Historic Districts and Home Renovation

There are over 30 historic districts in Washington, DC, including one in Woodley Park. This historic district has helped preserve the wonderful Wardman and other historic homes that contribute to the character of our neighborhood. Historic districts put limits on the alterations that can be done to the exterior of a home. When considering a renovation or addition, homeowners should learn about the process to make their improvements go more smoothly.

To find out if your home is in the Woodley Park Historic District, you can consult the maps at the Historic Preservation Office and available on-line at http://planning.dc.gov/planning/cwp/view,A,1284,Q,643219.asp. The boundaries of the Woodley Park Historic District are (roughly) Cathedral Avenue to the north and east, following Cathedral south to where it goes under Connecticut Avenue, then north on Connecticut, along Calvert Street to 24th Street, back on Connecticut to Woodley Road, following Woodley Road to 29th Street, with 29th Street as the western boundary.

If you are in a historic district and are considering a major renovation or addition, your first stop should be a phone call to the Historic Preservation Office (HPO). The staff there can guide you as to what is acceptable in a historic district. There is also a detailed page of design guidelines available on their website. www.planning.dc.gov. The HPO staff assigned to the Woodley Park Historic District are Brendan Meyer (phone 202-741-5248) and Tim Dennée (phone 202-442-8848).

Some minor work can be approved at the staff level, but any major changes need to go before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The Historic Preservation Review Board is an independent Board with members appointed by the Mayor (and approved by the DC City Council) for three year terms. It is made up of architects, historians, and others. HPRB meets on the fourth Thursday of the month. In order for HPRB to review an application, it must be submitted by the fourth Thursday of the previous month.

During that month between submission and HPRB review, the HPO staff notifies the public and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) about the application. The ANC normally reviews all HPRB applications within its jurisdiction. The regular ANC meetings are the third Monday of the month. In addition, the ANC reviews HPRB applications at its Historic Preservation Committee meetings, normally the first Monday of the month. This meeting is a chance to review the project and discuss with the Commissioners in a more informal setting before the regular meeting, and to resolve any issues in advance. Contact information for the ANC is available at www.anc3c.org.

Additional information about the historic review process is available on the Office of Planning web page (www.planning.dc.gov) and the DC Preservation League web page (www.dcpreservation.org).