Historic preservation means a lot of different things

First photo: 266-268 Carroll Avenue, Takoma, DC, with the restored neon sign. Second photo: restored painted billboard on the east elevation of the building. Third photo: the rehabilitated building, before the installation of the neon sign. Fourth photo: art exhibit displayed in the storefront window of Electrik Maid, which is doing a better job of "merchanding" its windows since the neon sign was restored.

Under Mayor Fenty, Councilmember Bowser, and the Neighborhood Investment Fund, a small grant ($50,000) was made to the Old Takoma Business Association (which runs a Main Street commercial district revitalization program in both the DC and MD sides of Takoma) for facade improvement of DC commercial properties in Takoma.

The restoration and rehanging this neon sign was one of the projects. The sign had been removed in its entirety a number of years ago. The sign restoration project was initiated by the Electrik Maid community organization independent of the property owner. But that application initiated a discussion with the property owner that in turn led to the property owner reinvesting in the property in a significant fashion, correcting problems that had been lingering for years.