Programs & Events

The Committee of 100 on the Federal City Awards the 2002 Vision Award for Ward 4 to Takoma Village Co-housing, the Architect Don Tucker and Historic Takoma for All Making the Takoma Village a Reality.

The Committee of 100 has initiated a new "Vision Awards," to commend unique developments in the District of Columbia that show sensitivity to communities, preservation of or creative adaptation to historic elements, excellence in design, good use of public space or enhancement of the District's natural features.

Loretta Neumann and Cecil Tucker nominated Takoma Village Co-housing (TVC) because it is sensitive to the Takoma and Washington area communities through the use of its energy conservation, environmental, and health measures and its sensitivity both to the TVC community and to the surrounding historic district. Some of the important features are:

1. Energy - TVC uses extra insulation, which gives exterior walls an R-19 and attic an R-38 rating. Blown cellulose made from recycled paper fiber fills all spaces between studs more thoroughly than commonly used mineral-fiber bats. By using PVC pipes to circulate liquids into the earth's bedrock, ground-source heat pumps use the earth's constant temperature to provide efficient and cost-effective heating and cooling;
    
2. Environment - TVC utilizes certified sustainably harvested lumber, which reduces forestation than conventionally built homes. TVC's fiber-cement siding has recycled content, which is more durable than wood, holds paint better, and saves on maintenance costs. Natural linoleum is used on entry and kitchen floors because it is durable and made from planet-friendly materials;
    
3. Health - The common house is pet-free and smoke-free to make it safe for people with allergies. TVC maximizes indoor air quality by allowing only direct-vent gas fireplaces in units. Low formaldehyde plywood is used for floors and roofs. Paints, sealants, and adhesives are low-VOC, which emit fewer fumes after installation;
    
4. Community - TVC provides its residents the privacy of ownership and the opportunity for community interaction through the sharing of activities, equipment, tools, and appliances. It also pools shared expertise regarding major decisions, e.g., finance, property maintenance, and insurance; and,
    
5. Historic Preservation - TVC responded to the concerns of the neighborhood to make the property fit more appropriately within the context of the Takoma Historic District. Specifically, TVC made a number of significant design changes from its original concept requested by Historic Takoma, Inc. and the DC Historic Preservation Review Board, and the Board subsequently approved the design. As a result, Historic Takoma, Inc. supports the nomination of TVC for one of the Committee of 100's Vision Awards.

TVC's site was very problematic, squeezed between the massive Takoma Theatre facing 4th Street and the back side of a block of small cottage-style houses facing Aspen and, to the rear, the busy Blair Road adjacent to the Metro and Rail Road Tracks. Two previous attempts to build incompatible developments on the site were opposed by the surrounding neighborhood and were defeated, one by the Zoning Commission and the other by the Historic Preservation Review Board. That TVC's development went forward with the support of the neighborhood -- including the support of Historic Takoma, Inc. -- is powerful evidence of why it is receiving one of the Committee of 100's Vision Awards.

• Visit the Takoma Village Co-Housing Website.