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MarkM: I'm certainly open to the possibility that this may be a bad idea. However, many of the parts of HP that create a hassle are not ones we need apply (and in fact I wasn't thinking of applying). I don't advocate applying the current historic district system to the entire city.

For example, we could have a lower level of HP that doesn't affect the rear of the building at all. Already preservation gives a greater level of deference to rear changes; for the less stringent level of preservation, we could simply say that rear additions not visible from the street are completely as of right.

Windows are another thing that I don't think need to be as strict. Same for roof shingling. While I like the rules in my neighborhood, I don't think we need to say that Eckington should also require original slate (or imitation rubber slate) or wood windows. However, I do feel that the rows of Victorian townhouses with pointy roofs ought to be protected to the extent that we don't have cheap, vinyl-siding pop-ups or houses completely torn down to put in a glass box. There's value to the architectural unity there, and we should keep that, but may not need to haggle over every subtle detail of materials.

Finally, not all zoning decisions go to the BZA. Most of the zoning work is already done at DCRA, and only special exceptions and variances have to go to the BZA.

Maybe I really want form-based codes, you might say. And maybe so. However, right now, HP totally overrides zoning. We can have zoning rules that state we want 8-story buildings with front entrances and 100% street frontage, but if HPRB decides they want to "sculpt" the building in various ways, that's the last word, and they're not supposed to be taking the desired urban forms into account at all, just the "historic compatibility."

I'd like a blending of the historic and zoning factors, so that a change which is very good in an urbanism context can get away with a little less compatibility if it doesn't disturb the primary historic qualities of a building or area that much, and areas which aren't protected now can slow down the most disruptive kinds of changes without leading to HPO micromanagement of fenestration when it's not warranted.

by David Alpert on Aug 15, 2008 3:43 pm • link • report