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  • March 28, 2024 1:28 PM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    HCCDC Statement on Conservancy’s Historic District nomination

    Adopted by the board of directors 27 March 2024

    Historic Chevy Chase DC does not support the current nomination to create a historic district in Chevy Chase DC.

    Historic Chevy Chase DC has celebrated and documented the history of this community for more than 30 years. It is governed by an active and working board of directors whose members deeply care about the look and feel of the neighborhood. There have been nearly 70 board members in its 34-year history.

    We base our decision not to support the nomination on decades-long engagement with preservation issues in our Chevy Chase DC neighborhood that began with the founding of our organization in the early 1990s and continues to this day.

    HCCDC organized the first and only other campaign for a historic district from 2004 to 2008. That campaign was based on an inventory of buildings in a broader area and narrower period of significance than the Conservancy’s. Meetings were organized block by block in the affected area in order to explain the rationale for the proposed district as well as to listen to neighbors’ concerns. ANC 3-4/G conducted a survey that resulted in a high rate of response and an overwhelming rejection of the plan by a margin of 77 to 22 percent. We listened to our neighbors, respected their opinions, and decided not to file the application.

    Nothing has changed about the nature of the neighborhood since then or the merits of the historic district. Indeed, we note that the Conservancy’s current nomination seems copied in large measure from the HCCDC 2008 proposal.

    HCCDC has learned something valuable from its engagement with the community over the last 15 years. We learned that preservation efforts in this neighborhood do not require formal government action and oversight. We discovered that our neighbors have both the means and the desire to maintain and further develop the eclectic styles that have defined Chevy Chase since 1907. The Conservancy’s application rightly celebrates this eclecticism but fails to understand that this genius lives on in the choices that are made by the people who live here. The neighborhood has developed organically and HCCDC wishes to support and preserve this spirit. Chevy Chase DC does not need to be saved from itself.

    As noted, the Conservancy bases its application on the original HCCDC application, however, the rationale for restricting its geographic scope and extending the period of significance is unclear at best. HCCDC is sympathetic to preservation. We have approached preservation in a balanced manner, proposing protection for worthy sites: the Arcade, Chevy Chase Bank, the Avalon Theater. We have taken an active role as well in discussions with the National Park Service with respect to Chevy Chase Circle. HCCDC has helped install over 300 plaques on houses in the neighborhood. Recently we have launched a program restoring neighborhood call boxes with art and text. In short, Chevy Chase DC already is an active community engaged in preservation work. Given this level of interest and engagement, we do not believe a blanket regulatory approach is required in Chevy Chase.

    Since the 2008 campaign, HCCDC has led the community in discovering the racist origins of our map. Along with the rest of the country, Chevy Chase DC has become more attentive to the racial dimension of American history. The HCCDC board became much more focused on how this history played out locally. It is undeniably the case that the displacement of African Americans formed a central motif in the formation of this neighborhood, creating a demographic legacy that lives on into the present. HCCDC took its role as community leader seriously in rediscovering and acknowledging this history and its local consequences. This work is also a project of preservation.

    HCCDC is on record supporting the aims of the Small Area Plan exercise undertaken by the DC Office of Planning 2021-2023, i.e., creating a more diverse, vibrant, welcoming community. As a matter of priority HCCDC supports this vision, specifically the inclusion of income-integrated housing. Until we have progress on this project, a more inclusive Chevy Chase is substantially more important than the addition of a 38th residential historic district.

    We trust that the HPRB will take seriously its mission to act in the interests of the city as a whole in this matter. This is how HCCDC is assessing the nomination and our role. Though our neighborhood’s contribution would be modest, we believe it would send an important signal to other areas west of Rock Creek Park that every neighborhood should be taking part in this effort. In weighing competing priorities, we believe that historic district designation at this time would have the unfortunate effect of appearing to perpetuate the racial, ethnic, and religious exclusivity on the basis of which Chevy Chase was originally conceived and executed.

    The timing and content of the Conservancy’s historic district nomination make it clear that opposition to the civic core redevelopment is at the heart of its mobilization efforts. Accordingly, this is a major test of the priorities underlying the redevelopment of the civic core on Connecticut Avenue. By extending the period of significance to 1964, the nomination would make the Wells Fargo Bank at 5701 Connecticut a Contributing Structure; demolition would be prohibited, and a likely site for redevelopment of the east side of Connecticut Avenue -- for mixed use, shops and housing -- would be preempted. The timing and scope of the Conservancy’s proposal is at odds with the other widely debated and discussed improvements for the neighborhood. We believe the spirit of progress and renewal demands inclusion of affordable housing as foreseen by the Small Area Plan, supported by ANC 3-4G, and adopted by the DC Council. These improvements would be imperiled by adoption of the Conservancy’s proposals.

