The constant clash of history and modernism

Keeping it Unreal. Some Burleith neighbors say these two contemporary townhomes clash with the Northwest Washington community's character. Photo Credit: By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post.

This photo ran in the Post last week, in the real estate section article on Burleith: "Throwing Objections At Glass Houses: Burleith Weighs Turn to 'Historic' Designation." (I am constantly tweaking my search techniques to dig up the Post photos that run with an article in the printed edition but aren't included directly with the online version of the article.)

This is but one of many instances of why people need to think more carefully about creating neighborhood historic districts, as this is the only way to provide for mandatory review of design and demolition permits. Otherwise, property owners are covered by standard zoning regulations, which do not address design quality and appropriateness at all.

Index Keywords: historic-preservation