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Old DC Courthouse
(Indiana Avenue Facade)
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Upcoming Events |
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Walking Tour of
St. Elizabeths West Campus
DCPL and the General Services Administration (GSA) hold monthly two-hour walking tours of
St. Elizabeths West Campus that are open to the public. The campus, where construction began in 1852, is a National Historic Landmark.
Interested in learning about future tours?Please email rsvp@dcpreservation.org to be placed on the list.
District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation
DCPL in cooperation with the DC Historic Preservation Office/Office of Planning will host the 2009 District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation.
The 2009 awards program will honor significant contributions by individuals, organizations, and businesses promoting historic preservation in the District of Columbia. The event will draw people from all over the city to focus on the role preservation plays in shaping the character of Washington’s unique neighborhoods and its historic downtown.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
6:30 PM Ceremony
7:30 PM Reception
Business Attire
Free and Open to the Public
423 E Street, NW
Judiciary Square Metro (Red Line)
Photo Identification Required
Space is limited and reservations are required. Please rsvp by email to rsvp@dcpreservation.org or by phone to 202.783.5144.
DCPL would like to thank the following sponsors of this event:
 
Gould Property Company
Forrester Construction Company
Hensel Phelps Construction Company
US Bancorp Community Development Corporation
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Community Programs |
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A Community Presentation
Historic Buildings of H Street, NE
Join architectural historians from the firm EHT Traceries, Inc. who will be presenting the results of the H Street Historic Building Survey to the community. The presentation will be held in the "Great Hall" of the Atlas, one of H Street's signature buildings. This is your opportunity to learn about H Street architecture from the pros. The evening will begin at 6:30 with light refreshments.
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street, NE
November 10th, 6:30-8:00 PM
Do you have community events that you would like included on the DCPL Calendar? Email them to rebecca@dcpreservation.org | |
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September 2009
Citywide Preservation Conference
On Friday, September 25th and Saturday, 26th, DCPL was joined by over 100 members and nonmembers for a Citywide Preservation Conference: Meeting Preservation Challenges at the Carnegie Institute of Science, 16th and P Streets, NW.
Participants attended sessions related to developing a more diverse and robust preservation movement in Washington, lessons learned in establishing new historic districts, ensuring the preservation of publically owned properties, and DC's green ordinance.
Attendees also had a first look at the recently released DC Modern context study and learned about evaluating the significance of mid-century-modern structures.
Saturday sessions included evaluating the use of substitute materials, the meaning of historic designation, and tours of a LEED-certified rowhouse converted to offices and the historic Old Naval Hospital on Capitol Hill.
Following the conference, attendees headed down 16th Street to St. John's Church on Lafayette Square to DCPL's Annual Membership Meeting. John Bellingham, DCPL's President made remarks about DCPL's continuing committment to the city's historic resources and encouraged members to give generously of their time and money to support the organization. Following his remarks, tours of the sanctuary were given by Monarc Construction's Badise Nolte, Richard Parsons, and Tri-Minh Phan, all of whom worked on the rehabilitation of the church.
A special thank you to our conference sponsors: DC Historic Preservation Office/DC Office of Planning, Monarc Construction, National Trust for Historic Preservation's Dorothea de Schweinitz Preservation Fund, the Humanities Council of Washington, DC.
Click here to see photos of the Conference and Annual Meeting at DCPL's flickr page.
Easement Donation to L’Enfant Approved
US Tax Court Confirms Deductibility Citing Trust's Affirmative Enforcement
By: Carol Goldman, President of the L'Enfant Trust
On September 15, 2009, the US Tax Court handed down its decision in Simmons v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2009-208). Mrs. Simmons had donated two easements to The L'Enfant Trust, one in 2003 and one in 2004, claiming charitable contribution deductions. The deductions were entirely disallowed by the Internal Revenue Service, which asserted that the donations were valueless and that in any event they failed to comply with statutory requirements for deductible conservation easements because of various provisions in the easement deed.
The Court held unambiguously that the easements on Mrs. Simmons properties are valid conservation easements, and it struck down all of the IRS arguments that various provisions in The L'Enfant Trust's deeds made Mrs. Simmons' gifts non-deductible. The Court also made clear “that the easements granted do affect the fair market value of the subject properties,” and rejected as not “credible” the IRS’s expert opinion to the contrary. The Court came close to "splitting the difference" between the deduction Mrs. Simmons had claimed and the zero valuation asserted by the IRS appraiser, finding that the easements resulted in a 5% reduction in the values of the subject properties. This reduction, the Court explained, "stems from the heightened financial burdens of an eased façade and L’Enfant’s affirmative enforcement of its easements."
Previously, The L’Enfant Trust advised donors of the IRS’s vigorous campaign against conservation easements. It is unclear whether the IRS will abandon its pursuit of these issues given the Simmons case. However, the Court’s decision should provide DC property owners comfort that donations of conservation easements to The L'Enfant Trust, and similar organizations with a proven record of affirmative easement enforcement, will allow owners to take federal tax deductions.
Are you an Advocate?
Join our new e-advocacy network to receive periodic legislative alerts designed to give you the tools and information you need to advocate for historic preservation. To join, send an email to advocacy@dcpreservation.org with complete contact information.
Interested in Volunteering?
Call the office or send an email.Click here to learn more about DCPL committees and other volunteer opportunities.
Raise Money for DCPL while shopping on-line!
It's easy. Go to iGive, select the DC Preservation League, and a portion of what you spend on purchases from retailers like GAP, Home Depot, and Best Buy will be donated to DCPL!
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Click here to view our page.
Are you a member of DCPL? Become a Member or Renew Today at www.dcpreservation.org/join
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