There are pop-ups, and there are pop-ups.
The pop-ups we usually see in non-historic districts seldom succeed in complementing their neighbors or even fitting in with the architectural character of their neighborhood. Legal restrictions in those areas are zoning based and design, a matter of taste. Pop-ups – also known as rooftop additions – are seldom literally seen in historic districts because, when they are permitted, they must follow the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office (HPO) guidelines for roof additions which require that they not be visible from the street or public vantage points, or alter important character-defining features of the building or streetscape, and are compatible with their historic context.
