HPRB Denies Landmark Application for West Heating Plant

Rejecting the recommendation of the staff of the Historical Preservation Office, the Historical Preservation Review Board denied the application to landmark the West Heating Plant. While not unprecedented, it is nonetheless rare for the board to diverge from the staff’s conclusions. But like most opinions regarding the West Heating Plant, it seems that a conviction that the building is ugly caused the board to ignore fundamental preservation principles.

Two of the board members voted to landmark the building. According to the report, they cited the building’s place in Georgetown’s industrial past and how it uniquely stands as an example specifically of the architecture of the federal government.

The three other members, however, weren’t persuaded. For instance, according to WBJ Graham Davidson said he “didn’t see how a case could be made for its preservation as either a strong addition to the residential portion of Georgetown, its waterfront and architectural composition.” (Funny aside about Davidson: he once testified in favor of landmarking this unremarkable building, perhaps because his firm designed it.)

Another deciding factor appears to be the support the project has received from the community. The Citizens Association and the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park both wrote in support. As a board member of CAG, GM did not support to the group’s position, which boiled down to “why landmark buildings if all buildings in Georgetown are already protected by the Old Georgetown Act.” It’s a true statement, as far as it goes, but it’s probably not a statement that would be made if the proposed landmark was actually admired.

Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park are biased completely, seeing as they are to receive a wonderful new park if the project goes forward.

As GM has had conversations with people about the project, almost to a person the decision to allow demolition stems from either a dislike of the building or a desire to receive the benefit of the new building and park. The ultimate decision having been made, the logic to ignore historical preservation is then back-filled in. Suddenly hurdles to preservation appear that are never applied in other situations.

Just look at the average list of complaints drafted to object to other projects on historical preservation grounds. You can’t build that new extension because it’s not in keeping with the “historical building form” of the block. Or, don’t build on the empty space on your lot because it destroys historical “open space”. Or, don’t add a floor to a commercial building because historically there wasn’t one before. Etc.

That myriad projects can be objected to because they might create a slightly longer shadow on a neighbor’s garden, while a massive and architecturally distinct building like the West Heating Plant is bereft of defenders calls into question the integrity of the entire historical preservation project. If all we’re doing to stopping projects we don’t want and supporting projects we do, let’s just call it that and drop the charade.

As for the West Heating Plant, this isn’t the end of the review. Several hurdles remain, including the Old Georgetown Board. But GM has no doubt that otherwise stout defenders of historical protection will continue to look the other way as the wrecking balls are brought in.