    In sum, we conclude that a historic district as defined in the Conservancy’s nomination is not warranted or welcomed.

    • A historic district in the specific circumstances of Chevy Chase would undermine the pattern of organic, eclectic development that already exists.
    • With HCCDC, preservation efforts already have an active advocate in the neighborhood.
    • In balancing priorities, redevelopment of the Connecticut Avenue corridor in Chevy Chase should contribute to resolving the housing crisis with affordable units, a strategic goal of the DC government with which we agree.

     


  • March 25, 2024 4:20 PM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    This report covers  February 23, 2024 through March 22, 2024. This is a comprehensive report for Chevy Chase DC. 

    There are 33 homes in this report: 13 Active listings, 3 under contingent contract, 7 pending settlement,  9 closed/settled listings, and 1 coming soon.

    Here is a link to the full report

    March 2024 Real Estate report.pdf


  • March 22, 2024 9:48 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

     The video recording of the panel discussion on Making Sense of Senior Living Options is now available. 

    Go to:

    https://vimeo.com/showcase/7417495

    Held on March 22, 2024

  • March 21, 2024 3:11 PM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    Positive Aging Sourcebook: The leading resource for senior housing, aging in place, and professional resources

    https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/about

    This book was recommended as a source for detailed information on senior living housing in the DC metro area at the March 20 Panel discussion on "Making Sense of Senior Living Options" sponsored by Northwest Neighbors Village and CCC

  • March 07, 2024 8:53 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    You can see the RFP (request for proposal) and other documents related to the development of the Chevy Chase Civic Site on the DMPED (Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development) website. 

    https://dmped.dc.gov/node/541662

    https://dmped.dc.gov/page/business-development

    Other updated information is available in the Chevy Chase News and Notes March issue.  https://chevychasenews.com/

  • February 25, 2024 9:28 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    This report covers January 11, 2024 through February 23, 2024

    There are 24 homes in this report: 8 Active listings, 1 under contingent contract, 8 pending settlement, and 7 closed/settled listings.

    Here is a link to the full report

    February 2024 Real Estate Report.pdf

  • February 23, 2024 12:45 PM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

  • February 05, 2024 10:19 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    Summer Camps Are Available For Youth Ages 3-13, Including Swimming, Basketball, Performing Arts, and More

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are reminding families that the summer camp lottery registration will open on Monday, February 12 and close on Monday, February 26. This year, DPR is offering summer camps for youth ages 3-13 at more than 50 DPR recreation centers across all eight wards. 

    “The Department of Parks and Recreation is our agency that brings the fun, and that is especially true at our summer camps,” said Mayor Bowser. “We implemented our summer camp lottery last year to address the summer camp scramble and to make our registration system more inclusive and equitable. We are looking forward to another fantastic summer camp experience and it starts with the lottery.”

    For the second year, families will register through the summer camp lottery system. The summer lottery system was established by DPR in 2023 to create a more inclusive and equitable registration system for enrolling youth in summer camps.

    DPR summer camps will operate this year in four sessions from June 26 to August 16, with before and after care also available for families. As with all DPR programs, reduced rates are available for qualifying families, but families must apply for reduced rates before February 26 to qualify. Families can register online for the summer camp lottery starting February 12 and learn more at DPRsummercamp.com.

    “I am extremely excited about all we have in store for campers this summer,” said DPR Director Thennie Freeman. “The entire team at DPR is working tirelessly to ensure equity through our lottery process and create dynamic camp programs for children of all ages. DPR summer camps promise to be filled with exciting activities, learning opportunities, memorable moments and a few surprises.”

    Residents can also receive in-person assistance every day (except Sundays and President’s Day) for individuals who would like to register for the lottery in-person. A full list of locations and dates for in-person assistance is available at DPRsummercamp.com.

    DPR will also hold two virtual information sessions for residents to learn more about summer camps and the lottery system. The first information session will take place on Wednesday, February 7 at 12:00 p.m. and the other will take place at 6:30 p.m. on the same day. Both sessions will cover the same information and one of the presentations will be posted online for any residents who did not get a chance to attend. More details about the information sessions are available at DPRsummercamp.com.

