Report a Comment

I wrote a similar post about this on Housing Complex about two weeks ago after chatting with some folks from San Jacinto's conservation district (link here: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2010/07/09/in-the-battle-of-barney-circle-could-there-be-a-middle-ground/). I think it's a great idea, and San Jacinto's model is particularly interesting. Their city planning department was able to push the designation through without a majority neighborhood vote, but the residents determined the restrictions they wanted to place on the conservation district. Their emphasis is the prevention of demolition and construction of new building stock that could be at odds with the rest of the neighborhood. There's no restrictions on modifications made to existing homes--no requirements for four- or six-paneled doors or a particular type of siding.

I think the coolest part of San Jac's conservation district is that the community decided the rules that they wanted to exact on themselves. That's, to me, the biggest difference between historic districts and conservation districts. The implications of a historic district designation are handed down from the HPO/HPRB (or similar organization), but a conservation district would allow residents to decide what they value and what they deem most worth their efforts.

So, if DC ever does adopt conservation districts, I'd like to see their resolutions drafted by residents. In a situation like Barney Circle, which had its own historic district guidelines tailored specifically to the 198 homes there, that wouldn't have been a difficult next step.

by alexbaca on Jul 23, 2010 10:47 am • link • report