Have you ever gone against what the Historic board said you could do in a DC renovation?

[Anonymous]

Ok, so we were told by the Historic board in our DC neighborhood that we cannot remove our detached double garage out back that eats up our useable yard. Does anyone know what kind of enforcement authority they really have and what/how/if they can penalize you for something like this? It's in the back of the lot (detatched) but visible from the street. It is also old an crumbling and probably woudn't support a car due to the grading of our land next door with the neighbor.

[Anonymous]

a lot of work is done in Georgetown in August.

Why? Neighbors are gone and no one is going to call you on what you are doing and that it is not in line with Historic Board.

People come back in Sept and think - hmmm something is different.

[Anonymous]

What if you rammed a well-insured rental car into it and knocked it down?

[Anonymous]

just do the project yourself.

[Anonymous]

The Historic Preservation Office often will not issue a raze permit for a structure which is contributing to the historic district.

This is part of a compact when you purchase a house in said historic district. Sure you could tear it down, but if you are caught, you will be fined by DCRA for un-permitted work, and likely you will be compelled to restore the contributing structure by the Historic Preservation Office.

See the case on O Street in Georgetown where a property owner encouraged demolition by neglect and the Old Georgetown Board (similar body for G'Town to the HPO for the rest of DC) compelled the property owner to use the same bricks and rebuild the house the way it was.

Yes, they have the power to do this, an yes, you likely bought a house in a historic district and have enjoyed the character of your community as a result of it.

If the garage cannot hold a vehicle because it is too small, it is likely you could renovate it to conform to modern standards, but otherwise you are probably out of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so we were told by the Historic board in our DC neighborhood that we cannot remove our detached double garage out back that eats up our useable yard. Does anyone know what kind of enforcement authority they really have and what/how/if they can penalize you for something like this? It's in the back of the lot (detatched) but visible from the street. It is also old an crumbling and probably woudn't support a car due to the grading of our land next door with the neighbor.

Ignore the Historic Board because you were born under a rare and special star and are exempt from all rules, regulations, and laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so we were told by the Historic board in our DC neighborhood that we cannot remove our detached double garage out back that eats up our useable yard. Does anyone know what kind of enforcement authority they really have and what/how/if they can penalize you for something like this? It's in the back of the lot (detatched) but visible from the street. It is also old an crumbling and probably woudn't support a car due to the grading of our land next door with the neighbor.

Ignore the Historic Board because you were born under a rare and special star and are exempt from all rules, regulations, and laws.

OR, I have a different philosophy....a greener one, recognizing that times change, that living in urban DC, my family is a walking family with one car and a 10 car + 2 garage driveway that contributes more to runoff and global warming than it's worth. Some things merit saving, some things do not, and I obviously disagree with the importance of this structure. We also plan to be here for 30 years and will build a fence so that this won't even be visible from the street. Sometimes, the rules are just arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Historic Preservation Office often will not issue a raze permit for a structure which is contributing to the historic district.

This is part of a compact when you purchase a house in said historic district. Sure you could tear it down, but if you are caught, you will be fined by DCRA for un-permitted work, and likely you will be compelled to restore the contributing structure by the Historic Preservation Office.

See the case on O Street in Georgetown where a property owner encouraged demolition by neglect and the Old Georgetown Board (similar body for G'Town to the HPO for the rest of DC) compelled the property owner to use the same bricks and rebuild the house the way it was.

Yes, they have the power to do this, an yes, you likely bought a house in a historic district and have enjoyed the character of your community as a result of it.

If the garage cannot hold a vehicle because it is too small, it is likely you could renovate it to conform to modern standards, but otherwise you are probably out of luck.

aaaannnd this is exactly why I would never buy in an historic area. I live two streets over from one and have seem people completely frozen in their homes because they cannot afford to update them in the way the historic review board sees fit. And it is QUITE subjective. never ever ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you rammed a well-insured rental car into it and knocked it down?

[Anonymous]

Can't you renovate the interior to make it a fun or useful space? I wouldn't imagine it has to be used as a garage....??

[Anonymous]

I am assuming that you knew you were buying a historic house. What is it about this structure that the historic board finds important? Keep in mind the many reasons you decided to buy a historic house, including the protection of the look of the neighborhood as a whole.

[Anonymous]

It's been my experience that historic boards are often comprised by people who really care about the historic standards they impose and who often have a lot of time to see that they're enforced.

[Anonymous]

We did a major home renovation/expansion in an historic district and had a very positive and straightforward experience with the HPRB staff. The number of and variety of renovations in historic districts around the city shows that the staff and board allow much flexibilty within the DC Historic Preservation Act and regulations. There is also the option of taking the matter before the full board or even to the Mayor's Agent, which is a further appeal from the board. However, do NOT go ahead and just ignore the HPRB and its staff. They have fined people who do that and have been willing to take action that requires removal of construction done without their ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, so we were told by the Historic board in our DC neighborhood that we cannot remove our detached double garage out back that eats up our useable yard. Does anyone know what kind of enforcement authority they really have and what/how/if they can penalize you for something like this? It's in the back of the lot (detatched) but visible from the street. It is also old an crumbling and probably woudn't support a car due to the grading of our land next door with the neighbor.

Ignore the Historic Board because you were born under a rare and special star and are exempt from all rules, regulations, and laws.

OR, I have a different philosophy....a greener one, recognizing that times change, that living in urban DC, my family is a walking family with one car and a 10 car + 2 garage driveway that contributes more to runoff and global warming than it's worth. Some things merit saving, some things do not, and I obviously disagree with the importance of this structure. We also plan to be here for 30 years and will build a fence so that this won't even be visible from the street. Sometimes, the rules are just arbitrary.

You may want to check with them before you install said fence.

[Anonymous]

Sigh....the historic house, yes, a detached garage in the back yard, no, didn't realize it would be a big deal. I also just chafe against keeping things the same that have absolutely no utility. Many houses in the area have no garages...