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Committee of 100 Members:

My responses to the candidate's questionnaire were not received in time for inclusion with the others. I would not want you to think that I, as an active preservationist in this city for over two decades, did not want to share my positions with you. Please see my responses below and feel free to contact me at alex@alexpadro.com if you have any quesitons. I would welcome your support for my campaign and your help in putting a preservationist on the DC Council.

​​Do you believe the law that limits the heights of buildings in the District of Columbia should 
be retained? _X__ Yes ___ No

I am a former New Yorker, used to the concrete canyons of Manhattan. In comparison, Washington's lower scale, a product of the height limit, makes the city much more livable. The District's lower scale is character defining, an integral part of what makes DC distinct among major cities and world capitals. The introduction of taller buildings would be jarring and would permanently scar our skyline. The height limit's restrictions must be retained.  

Do you believe zoning that limits such things as height, distance between dwellings, and commercial enterprises should continue to apply in DC's residential neighborhoods? _X__ Yes ___ No

Washington's characteristic residential neighborhoods are deserving of protection through zoning restrictions.

Do you believe residents earning 80% MFI should benefit from DC housing subsidies?  _X__  Yes  ___  No

Housing that is affordable to a range of incomes is critical to maintaining the city's economic diversity. If all affordable housing is only available to those households with very low incomes, then the disparities between the haves and have nots will be further exacerbated. If developers only have incentives to build rental housing for the lowest income earners and a profit motive to construct rentals and condominiums for higher income earners, Washington will become a city without a middle class. 
  
Do you believe that protecting properties and neighborhoods that DC's Historic Preservation Review Board has determined have historical, cultural and aesthetic merit is in the interest of the people of the District of Columbia? _X__ Yes ___ No

The character of our city's neighborhoods is largely defined by the numerous buildings that are included in designated historic districts. Such buildings and neighborhoods help promote economic development and heritage tourism. Preservation is a tool for maintaining the character of neighborhoods and supports higher quality development than is possible without design review. In my native New York City, historic fabric is often seen as an impediment to development, rather than an opportunity to integrate the old with the new. Incorporating individual landmarks and contributing buildings to historic districts into new development results in distinctive projects that often receive design awards. Outstanding projects by preservation-oriented developers like Douglas Development and Roadside Development are often admired by visitors from cities where such development is never seen because of a lack of commitment to historic preservation.

Do you believe DC residents should have a meaningful voice in zoning and development issues that affect them significantly? _X__ Yes ___ No

Community-driven revitalization where all stakeholders are active and engage in planning efforts become win-win projects for developers and the community alike. When the community is not engaged and has change imposed upon it, the results are rarely in the community's best interests in the long run.