DRAFT DRAFT 1 introduction 5 Enriching our Heritage 2 dc history and heritage 13 A Legacy of Visionary Plans Landmarks and Milestones A Succession of Eras 3 preservation achievements 33 Why Preservation Works in DC 4 preservation challenges 43 What We Heard from our Constituents 5 goals, objectives, and actions 47 Recognizing Historic Resources Promoting Appreciation of our History Protecting Historic Properties Planning for our Heritage Taking Action Together 6 implementation 59 Four Years Past and Four Years Ahead 7 resources and appendices 89 How to Get Involved DRAFT DRAFT introduction 1 DRAFT Enriching our Heritage B A Vision for our City A Path Forward to 2016 We in the District of Columbia are uncommonly fortunate to This plan is a guide to our city’s historic preservation efforts The plan is organized in seven chapters: be the inheritors of a precious cultural legacy. Washington for the next four years. It lays out a manageable list of goals is a city that is not only inspiring to our spirits, but enriching and suggests the actions we can take collectively in the t First, we portray images for a common vision, and review in its layers of history, comforting in its architecture, and near term to help achieve our long-range vision. It strives to our history and heritage — Chapters 1 and 2. soothing in its natural beauty. These days it is more include a wide range of activities and be responsive to many exciting than ever to live here, as our communities are being opinions, while also setting priorities that will allow us to t Then we assess our strengths and challenges, and reinvigorated by new creativity, new people and new ideas. focus on the most pressing of our needs. propose the goals we should set and actions we A fresh and distinctive new vibe is merging with the city’s should take to reinforce our strengths and confront our timeless presence and longstanding traditions. The city Several major themes weave through this plan. These challenges — Chapters 3, 4, and 5. is beginning to grow again, and to change more quickly are not explicitly discussed in the text, but nonetheless than it has in past decades, as more and more newcomers underlie many of its recommendations. They reflect a t In Chapter 6, we look in depth at our accomplishments recognize what an enchanting and transcendent place critical assessment of where we stand now, based upon the over the past four years and chart how our goals for the this is to live. We are adding new layers to our history and comments we heard and a thoughtful look at what the city’s next four will respond to the preservation mandates of heritage. preservation community is doing well and not so well. the District’s Comprehensive Plan. And finally, in Chapter 7, we include a list of planning As Washington takes on new life and ever-increasing These five themes are: t resources and describe how you can give us your critical diversity, we are at the same time called upon to become feedback throughout the life of this plan. We want your truly One City. How do we do this in a way that opens our We need to get back to basics. If the fundamentals of thoughts, suggestions, and observations as we move imaginations and respects all voices, while also honoring 1 our preservation efforts are not sound, they will not forward together. the heritage that makes our home unique? Can our provide an adequate foundation for more ambitious cherished cultural heritage become part of the glue that efforts. C binds us together? How do we take care of that legacy and pass it forward unharmed for those who will succeed us? We need to finish some deferred maintenance. Some How do we add new dimensions to it? And what role does 2 of our systems are rusty, and need attention to historic preservation play in securing this future? These are function effectively in meeting new demands. the questions this plan seeks to address. We need to strengthen and reinvigorate our A 3 partnerships. By relying on each other, we can broaden our resources, foster new leadership, and work smarter in a common cause. We need to send a more forceful and convincing 4 message. Our communications are not up to par and need improvement if we are to be effective in advancing the goals of preservation. We need to be open to new possibilities. We should 5 challenge the assumption that we cannot get some of the tools we need, and be willing to consider some new approaches. A DC War Memorial 6 B 10th and V Street Church C Howard Theater DRAFT Plan Methodology Connections to Long-Range Planning A Seeking Public Views This document is unlike, and we hope better than, any This plan builds on the broad vision outlined in the District’s District residents are not shy about expressing their views previous plan produced by the DC Historic Preservation Comprehensive Plan, Growing An Inclusive City: From Vision on historic preservation. They voice them every month Office. With it we begin a new chapter in how we plan to Reality, which serves as the framework document for all at meetings of the Historic Preservation Review Board, together for the District’s cultural resources, and how we planning efforts in the city. The DC Council adopted the every day in the course of business with the Historic communicate with each other about preservation in the Comprehensive Plan in 2006 after substantial review by the Preservation Office, and every year at oversight hearings city. community at large—and for the Historic Features Element, of the DC Council. In a small jurisdiction like the District of from the preservation community in particular. Columbia, it is not difficult to keep an ear to the ground on In 2000, HPO became a part of the DC Office of Planning. much of our civic discourse, though sometimes those who That merger came from the recognition that protection of Since this plan fulfills the District’s requirement for the State speak the loudest or most persistently may dominate the the city’s cultural heritage was more of a planning function Historic Preservation Office to prepare and periodically conversation. than one of reviewing construction permits when plans update a state historic preservation plan, it was also reached the implementation stage—in other words, once guided by National Park Service guidelines for preservation We have been mindful to reach out and hear new voices the horse was already leaving the barn. planning. Preparation of the plan was further supported from all across the city, and to be diligent in seeking new by a review of the recent Annual Reports submitted to the perspectives from those who are not among the usual Some were initially skeptical about what that move might Council of the District of Columbia, describing achievements suspects. We pursue these efforts through our community mean for the integrity of the city’s historic preservation in implementing the DC historic preservation law. outreach programs, occasional roundtables, and frequent program. In the dozen years since that merger, however, visits to Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the city’s planning and preservation efforts have community meetings. intermeshed in unforeseen ways that have strengthened both immeasurably. We now function as inseparable Planning for this document began in earnest in early parts of a more inclusive planning process that is helping 2011. To help us with the effort, HPO convened a steering to propel the growth of the city by building on its natural committee of local preservation leaders and stakeholders. strengths and competitive advantages. We can now focus The committee met twice in the summer of 2011 to review on attracting the kind of new economic engines that thrive B the previous plan, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of in the cultural and physical environment that the District of local preservation efforts, and provide guidance on priorities Columbia provides in abundance. for the future. A public working session was convened at the Sumner School Museum and Archives on September 13, What progress has been made in the past dozen years? 2011, open to all and attended by about 50 city residents. Participants at the public meeting discussed ideas and At the halfway mark, the District rewrote its Comprehensive recommendations in a series of small-group sessions. Plan, for the first time with historic preservationists as colleagues and equal members of the planning team. Soon The draft goals of the plan and minutes from the committee after, the Historic Features Element of the new Comp Plan, and public meetings have been available since September with modest additions, served double duty as Preserving 2011, and have been posted on our website with a link for Communities and Character: The Historic Preservation Plan those wishing to comment. for the District of Columbia, 2008-2012. And now with that foundation in place, we take the next step toward realizing We continue to seek public comments at any time, and a sustainable preservation planning function that sets yours are welcome: see Chapter 7 for how to share your interim goals and allows us to measure our progress in thoughts. manageable four-year increments. We view this plan as only the beginning of an engagement and dialogue that will continue with more vigor in the upcoming years. A McMillan Reservoir Sand Filtration site 7 B Shaw Main Streets Tour DRAFT The District of Columbia’s Vision for Historic Preservation B Washington in our Imagination The treasured image of Washington and its wealth of The Comprehensive Plan adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia in 2007 establishes a common vision for the historic buildings and neighborhoods is matched by few stewardship of our heritage.