CHRS Board Member, Joanna Kendig, presented a virtual Preservation Café, DC Water and Sewer Infrastructure, Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 6:30 pm. Recording of event.

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

Molly Acorn, Founder & Creator, Mantel House DC, presented “Antique Mantels with Modern Sensibilities” at a free, virtual Preservation Café, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. View a recording of the event.

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

Tara Hamilton – Country Road

Jenna Irwin

Junko Sugimoto – Cherry Blossom Room

Rindy O’Brien

Kimberly King – Magical Irises

Joann Lamicella Laboy

Karen Zens – Totem

Jay Gertsema

Allison Stettler

Gloria Tseng Fischer

Jan Zastrow

Sarah Robertson- wearable art

Donna Breslin

Steve Mabley – 272 Creole on 14th

Carolyn Rondthaler  – White Water Rush

Alan Braley

Ragnar Thoresen

Martin Karcher

Ed Wilczynski

Mike Newman

Stephanie Genco

Maria Helena Carey – 11th and East Capitol St. SE

Steve Kunin

Betsy Damos – Colored Rose

Maria Victoria Checa Water Lily Refuge

Ting Wang

Ella Brett-Turner

Ida Mitchell

Lisa Bernstein – Red Door with Roses

Amy Nevel – crocheted rugs from recycled linens

Nguyet Vuong

Susan Sherman

Rachel Trego

Kristin Tata

Brent Meier – Chain Link

Sufie Berger

Elizabeth Nelson

Sarah Buffaloe

Sarah Rouse

Kasse Andrews-Weller

Barbara Johnson

Erin Thompson – Studio Sample

Carole Hirschmann

K.S. Brenowitz

Brenda Chandler

Heather Beauchamp-Knight

Heather Duncan

Raina Nelson

Karin Edgett

Ben Lowenthal

D’Angela Williams

Nan Raphael

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.

In anticipation of the 66th anniversary of the Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour, the Society sponsored a photo contest – “The Capitol Hill Home”. We are pleased to announce the winners:  Congratulations to Nan Raphael and Bobbi Krengel. View photos…

Lights-Out Hour DC, which coincides with international Earth Hour, is a voluntary event coordinated by the DC chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association. To participate, dim or extinguish non-essential lights for one hour beginning at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 25.

Eastern Market ca 1983

 Robert Pohl, local historian, author, and tour guide,  presented “Celebrating Eastern Market for 150 Years,” a talk about Eastern Market – the building and its history, at an in-person Preservation Café, March 30, 2023, in the Eastern Market North Hall – operating continuously since it first opened in 1873.