Board & Committees CHRS Projects Community News & Issues Capitol Hill History & Historic District Coming Events Publications Resources & Links About CHRS Become a Member Contact CHRS Database of Historic Building Permits, Squares 1000–1125 Site index © Copyright 2001-2008, Capitol Hill Restoration Society. All rights reserved. Last updated February 3, 2008. Website hosted by DC Access.

Letter to the WBJ Editor about "Demolition by Neglect"
of Shotgun House in CHHD

February 7, 2008

Editor
Washington Business Journal
1555 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, Virginia 22209-2405

Dear Editor:

The January 25 article, “Landowner Battles District Preservationists,” uses the effort of Hill property owner Larry Quillian to clear his Pennsylvania Avenue property located within the Capitol Hill Historic District as a way to bash local preservation efforts and especially the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS.) 

Mr. Quillian’s attempts to tear down his properties through “demolition by neglect” and to rezone a house located in the middle of a residential block (the shotgun house) are long-term and notorious.  His multiple failures to make a “deal” extend back many years.  His most recent contract with JPI fell through largely because of changes in the market rather than the minimal reduction of units (48 to 47) required due to Historic Preservation Review Board concerns.  It was a project supported by CHRS both in zoning and historic preservation processes.  But whenever a deal falls through, Mr. Quillian blames CHRS and historic preservation law for his misadventures.

CHRS is proud of its work in creating the Capitol Hill Historic District and DC’s historic preservation law.  Those efforts have saved and revitalized one of the largest row house neighborhoods in the country; attracted families back to the city; enabled commercial and retail investment; undergirded the creation of the successful Main Street program along Barracks Row/8^th Street SE; and saved Eastern Market.  Our efforts have been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and through the American Planning Association’s recent selection of Capitol Hill as one of the ten most livable neighborhoods in America.

Many residents live rich and fulfilling lives on the Hill and many investors, including Larry Quillian, have become wealthy because of the contributions of historic preservation.  Perhaps in the future one of your more objective reporters will write about those success stories.

Sincerely yours,

Richard N. Wolf
President

Capitol Hill Restoration Society
P.O. Box 15264
Washington DC 20003-0264

202-543-0425
CapHRS@aol.com