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Board renews Evermay’s nonprofit use; allows limited public garden exhibitions and residency program
Summary
The board approved SNR Foundation’s request to continue nonprofit use at Evermay (1623 28th St NW) with updated conditions: restricted events, residency cohorts (up to 12 fellows for 30–60 day stays), limited public garden exhibits (max 50 visitors at once, reservation/QR control), and operational rules (valet for large events, no amplified outdoor music, no weddings).
The Board of Zoning Adjustment approved SNR Foundation Inc.’s application (21457) to continue nonprofit operations at Evermay and to update its programming with conditions designed to protect neighbors while allowing greater public access and a structured residency program.
SNR — which now owns the historic Evermay estate — sought permission to expand and formalize programs the foundation already operates: a solutions‑oriented residency (up to 12 fellows a year; stays 30–60 days), limited nonprofit events (a mix of gatherings up to 200 guests but with a restricted number annually), and curated garden exhibitions/installations open to the public on a reservation basis. Office of Planning recommended approval and noted the property’s unusual capacity to absorb activity: the site includes approximately 107 on‑site parking spaces and 3.57 acres bounded on two sides by parkland and a cemetery. OP suggested edits to operational conditions to ensure guests depart on schedule and to tighten enforceable limits; the foundation accepted OP’s edits and the board approved the request with conditions.
Key operational constraints recorded in the approved conditions include a prohibition on using the site as a wedding/social venue, limits on amplified outdoor music, a reservation/QR system for garden visitors (maximum 50 people on grounds at any time for exhibitions), and a valet/parking plan for larger events. Foundation CEO Kate Goodall told the board the organization is committed to balancing public access with neighborhood protections and underscored that the property had been donated to SNR as an operating philanthropic asset. The board’s vote authorizes the updates with the edited conditions recommended by OP and recorded in the order.
