THE FOXHALL VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT

HistoricDistrictWelcome to one of Washington, DC’s, most charming and unique residential neighborhoods. Planned and developed in the 1920s and 1930s, Foxhall Village was recognized as an architectural triumph almost from the date construction began. To guarantee that the beauty of our homes will be maintained for generations to come, our community applied for, and in July 2007 was granted, designation as an historic district. That designation is officially recognized by both the District of Columbia and the National Park Service.

Today the more than three hundred homes that make up the Foxhall Village Historic District are permanently protected — see the map of the District. With Historic status comes a number of additional homeowner responsibilities concerning architectural changes to the exterior of our homes. Residents of the district should be aware of these requirements before beginning any project that could impact the appearance of their home. Specifically, all exterior architectural alterations and all building permits must be approved by the DC Historic Preservation Office.

Additionally, in an Historic District, certain projects require building permits that do not require building permits in non-designated areas. For example, replacement windows, front doors, and roofs require permits to ensure that the materials and design are historically appropriate. All new windows on street-facing elevations must be wood casements or wood double-hung per the original design. Roofs that were originally slate must be replaced with appropriate slate. And front doors can only be replaced with doors of identical design and materials. Given that the materials used by the original builders were of such high quality, we encourage residents to consider restoration, rather than replacement of significant architectural features. Most importantly, homeowners should be aware that if they fail to obtain proper permits and carry out inappropriate work on the exterior of their home, they may be required to redo that work at their own expense.

The DC Historic Preservation Office is available to work closely with homeowners and can recommend companies that can carry out approved exterior work. The Historic Preservation Committee of the FCCA also can provide assistance and keeps lists of qualified contractors. If you are planning any changes that will impact the architecture of your home, particularly the front façade, please be sure to contact our neighborhood liaison at DCHPO, Gabriela Gutowski at (202) 442-8839 or by email. She can provide technical assistance and answer any questions you have about the regulations. If you have any other questions, contact Paul DonVito by phone at 202-625-0329 or by email.

The historic designation of Foxhall Village will ensure that the unique charm that makes this community special will be maintained for generations to come. Thanks for your support and for the continued support of our neighbors as we work to make that goal a reality.

Paul DonVito,
Chairman, Foxhall Village Historic Preservation Committee

 

RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS

  • Foxhall Village Design Guidelines: This booklet outlines how DCHPO regulations impact our historic district. It provides a good starting point for any homeowner looking to understand how the regulations specifically impact our community and how best to approach a project being considered.  Please note that these are general guidelines.  The DCHPO website includes more in-depth guidelines as they apply to specific alterations such as windows, doors and roofs.
  • The DC Historic Preservation Office website is a great resource for information and relevant regulations, services and assistance provided by DCHPO for residents of historic districts.  It includes biographies of the DCHPO Board members, enforcement information, detailed requirements and regulations tailored to specific projects and much more.
  • The Foxhall Village Window and Door Guidelines document was put together by the Historic Preservation Committee of the FCCA and has been approved by DCHPO.  It includes specific information about window restoration and replacement, including a selection of manufacturers of appropriate replacement windows and doors.

Contacts

  • Gabriela Gutowski, DCHPO Neighborhood Liaison, (202) 442-8839
  • Paul DonVito, Chairman, Foxhall Village Historic Preservation Committee, (202) 625-0329.
  • Scott Polk, Foxhall Village Historic Preservation Committee.
  • Bob Siciliano, Foxhall Village Historic Preservation Committee.
  • MaryAnn Griffin, Foxhall Village Historic Preservation Committee.