PR19-0474, The Historic Preservation Review Board Maria T. Casarella-Cunningham Confirmation Resolution of 2011.

PR19-0475, The Historic Preservation Review Board Nancy L. Pryor Metzger Confirmation Resolution of 2011. David G. Garber ANC Commissioner, 6D07; Vice Chair, ANC 6D dggarber@gmail.com // 202-374-5340 // @GarberDC My name is David Garber, and I am the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Single Member District 6D07, which encompasses the historic Washington Navy Yard and the fastdeveloping neighborhood that surrounds it. I am also the Vice Chair of ANC 6D, which includes the Southwest Waterfront, part of which is currently in application for designation as a historic mid-century modern neighborhood. I am testifying today in support of the nominations of Maria Casarella-Cunningham and Nancy Metzger to the Historic Preservation Review Board. I have known Ms. Metzger for ten years since volunteering to work on the Capitol Hill Restoration Societys call box revitalization project, and know her to be an important force for sensitive and creative restoration and development in historic neighborhoods east of the United States Capitol. Although I do not know Ms. Casarella-Cunningham personally, I have been impressed by the architectural designs put forth by her firm, which, at least when interfacing with old and historic buildings, consistently strike a sensitive balance between old and new. Historic preservation is a term and a movement that means many things to many people. For some, its a way to freeze the past in place and create museums of architecture and history. For others, its a way to keep things around that are appealing. For others still seeing as study after study points to preservation being, on the whole, more earth friendly than building new its away to be more environmentally conscious. For still more others, its about urbanism. Residents and visitors crave the dynamism created by the diversity of building heights, building materials, and building uses often found in neighborhoods shaped over greater periods of time. Old and historic places are important teachers. They teach us that human scale, unique design, and a connection to local heritage are valued commodities when treated with respect. But age isnt the only ingredient necessary for a dynamic, healthy, growing city. Todays cityscape also needs density, innovation, and a diverse mix of sizes and styles. Old and historic places are a critically important part of DCs fabric, but not the only thread that gets us to the sustainable and attractive future we are working towards. I know that these nominees are qualified to be official advocates for the Districts built heritage. But I also want to challenge them to see our old and historic places both as important aesthetic and cultural artifacts and as the patterns and teachers for a built future that might not look

just like whats come before. Celebrate history, but encourage contemporary design in its interpretation. Require a village scale where appropriate, but allow for greater density where our infrastructure is built to handle it. Be vigilant about context and scale, but allow our library of good urbanism to be shaped by best practices sourced from around the world and across centuries and styles. See change as an asset to be worked with instead of as an enemy to be guarded against. Old is important, but so is eclecticism, environmental sustainability, and urbanizing development. Thank you, nominees, for your willingness to serve the District in this way.