Armsleigh Park Neighbors

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HISTORIC DESIGNATION --
Get the Facts.  Protect Your Rights.
 

A small local historical society will soon decide whether to file an application to place the “Armsleigh Park” neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C. under historic designation with the D.C. Historic Preservation Office.

 

Living in a historic district might sound attractive.  But having one’s home encumbered within the legal framework of historic designation would impose real costs, limitations and burdens on homeowners.

 

Until recently, few “Armsleigh Park” neighbors knew much about this initiative.  Even now, few understand its true implications.  As more people have become better informed, the more concern there is in the neighborhood about what it would mean to our homes and our rights.

 

Concerned neighbors have conducted research on this issue over the past few weeks and want to make sure that everyone has the chance to get the facts. This Website is intended to serve as a central resource of information to help accomplish that goal.  It will be updated and added to as more information becomes available.

 

For contributions and feedback, please contact: armsleighparkinfo@hotmail.com.


Important Community Meeting -- October 7

 

Promoters of historic designation for the “Armsleigh Park” neighborhood have scheduled a meeting on October 7 at 7:00 p.m. at the Tenleytown Public Library.  Acting chief of the D.C. Historic Preservation Office, David Maloney, has been invited.

 

D.C. regulations governing historic districts do not require a majority vote by affected property owners.  Unless you get involved, decisions affecting your property will be made by The Tenleytown Historical Society’s five-person board of directors.

 

Get the facts now about the real costs that historic designation would impose on you and your home. Make your voice be heard.  Please attend this important meeting.



Key Issues

 

  • Insufficient Information --  Homeowners have not been adequately informed, consulted or educated about the real costs of historic designation. 
  • Loss of Personal Rights --  Is it right that a small, self-selected group should decide to encumber your property in ways that could be personally harmful to you? 
  • Loss of Choice -- Under historic designation, you would lose control over what you can do with your home.  Decisions would be made by local government regulators and review committees. You would be forced to comply; you can't opt out.  
  • Increased Costs -- Your home improvement costs would increase significantly.
  • New Burdens  -- You would face significant new burdens in time and effort to make home improvements. 
  • Negative Financial Impact -- The resale value of your home could decline.
  • Unwarranted Intervention – There is not a serious threat of our homes being taken over by developers to build "McMansions."  The stratagem of solving this supposed problem – locking the neighborhood down under historic designation – is unwarranted and unnecessary.