Hogwash! I'll put my Smart Growth credentials up against anyone's! Let's start with 1988-1991 -- you wouldn't even BE a downtown rez if a very small group of us, including preservationists like Sally Berk and Steve Callcott, had not fought (and I mean FOUGHT) a two year battle against virtually the entire development community and most of their zoning law firms to get the zoning overlay in place that requires Downtown housing, arts and retail, as well as preservation. It also substantially increased density. And Tersh Boasberg, a major preservationist, was the deciding vote on the Zoning Commission.

Then try reading the new Comprehensive Plan (subtitled Growing an Inclusive City), and look at the Smart Growth zoning that the Office of Planning put in place when I was there, for areas like The Yards and the Ballpark District, or look at the numerous PUD's that OP supported that were huge fights with NIMBYs. Lastly, I'll just mention the scars from fighting the NIMBY's for the Upper Wisconsin Avenue Corridor Study.

Please know your facts before you cast aspersions.

And while I'm at it, let me say that the notion that preservation is inconsistent with economic development and smart growth is just wrong-headed. Which is not to say that there aren't several who have tried to use historic preservation arguments when what they were really trying to do is stop a project. But all you have to do is look at the area of Downtown from 11th to 6th and D to Eye, and you see many projects that have preserved historic buildings, (sometimes just facades, true), incorporating them into high-rise buildings, that, by virtue of the historic buildings at street level, have created a vibrance and quality of place that is extraordinary, and also extremely successful economically. Some examples include: Karchem's Gallup Building/Masonic Temple, Jemal's Atlantic Building, Jemal's Ventana, Gund's The Lansburgh's, JPI's Square 457, Carr's Terrell Place, and I could go on. In addition, special merit conditions, under our Historic Preservation Law, many of which I personally participated in, gave us the E Street Cinemas, housing at 7th and E, below-market artists' studios in the 900 block of E and F Streets, and a requirement for a club or live entertainment space in the old 9:30 club space. Really Smart Growth is more than density -- it is creating intensity AND a sense of place, and preservation can play an important role in that process.

Best,

Lydia