Section 10-A1002. POLICIES AND ACTIONS HP-1 RECOGNIZING HISTORIC PROPERTIES

 

1002.1The treasured image of Washington and its wealth of historic buildings and neighborhoods is matched by few other cities in the United States. These assets include the grand and monumental legacies of the L’Enfant and McMillan Plans as well as the social story that is embodied in each of the city’s neighborhoods. The natural beauty of the District of Columbia is also an inseparable part of the city’s historic image. This is a landscape whose inherent attractiveness made it a place of settlement even in prehistoric times. 1002.1

 

1002.2These historic qualities define the very essence of Washington, D.C. and constitute an inheritance that is significant to both the city and the nation. Recognizing its value is an essential duty for those entrusted to pass on this place unharmed to future generations. 1002.2

 

1002.3The first step in protecting this heritage is to recognize what we have. Much of this work has already been done, for the great majority of the city’s most important historic features are widely acknowledged and officially recognized through historic designation. Washington’s monuments are famous and some of its neighborhoods are known to outsiders. But there are hundreds of historic landmarks and dozens of historic districts in the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites, and many of these are likely to be unfamiliar even to native Washingtonians. Future programs must inform the widest possible audience of these assets, and at the same time safeguard the unheralded properties whose legacy has yet to be understood. 1002.3

 

1002.4Recognition involves more than academic research and field work to identify and document historic properties. It also requires a deliberate effort to educate and inform property owners and the public at large about the nature and the protected status of those features and places whose historic value may not be readily apparent. It is easy to take historic properties for granted through ignorance or disregard. For this reason it is equally important to publicize the value of potential historic properties, while actively seeking official recognition and thus the benefits of legal protection. 1002.4

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.