Historic Districts Coalition c/o Thomas Bower, 1545 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
[email protected] Testimony before the DC Council Committee of the Whole Monday, October 28, 2013, 9:30 a.m. Room 412, John A Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004 Good morning Mr. Chairman and Council members. My name is Thomas Bower; I am here today representing the Historic Districts Coalition and as President of the Dupont Circle Conservancy. The Coalition is an informal alliance of organizations and individuals representing Washington, D.C.’s historic districts—those that have been designated under the provisions of the Historic Landmark and Historic District Protection Act of 1978 (D.C. Public Law 2-144)—as well as others interested in historic preservation, including residents of undesignated neighborhoods and representatives of neighborhood organizations, historic preservation organizations, and preservation-related businesses. As you know, the height of buildings in the District of Columbia is determined by the 1910 Height of Buildings Act, legislation now under review by the National Capital Planning Commission and the District of Columbia government at the request of Congressman Darrell Issa. The Coalition is hereto voice its strong opposition to the Gray Administration’s draft response already sent to Congressman Issa, proposing that building heights in the area of the original 1791 L’Enfant Plan for the City of Washington be increased up to 25%, and that Congress allow the District to determine the maximum height of buildings outside the L’Enfant city. We believe that the 1910 Height of Buildings Act , through its effect on the physically shaping the nation’s capital is no less important than the 1791 L’Enfant Plan and the 1901 McMillan Plan, which worked to revitalize L’Enfant’s brilliant design.