In January 2014, the Hill Rag reported on the classification of Reservation 266: PocketParkControversyEndsRag

In the January 2014 the Hill Rag ran this article about the CHRS anniversary celebration: CHRScelebrating60YearsOfPreservationRag

CALL TO ARTISTS!
Local artists will display their work in their own micro-galleries, in home-studios, on porches or in yards. Saturday and Sunday,  September 9 – 10, 2023 from noon- 5 pm. Most will have work for sale.  Co-sponsored by the Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL). Free to both artists and visitors.
Artists must have a venue on Capitol Hill that is not a commercial gallery or frame shop. Most will have it at their own home or studio, inside or outdoors on a porch or in the yard, but they may team up with a friend at a shared or “borrowed” location.
Interested in showing your own work? Additional details are in the registration form. Registration deadline August 6, but early registration is appreciated.
See the evolving list of artists and examples of their work at chrs.org/art-walk-2023

Downloadable Art Walk poster

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater on the evening of April 14, 1865, is a well-known and pivotal event in American history. What may be less well known is the local character of part of the story and the fate of John Surratt, the last Lincoln conspirator.

On Monday evening, June 5, 2023, writer and historian Andrew Jampoler will explore the Civil War and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln as well as the connections between the city of Washington and the Lincoln conspirators up to their urgent flight through the Capitol Hill neighborhood and across the Eastern Branch (now Anacostia River). The escape of the last Lincoln conspirator touched off a world-wide manhunt.

Jampoler is the author of The Last Lincoln Conspirator: John Surratt’s Flight from the Gallows as well as other books on American history.

As always, admission to the lecture is free, however a reservation is required due to limited seating. Reserve via https://www.hillcenterdc.org/event/overbeck-lecture-june-5/ or by calling Hill Center at 202-549-4172.

Please note that the organizers suggest all guests arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the event. Seating will begin at 7:00 pm for those who hold reservations. Available seats will be released to guests on the wait list beginning at 7:15 pm. If you are unable to attend, please notify Hill Center so that another person can attend the lecture.

On October 28, 2023, CHRS will hold a free House Expo, featuring a wide variety of home service exhibitors and representatives of city agencies.
Can’t wait until then?  You can download the 2022 list of  exhibitor’s contact information, check out photos of the event and find links to exhibitors’ websites.

Department of Buildings (formerly DCRA) regulates construction in the District.  DOB’s website (dob.dc.gov) states:
Generally, the following are types of work require building permits:

• New construction
• Additions
• Demolition
• Construction of retaining walls, decks, fences, sheds, garages, and vaults
• Erection of signs and awnings

Any construction in the District of Columbia without required building permits is illegal. Illegal construction is a public danger; it can hurt people and property.

If you see illegal construction activity in the District of Columbia, please report it by submitting an Illegal Construction Request through dob.dc.gov/node/1616601 or call 311. Give the address and describe the illegal construction, and DOB will schedule an inspection to investigate.

Note: work in public space is regulated by DDOT.  

For the definition of public space, see DDOT’s Public Realm Design Manual on www.ddot.dc.gov.   Public space includes all the publicly-owned property between the property lines on a street, park, or other public property, as such property lines are shown on the records of the District, and includes any roadway, tree space, sidewalk, or parking between such property lines.

Public Parking Area: “Public Parking” means that area of public space devoted to open space, greenery, parks, or parking that lies between the property line, which may or may not coincide with the building restriction line, and the edge of the actual or planned sidewalk that is nearer to the property line, as the property line and sidewalk are shown on the records of the District. This area often includes spaces that appear to be front yards with private landscaping that create park-like settings on residential streets.

A public space permit is needed for the following:

• Dumpsters in public space
• Sidewalk construction and repair
• Flag poles, planter boxes, retaining walls and fences in public space

639 A St. SE – all that remains is the facade, following un-permitted demolition

Below you’ll find a few examples of work by participants in the Art Walk, September 9 & 10, 2023.

Tara Hamilton – Country Road

Erin Thompson – Studio Sample

Nan Raphael

Rindy O’Brien

Kimberly King – Magical Irises

Joann Lamicella Laboy

Karen Zens

Jay Gertsema

Allison Stettler

Gloria Tseng Fischer

Jan Zastrow

Karin Edgett

Donna Breslin

Steve Mabley – 272 Creole on 14th

Carolyn Rondthaler White Water Rush

Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill History announces a lecture: “Washington Navy Yard: Celebrating 224 Years in the Neighborhood” at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital (921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE), Monday, April 24, 2023 at 7:30 pm. The speaker will be Samuel J. Cox, (SES), RADM,  USN (Ret.), Director, Naval History and Heritage Command and Curator of the Navy.