Our Grand Avenue

Grand Avenue Revival Book

A Grand Avenue Revival
Massachusetts Avenue Landscape History and Design Guide

View of cover and interior page of the book "A Grand Avenue Revival" by Deborah Sahpley
Discover the glamorous history of this iconic Grand Avenue. See in maps and pictures the principles of street design, trees and landscape that were realized on the western part of Mass Ave a century ago, fulfilling the ideal of the “open air salon of the street.”

Our booklet describes the urban design principles of Pierre L’Enfant, the Beaux Arts school and the City Beautiful Movement that made this street a glamorous international venue. A Grand Avenue Revival’s Part 1 with its evocative early photos and maps form the basis for Part 2, our illustrated landscape guide.

After our news from the Office of Planning below,  you’ll find links to open/download/order our book.

For Building Owners, Architects, Developers

DC Office of Planning has added Restore Mass Ave’s Landscape History & Design Guide to its website!

For years, the landscape principles we laid out in our 2014 book have been recommended to owners and builders; they are often followed voluntarily.

Applicants seeking approvals from Advisory Neighborhood Commissions 2B, 2D, and 3c have been advised to follow our guidance. A project’s chance of ANC approval is better when historic-type treatment of trees, shrubs and fences is proposed, and also when paving keeps or expands greenspace.

What’s New? Now our landscape design guide is recommended formally by the Historic Preservation Office (HPO).* The HPO urges it be considered by anyone seeking Historic Preservation Review Board approval for construction “impacting” properties in the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District.

Navigating the HPO

To find our book and other helpful materials on the Washington DC Office of Planning website, go to the Historic Districts main page and select Massachusetts Avenue Historic District. From there you can download:

On another Planning Office page, go to “Community Historic District Guidelines,” and choose “Massachusetts Avenue Historic District.” You’ll be taken to this very web page with our book!

Thank you HPO and other friends of landscape preservation!

Click below to open and read a full-screen digital version of A Grand Avenue Revival

Animation of book being opened and pages flipped

Click below for PDFs of A Grand Avenue Revival

Go here to order your free print copy of A Grand Avenue Revival: Massachusetts Avenue Landscape History and Design Guide.

Thanks to these sponsors of book design and printing

logo National Trust for Historic Preservation
Dupont Circle Citizens Association
Sheridan-Kalorama Historic Association
Sheridan-Kalorama Neighborhood Council

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