to prevent abuses, while tenant advocates say it will harm vulnerable populations. 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…