Historic Preservation Education: the LeDroit Park Civic Association voted to support a new construction rowhouse in the LeDroit Park Historic District (a good, optional step)

More Historic Preservation Education with this blog post.

Below is a snip from the minutes of the last LeDroit Park Civic Association meeting.  One of the agenda items was a vote on a proposed new construction rowhouse in the LeDroit Park Historic District at 1850 5th Street NW.

LeDroit Park Civic Association Meeting Minutes

February 23, 2016
Meeting Called to Order at 7:05 P.M.

 ...

We voted to support new row house at 1850 5th Street NW. If you have additional questions contact Jennifer Wisdom.
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Is an up vote required by the civic/citizen association for a new construction building in a neighborhood Historic District?  No, it is not.  But it sure helps.

Note that this LeDroit Park property was on the schedule for the Thursday, 02/25/2016, HPRB agenda. So what happened with the HPRB?

Here is an update from the LeDroit Park property owner, Jennifer Wisdom:

"The HPRB voted to support in the consent agenda, meaning it was approved without discussion at the meeting because there were no concerns. My architect and I spoke with Brendan [Meyer, the HPO staff primary contact for the LeDroit Park Historic District] at the HPRB in advance, and also worked the ANC chair of the ANC  zoning committee."

Good news for her!

So today's education point:

All new construction buildings in neighborhood Historic Districts must go before the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).  New construction will not be signed off at the HPO counter at DCRA, like 95% of most renovations in Historic Districts.

Does this process step impact Bloomingdale at all?  I believe that the only lots not developed in Bloomingdale are the McMillan Sand Filtration site and the Joe Mamo lot at North Capitol and Florida Avenue NW, northwest corner.  Both of these large sites are governed by the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. 

Of course, if a large lot were to be subdivided in a neighborhood Historic District -- and a new construction building were proposed for the vacant newly created subdivided lot -- that new construction building's design would need to be brought before the HPRB. 
                           
Does Bloomingdale have such a large lot that could be subdivided?  The only lot that comes to mind is the Mu Lambda property at 1st & Bryant Street NW, northeast corner (2405 1st Street NW).

In any event -- the take-away with this post is that proposed new construction in a neighborhood Historic District must obtain approval from the HPRB.

Not a big issue for Bloomingdale.