By Bruce Yarnall, March 4, 2013, DC Historic Preservation Office

The DC Historic Preservation Office (HPO) has completed and is seeking public comments on a draft of the District of Columbia’s historic preservation plan, Enriching our Heritage, 2016. The plan is a guide for the city’s preservation efforts for the next four years, identifying goals and suggesting actions that citizens, organizations, businesses, government agencies and others can take to achieve the long-range vision for preserving, enhancing and celebrating our city’s heritage as established by the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The plan was developed based on public outreach efforts by the HPO in 2012, with input from community organizations and citizens from all eight Wards and guided by a steering committee of preservation, planning, community and business leaders.

The draft includes a summary of recent preservation achievements, future challenges, and a series of specific goals, objectives and actions. A complete draft of the plan, including a timeline on the District’s history and recommendations for implementation of the plan, is scheduled for release on March 14th. A meeting to hear public comments on the plan will be held at the Historic Preservation Review Board at 9:00AM on April 25, 2013 at 441 4th Street, NW, in room 220-south.

The draft plan can be viewed on the HPO’s website as a “Related Document” by clicking here.

or can be sent as a PDF document upon request. To obtain a copy of the draft plan or to provide comments, please contact the DC Historic Preservation Office at historic.preservation@dc.gov, (202) 442-8835, or sending a request to Office of Planning/Historic Preservation Office, 2016 Plan, 1100 4th Street, SW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20024.

DC Preservation League to Receive 2013 Institute Honor Award
for Collaborative Achievement by The American Institute of Architects

The DC Preservation League  is the recipient of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2013 Institute Honor Award for Collaborative Achievement.

Institute Honors for Collaborative Achievement are given by the AIA to recognize and encourage distinguished achievements of allied professionals, clients, organizations, architect teams, knowledge communities, and others who have had a beneficial influence on or advanced the architectural profession.

The jury, made up of respected architects from across the country commented that “Architectural history is a major part of the ethos of Washington, and the DC Preservation League has been a staunch and devoted steward of that history. The city’s appearance today owes a great deal to DCPL’s efforts in promoting solid preservation, architectural, and urban design principles.” 

“DCPL was honored to be nominated for this esteemed award by our colleagues at AIADC and we are delighted that the hard work of our staff and volunteers has garnered this national recognition.” said Edward D. Dunson, AIA, President of the DCPL Board of Trustees.

The League would also like to congratulate Ginnie Cooper of the DC Public Library for receiving the AIA’s Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture. “Ginnie has been a tremendous advocate for the rehabilitation and reuse of historic DC Public Library buildings and the visionary for the innovative architecture of its new additions to Washington’s neighborhoods.” said Rebecca Miller, Executive Director of the DC Preservation League.                                                                      

DCPL will receive its award at the American Institute of Architects National Convention in Denver in May 2013.

For more information about the award go to http://tinyurl.com/cf9m5q4

The DC Preservation League (DCPL), Washington’s only citywide non-profit organization promoting the preservation and enhancement of the District’s historic and built environment, released its annual list of Most Endangered Places in Washington for 2012.

This list, issued annually since 1996, is selected by the Board of Trustees of the DC Preservation League from nominations submitted by concerned individuals and organizations across the city. These sites are selected based on the severity of the threats to the buildings and landscapes in question, whether through demolition, neglect, or inappropriate alteration. The list can include buildings, parks or other landscaped areas, as well as vistas and other aspects of the city’s unique planned history. All Most Endangered Places listed are located in the District of Columbia.

The sites on the 2012 list of Most Endangered Places in Washington are: Bond Bread Factory, 2146 Georgia Avenue, NW; Alexander Crummell School, 1900 Gallaudet, NE; Mount Zion Cemetery/Female Union Band Cemetery, 27th and Q Streets, NW; Old Thai Embassy, 2300 Kalorama Road, NW; Washington Canoe Club, 3700 Water Street, NW; Watchman’s Lodge and Tower, Donaldson Place, NW.

Detailed descriptions of each site and the threats can be found by clicking here.

Several sites were deemed “saved” and removed from the Most Endangered List in 2012. These include the DC War Memorial, Battleground National Cemetery, the Howard Theatre and Engine Company 6.

The DC Preservation League invites volunteers, civic associations, the DC government, the federal government, and other groups to partner with DCPL in preserving and protecting these endangered places. For more information, contact the DC Preservation League at 202-783-5144 or info@dcpreservation.org.

Photographs of sites available by request.