The Takoma Theatre Conservancy was formed in the spring of 2007 when the future of the historic Takoma Theatre was in doubt. The owner had stated publicly his desire to raze the building if he could not sell it as-is. He requested that the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) remove the building from the Takoma Park Historic District and formally submitted an application to raze the building.
HPRB staff reviewed the application and recommended its rejection by HPRB, citing the building’s contributing status to the Takoma Historic District. At a hearing in May, 2007, the Board voted to deny the raze application based on the staff recommendation and the strong testimony from community members, local organizations, and the Conservancy.
The mission of the Takoma Theatre Conservancy continues: to save the Theatre through acquistion, renovation and development, and oversee its operation as a professionally managed, community-based cultural arts center.
The Takoma Theatre Conservancy, incorporated as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, is governed by a Board of Directors from both DC and nearby MD. Board members collectively have decades of experience creating and managing organizations. Members include educators, theater owner, producer/playwright, author, community business owners, and government and management consultants. The Board is also supported by a multi-disciplinary Advisory Council and architecture, legal, real estate and fundraising consultants.
This tour delivers the goods. Being raised just outside of washington d.c. (Bethesda), I've gone on innumerable DC sightseeing tours in my lifetime. Every time a family friend or relative visited from out of town meant another trip down to the Mall, another sightseeing tour. Monument tours, ghost tours, "Duck" tours, you name it I've done it. But out of all the DC tours I've been on this was one of the best. I went last weekend with my nieces and nephews on the Capitol Hill tour, which lasted a little over two hours. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable of the historic sites and presented the information in a fun and lively manner. His enthusiam for the subject was infectious. He had my nieces and nephews in rapt atttention from start to finish. Highly recommend.