You said historic preservation has its roots in maintaining racist status quo. I thought it had its roots in ... historic preservation. I know it's a blessing and a curse for the folks who live there (like it's a pita to change a windowsill), but its nice for the rest of us to look at. I'm not sure what's 'racist' about historic preservation, and as someone who appreciates some history being preserved--including architectural and aesthetic--you are kind of alarming me by adding that to the -ism list. Can you explain a little better how historic preservation is racist? TY. |
This was 70 years ago. How does it apply to rules about door knobs today? I'm genuinely curious. I'm guessing in CP, as in other neighborhoods, there are houses 'handed down' from then. Based on the number of sales signs I see, I'm also guessing not that many. But if you have stats please share. |
Among other things, historic preservation is a barrier to entry and a barrier to new construction, raising the cost of home maintenance for existing owners but, more importantly, greatly increasing the entry cost for prospecting neighbors. And old, dilapidated Sears house must stay a Sears house instead of being replaced by a duplex, for example. |
Racial segregation didn't end in 1948. DC-based banks refused to lend contrary to covenants because they "didn't want trouble." This went on until the 1990's. Until 1990's title companies would still include racial covenants in their title searches, "for completeness." When I bought my first house in 1997 my bank had just settled a red-lining case with the DOJ. |
This has already been explained earlier in the thread. If you wish to remain willingly ignorant, that's on you. |
There is a through-line that runs from 19th century racial bylaws to restrictive covenants to redlining to zoning to historic preservation and home-owners associations. The courts would block one type of restriction, and a new one would pop up almost immediately. If you're not a part of the group being kept out it's easy to look at these and say they're innocent, just neighbors banding together to exercise their rights in a democracy. |
what now? where are these old dilapidated sears homes in the district? most historic zones in the district are not dilapidated as I can see, and have plenty of buyers of all races who are interested in the neighborhood historic feel. This is quite a stretch. There are plenty of nonhistorically zoned areas in the District where you can put up your condos/duplexes. And plenty of neighborhoods where there is a palatable entry cost for prospective neighbors who can do whatever they like to old dilapidated houses in terms of fixer uppers. It seems like what offends you about historic zoning is you can't raze buildings for multi-families whereas in other neighborhoods you can? |
Translation: stop complaining. You can live in a stabby-zone with inadequate education options near a metro, or in a non-stabby-zone with solid education far away from a metro. But Cleveland Park -- non-stabby, solid education, on metro -- is closed. Why is a centrally located Metro station in the District the least used of them? |
You are genuinely not making sense. There is a plethora of housing on metro and with school availability in the District (which also lotteries for both public and public charter education and provides free public transport if you don't like your local optoon do you even livere here?)As to stabby/non-stabby - CP has had it's share if crime just like the whole city. There are no "non stabby" zones - something the Mayor, Council and DA need to work on. |
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Attacking someone's character in an anonymous online post vs volunteering your time to serve your community... Have you missed your snack time today? |
The Cleveland park historic district is the size of a quarter. Why are you obsessed with it? Those of us who live near it basically use it as a park, a nice place to walk dogs and kids and admire the pretty houses. You seem to have a huge *-on for historic CP which has negligible impact on people living in stabby or non-stabby areas. Do you not recognize how many duplexes and apartment buildings there are adjacent to this tiny historic district, like all the apartment buildings in Woodley Park and Conn Ave and Wisconsin Ave? But that's not enough for you--you want to knock down a miniscule historic district because metro? Weird. |
There is nothing about historic preservation that regulates door knobs. When you type in extreme hyperbole, your arguments lose credibility. |
You are taking a flip example waaay too seriously |
I think complaints today about changing “neighborhood character” are about the architecture in that historic houses and buildings are so much more attractive than McMansions and tear down rebuilds. |