Hill Rag

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society Celebrates National Preservation Month

by: Amanda Rockwell Molson

May is always a time of renewal on Capitol Hill as residents emerge after the winter cold and spring rains to tend to gardens and home exteriors. This month, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) celebrates the blossoming of our neighborhood with our annual House and Garden Tour, now in its 49th year. With all of this activity, it seems appropriate that May is also designated as National Preservation Month across the country.

Additionally, 2006 marks the anniversary of two pieces of landmark preservation legislation. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the American Antiquities Act (AAA), an attempt to protect cultural resources on federal land. With the Act’s requirement for permission from the government to explore these holdings came the first true recognition of archeology as a science and a profession. The law spawned more hard-hitting legislation in future decades and also led to the creation of the National Park Service. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which created the National Register of Historic Places to protect state and local resources and implemented a review process for federally-funded construction projects that might affect natural and architectural places of importance. It also led to the enactment of Washington’s local historic preservation law, which protects most of Capitol Hill.

In existence since 1955 and with nearly 1,000 members, CHRS continues its efforts today on behalf of the residents of Capitol Hill. As we recognize this special month and the birth of two significant preservation laws, CHRS wishes to thank our volunteers, to encourage others to get involved, and to reflect on our continuing work to safeguard the historic fabric of our community.

Right now, the name of the game in our neighborhood is “development”. CHRS President Dick Wolf is a member of the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, which has been meeting frequently to discuss the revision of this outdated document that guides policies on planning and development in Washington. Since its creation in 1984, the DC Comprehensive Plan has undergone a few spotty revisions, the last of which is several years behind us. It covers a myriad of topics such as housing, transportation, historic preservation, and zoning regulations. CHRS has long sought “teeth” for the plan through detailed instructions on implementation and is also deeply involved in proposals that involve Ward 6. The Office of Planning will host community meetings on the draft during May and June before it is presented to the City Council later this year. The final product will affect us all – for better or for worse – so it’s essential to get it right. You can learn more by visiting www.inclusivecity.org.

We have been closely following the NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) plan to build commercial and condominium structures in an area currently populated by historic row houses and buildings such as the Uline Arena and Gallaudet University. The affected swath of land will be as large as the current downtown section of Boston.

More development is being designed by the Dreyfus Corporation, which created the Securities and Exchange Commission Building near Union Station. This new proposal would bring condominium structures to the square of land located between 2nd and 3rd and G and H Streets, NE, just beyond the Historic District boundaries. 17 houses and other edifices will be torn down to make way for the construction. CHRS has been meeting with the involved parties to ensure that the plans are respectful to the remaining neighbors and in line with the integrity of Capitol Hill. CHRS is also supporting neighbors in efforts expand the boundaries of the Historic District in order to stave off further destruction of our row house neighborhoods.

Additionally, CHRS recently lent our backing to the Northeast Neighbors for Responsible Growth (NNRG) in their opposition to the formation of a charter school at 138 12th Street, NE. Neither NNRG nor CHRS oppose the existence or the value of these schools, but we do not support their placement in a residential area filled with closely-grouped historic homes.

On the preservation front, we continue to organize Capitol Hill efforts on the city-wide Call Box Revitalization Project, which utilizes the ornamental iron boxes on our corners for art displays that convey local history. The popular CHRS Preservation Café returns this month to feature a talk on architectural styles. In June, we will host a panel presentation on the School Libraries Project, a wonderfully positive initiative that will greatly benefit Capitol Hill children, and other ideas to help our public schools. Details on both events can be found on our website.

There is no better time than National Preservation Month to get involved in efforts taking place on Capitol Hill. Citizen participation can – and does – make a difference. To learn more, visit us online at www.chrs.org or call
202-543-0425.

Amanda Molson was raised on Capitol Hill by preservation-minded parents and now chairs the CHRS Communications Committee.


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The Capitol Hill Restoration Society Celebrates National Preservation Month

by: Amanda Rockwell Molson
May is always a time of renewal on Capitol Hill as residents emerge after the winter cold and spring rains to tend to gardens and home exteriors. This month, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) celebrates the blossoming of our neighborhood with our annual House and Garden Tour, now in its 49th year. With all of this activity, it seems appropriate that May is also designated as National Preservation Month across the country. Additionally, 2006 marks the anniversary of two pieces of landmark preservation legislation. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the American Antiquities Act (AAA), an attempt to protect cultural resources on federal land. With the Act’s requirement for permission from the government to explore these holdings came the first true recognition of archeology as a science and a profession. The law spawned more hard-hitting legislation in future decades and also led to the creation of the National Park Service. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which created the National Register of Historic Places to protect state and local resources and implemented a review process for federally-funded construction projects that might affect natural and architectural places of importance. It also led to the enactment of Washington’s local historic preservation law, which protects most of Capitol Hill. In existence since 1955 and with nearly 1,000 members, CHRS continues its efforts today on behalf of the residents of Capitol Hill. As we recognize this special month and the birth of two significant preservation laws, CHRS wishes to thank our volunteers, to encourage others to get involved, and to reflect on our continuing work to safeguard the historic fabric of our community. Right now, the name of the game in our neighborhood is “development”. CHRS President Dick Wolf is a member of the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, which has been meeting frequently to discuss the revision of this outdated document that guides policies on planning and development in Washington. Since its creation in 1984, the DC Comprehensive Plan has undergone a few spotty revisions, the last of which is several years behind us. It covers a myriad of topics such as housing, transportation, historic preservation, and zoning regulations. CHRS has long sought “teeth” for the plan through detailed instructions on implementation and is also deeply involved in proposals that involve Ward 6. The Office of Planning will host community meetings on the draft during May and June before it is presented to the City Council later this year. The final product will affect us all – for better or for worse – so it’s essential to get it right. You can learn more by visiting www.inclusivecity.org. We have been closely following the NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) plan to build commercial and condominium structures in an area currently populated by historic row houses and buildings such as the Uline Arena and Gallaudet University. The affected swath of land will be as large as the current downtown section of Boston. More development is being designed by the Dreyfus Corporation, which created the Securities and Exchange Commission Building near Union Station. This new proposal would bring condominium structures to the square of land located between 2nd and 3rd and G and H Streets, NE, just beyond the Historic District boundaries. 17 houses and other edifices will be torn down to make way for the construction. CHRS has been meeting with the involved parties to ensure that the plans are respectful to the remaining neighbors and in line with the integrity of Capitol Hill. CHRS is also supporting neighbors in efforts expand the boundaries of the Historic District in order to stave off further destruction of our row house neighborhoods. Additionally, CHRS recently lent our backing to the Northeast Neighbors for Responsible Growth (NNRG) in their opposition to the formation of a charter school at 138 12th Street, NE. Neither NNRG nor CHRS oppose the existence or the value of these schools, but we do not support their placement in a residential area filled with closely-grouped historic homes. On the preservation front, we continue to organize Capitol Hill efforts on the city-wide Call Box Revitalization Project, which utilizes the ornamental iron boxes on our corners for art displays that convey local history. The popular CHRS Preservation Café returns this month to feature a talk on architectural styles. In June, we will host a panel presentation on the School Libraries Project, a wonderfully positive initiative that will greatly benefit Capitol Hill children, and other ideas to help our public schools. Details on both events can be found on our website. There is no better time than National Preservation Month to get involved in efforts taking place on Capitol Hill. Citizen participation can – and does – make a difference. To learn more, visit us online at www.chrs.org or call 202-543-0425. Amanda Molson was raised on Capitol Hill by preservation-minded parents and now chairs the CHRS Communications Committee.