Spring 2001

   Ltr. from the President
   Recorder of Deeds BuIlding
   30th Anniversary
   City Tours: Summer in the City
   A City of Neighborhoods
   Heritage Day
   St. Elizabeth's Concert
   Photographic Survey Underway
   Staff, Officers, Acknowlegements

   View the archive

Spring 2001

Letter from the President

Letter from the President

As we mark the League's thirtieth anniversary, I find myself contemplating the many challenges faced by DC preservationists. From the drive to develop the city's historic commercial core during these times of economic prosperity, to the neglected and abandoned homes in older neighborhoods, there are many fronts where our work to protect the city's historic resources is needed. At the same time, I cannot help but celebrate.

In the thirty years since the League's founding, there have been many accomplishments for which we can be proud. Have no fear, I will not use this space to catalog the buildings saved, the legislation passed, or the educational programs held in the years since the birth of Don't Tear It Down. I would like to note briefly, however, a few recent achievements, which should be commended.

In the past year, the League has:

• Organized a free conference, filled to capacity by residents of all eight wards, to strengthen the City's preservation plan;
  
  
• Successfully encouraged the City Council to remove hurdles to the landmark designation process and adopt legislation prohibiting "demolition by neglect
  
  
• Increased attention to preservation issues east of the Anacostia River, holding a concert and tour at St. Elizabethís and a tour of historic Union Town; and
  
  
• Participated in landmark designation and subsequent litigation to protect the Webster School from demolition.

In addition to these public activities, the Board of Trustees, as part of an ongoing strategic planning process, has adopted a new organizational structure for the League. We have developed exciting plans to improve advocacy, education, and assistance activities, provide greater opportunities for membership participation, and increase the effectiveness of our staff. You'll hear more about at this work at our annual meeting and in future issues of the DC Preservation Advocate.

I applaud our Trustees for their leadership, our staff for their dedication, our members and sponsors for their support, and last, but certainly not least, our volunteers. Be it drafting landmark nominations, writing articles for this newsletter, or labeling invitations, the men and women who have energetically and enthusiastically given their time and talents to Inside this DCPL never cease to amaze and Issue inspire. I hope you will all take a moment to congratulate yourselves on this milestone in our history.

Now let's get back to work!

             T. David Bell, AIA