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The D.C. Preservation League

Our Mission
The mission of the D.C. Preservation League is to preserve, protect, and enhance the historic built environment of Washington, D.C., through advocacy and education. By protecting these resources, the League helps to preserve the city's human scale and evidence of its physical and social history, thereby contributing to the city's economic vitality and building an appreciation of the city's history and a sense of community and place.

Who We Are
The D.C. Preservation League was founded as "Don't Tear It Down" in 1971 to prevent the demolition of historic buildings in Washington's downtown. The organization's early efforts focused on saving the Old Post Office and the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Since prevailing in those struggles, DCPL has gone on to save more than 100 individual historic buildings, many of which were slated for demolition. DCPL has also surveyed and initiated the designation and preservation of several historic neighborhoods.

DCPL has also conducted six important thematic inventories of specific building types throughout the city, such as apartment buildings, banks, office buildings, schools, transportation-related resources, and warehouses. These surveys contribute substantially to a growing body of documentation on local history and provide the basis for landmark designation and protection.

DCPL sponsors lecture series, tours, and citywide preservation conferences that have attracted hundreds of people. DCPL has organized the Coalition for Greater Preservation Enforcement, now the Historic Districts Coalition, a group of more than 30 civic organizations concerned with the District's enforcement of existing laws and regulations for protected neighborhoods.

DCPL is a 501(c)(3) membership organization governed by a working board of 20 civic activists and administered by a small staff. DCPL's support comes primarily from the contributions of a loyal membership and from corporations and foundations concerned about the preservation of the built environment.

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Meeting the Challenge.
At a time when the city is experiencing an economic revival and development pressures are intense, DCPL's work is more critical than ever. The preservation of neighborhoods and the urban core--visited by more than 22 million tourists annually--is its highest priority.

DCPL must persuade decision makers that the city's historic urban fabric is its greatest asset and a means of attracting new residents, stimulating the economy, and increasing job opportunities. DCPL must remain vigilant and continue to make the case to city leaders that preservation and economic development go hand-in-hand.

In the year 2000, the League must step up its efforts to carry out its mission on several fronts. Our goals for the year are as follows:

1. Educate the Public.
The League will strengthen the commitment to preservation among neighborhoods, the press, the business community, and the city government. The tools we will use include the following:

• our new Web site
• our newsletter, which is mailed quarterly to members and important decision makers
• our ongoing lecture and tour programs
• our work with other local organizations in the development of a citywide cultural tourism program

2. Identify, Document, and Protect Historic Resources
The League will continue to identify and document threatened historic resources.

Through our annual "Most Endangered Places" program, we draw public attention to significant historic resources threatened by demolition, substantial alteration, or neglect. In addition to publicizing the threat, the League creates multidisciplinary, community-based teams to develop site-specific solutions for each property on the list.

Working at the request of city agencies and neighborhood groups, the League will continue to document historic neighborhoods and individual historic resources. We will nominate them for designation as local landmarks and listing in the National Register of Historic Places in an attempt to bring these properties under the protection of the District's landmark law and the federal Historic Preservation Act.

Through our Issues Committee, we will continue to monitor and influence public- and private-sector decisions that affect historic building.

3. Provide Training and Technical Assistance to Neighborhood Activists.
Every other year, the League organizes a citywide preservation conference in which community activists share information on practical solutions to neighborhood preservation problems.

DCPL's staff provides technical assistance and other concrete support, such as public testimony; assistance conducting surveys, completing grant applications, or developing nominations for designation of historic resources; and financial assistance, on an ad hoc basis to neighborhood groups and individuals.

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