    DPR summer camps for 2024 will include:

    ·  Little Explorers - Ages 3-5: Your little explorer will enjoy DPR’s signature day camp for little ones hosted at DPR recreation centers.

    ·  Discovery Camp - Ages 6-10: Children enjoy DPR's signature day camp hosted at DPR recreation centers.

    ·  Multi-Sport Camp - Ages 8-13: Day camp with a focus on sports skills and teamwork, hosted at DPR recreation centers.

    ·  Nothing But Net Camp - Ages 8-13: Enjoy a week of polishing up your basketball skills along with additional enrichment activities.

    ·  Cheer-nastics Camp - Ages 8-12: Join us for an exhilarating summer experience at CHEER-NASTICS camp for ages 8-12! Unleash your child's energy as they learn exciting cheer routines, perfect gymnastic flips, and build lasting friendships in a fun and supportive environment.

    ·  Aqua Day Camp - Ages 6-13: Campers will be instructed on breathing techniques, swim stroke mechanics and water safety awareness. Advanced activities will depend on the pace of the group. Each session will conclude with a swim meet.

    ·  Future EGOT Performing Arts Camp - Ages 6-10: Performing Arts camp offers participants the chance to explore their artistic side with this exciting camp! Learn the basics of a variety of performing arts genres, including dance, theatre, and spoken word. Share your talents with other camp participants and learn from each other as well. Be a star with DPR!

    ·  Little STEAM Engine - Ages 3-5: Join us for this introductory, age-appropriate camp highlighting science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Campers will explore science, music technology, art appreciation, and other activities.

    ·  Full STEAM Ahead - Ages 6-10: Join us for an action-packed camp focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math. Campers will explore coding, music technology, art appreciation, and other activities.

    ·  Kitchen Confidential Culinary Camp - Ages 8-11: Sharpen your culinary skills, while learning about different cuisines, cultures, and customs. Develop healthy lifestyle tips and develop personal growth skills under instruction from experts in the food industry. Discover how fun and easy healthy cooking can be... and learn new skills that you can showcase to your family and friends!

    DPR also offers Therapeutic Recreation summer camps for children with and without developmental and intellectual disabilities. An application and assessment must be completed prior to enrollment. Details and a link to the application can be found at DPRsummercamp.com.

    To learn more about the summer camps available and register through the summer camp lottery starting February 12, visit 
    DPRsummercamp.com.


  • February 05, 2024 10:17 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    February 2, 2024

    CONTACT:

    Mekdy Alemayehu (OP) 202.412.7828; mekdy.alemayehu2@dc.gov

    DC Office of Planning Launches an Interactive Website Featuring 300 Black History Sites Across DC

    (WASHINGTON, DC) – In celebration of Black History Month, the DC Office of Planning (OP) launched a new website featuring an interactive map of 300 important Black history sites in the District. Residents can visit Black History Sites: Washington, DC to explore and learn about the people, places, and events that have shaped the history and culture of the nation's capital.

    “Our city has been the home of many incredible Black leaders throughout its history. It has also been the scene of events and movements that shaped the culture in this city, across the nation, and around the world,” said Anita Cozart, Director of OP. “Celebrate Black History Month by exploring our local history and be inspired by those whose shoulders we stand on.”

    The Black History Sites website features a wealth of information, historic images, and location data that serves as a tour guide for visiting sites across the city. These sites span the District's history from 1791, through the Civil War and Civil Rights eras, to 1974 when DC gained Home Rule, and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. They highlight the social, cultural, and political movements that are central to DC’s heritage.

    The digital tour sites include well-known places like Howard Theatre where Black artists made their mark on the world to lesser-known civil rights sites, like the site of the former Childs Restaurant at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NW, where in 1949, 80 activists staged a sit-in to protest segregation policies. The sites include many of the schools, businesses, churches, recreational centers, communities, and homes where Black Washingtonians studied, worked, worshipped, played and consistently fought for their rights.

    For more information about the DC Office of Planning, please visit planning.dc.gov.


  • January 12, 2024 10:54 AM | Jory Barone (Administrator)

    This report covers November 11, 2023 through January 11, 2024

    There are 16 homes listed in this report.  5 active listings, 1 under contract, 6 pending settlement, and 4 closed.

    Click on the link to see the complete report.

    January 2024 Real Estate Activity.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHEVY CHASE DC DAY

Chevy Chase Community Association

P.O. Box 42210 

Washington, DC  20015


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