CLA Year in review
2023 was a year of growth and change for Conroy Landscape Architecture. We were involved in meaningful work throughout the DMV, and donated time and services to the following causes:
42 hours volunteered with the Neighborhood Design Center on the design of Entrepreneur Park in North Brentwood, MD.
$1,600 worth of services donated as an auction item for Aidan Montessori School’s Scholarship fundraiser.
$600 worth of services donated as an auction item for Greater Greater Washington’s Spring Gala.
65 hours volunteered with Potomac ASLA to advocate for B25-0277 Landscape Architecture Services Sales Tax Clarification Amendment Act of 2023. This bill eliminates the unequal taxation that landscape architecture firms are subject to in the District of Columbia.
Scroll down to see highlights throughout the year!
Graphic recording of CUT/FILL by Pataleta
January
CLA sponsors the CUT/FILL unconference, where landscape architects and designers come together to discuss and plan for needed changes in our professions.
February
Lesley Conroy begins leading the Potomac ASLA’s efforts to repeal the sales tax on landscape architecture services in the District of Columbia. Landscape architects are the only professional services providers whose services are subject to a general sales tax, despite being licensed and regulated by DC DLCP (formerly DCRA).
Amanda Foran of EnviroCollab (R), listens to design feedback from community members during a public engagement session in March.
March
CLA collaborates with EnviroCollab and Nature Sacred on the Clarksburg Yard at the Clarksburg Church in Maryland.
CLA donates services to Aidan Montessori School scholarship fundraiser.
Lesley Conroy volunteers at the University of Maryland student ASLA chapter’s portfolio review to provide feedback to students as they prepare to apply for jobs and internships.
(L to R) Potomac ASLA president Carla Ellern, Potomac ASLA executive director Susan Newman, Lesley Conroy, Dani Alexander, and
Bob Alter outside of CM Charles Allen’s office.
April
After months of advocacy, Charles Allen (Ward 6) introduces B25-0277 Landscape Architecture Services Sales Tax Clarification Amendment Act of 2023 with CM Robert White (At-large) and CM Matthew Frumin (Ward 3) to the DC Council.
May
CLA’s application for a religious facility landscape in Northern Virginia is approved by Reston Association on the consent agenda.
The Mark offices at 641 S Street NW in Shaw.
June
CLA moves out of the basement and into a new office space at The Mark at the Wonderbread Factory building in Shaw.
Charlotte Yang, a senior at the University of Maryland, joins our team as an intern.
Rendering of the streetscape concept from 2021.
July
The Bethesda Green Street project is awarded funding for the next phase of design from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Conroy Landscape Architecture prepared the concept plan in a previous grant cycle and will work with Bethesda Green on the engineering drawings phase in 2024.
The stage is the focus of Amigos Park’s lower plazita and it can be used for performances and community meetings.
August
Conroy Landscape Architects collaborates with the Amigos Park Coalition and the DC Department of General Services to create a construction documents package for a new park in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in DC. Amigos Park will transform an unmaintained, fenced in area into an accessible pocket park for community gatherings, performances, and everyday uses.
A view of the Capitol framed by trees.
September
Lesley Conroy joined a tour of the US Capitol grounds, led by Casey Trees and the Architect of the Capitol.
(L to R) John Stokes of DGS, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Arturo Griffiths, John Henderson, and Chris Jarman.
October
During her public safety walk in Mt. Pleasant, Mayor Muriel Bowser stops to speak with Amigos Park organizers Arturo Griffiths, Chris Jarman, and John Henderson about plans to create a park and address safety issues on Mt. Pleasant St. NW. CLA continues to work with the Amigos Park Coalition to advocate for a larger version of the park that can support more uses.
Lesley Conroy attends the annual ASLA conference in Minneapolis, MN. Next year’s conference is here in DC!
November
Lesley Conroy volunteers with Neighborhood Design Center to design a new park in North Brentwood, MD that celebrates the entrepreneurial history of the residents who founded the town and contributed to the success of the first majority African American municipality in Maryland. She joins volunteers from Gensler and NDC staff to hold a community engagement session at the iconic Sis’s Tavern.
December
Conroy Landscape Architecture receivs grant funding from Wacif and the DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s Small and Medium Business Growth Fund for technology upgrades including a new server and cloud storage backup.
The DC Council Committee on Business and Economic Affairs announces it will hold a hearing on January 24, 2024 for the Potomac Chapter of ASLA’s Bill 25-0277 to eliminate sales tax on landscape architectural services.