Sections
  • News & Politics
  • Food
  • Things to Do
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Health
  • Longreads
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • Subscribe
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2022 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Trending Now in Real Estate
  • housing market
  • Home Buying
  • Home Values
  • Realtors
  • pandemic
Real Estate

DC Building Bans Balcony Banners After Residents Use Them to Argue About Politics

The banners can be seen from Nationals Park.

Written by Benjamin Freed
| Published on April 18, 2017
Tweet Share

Anyone keeping a list of “Seemingly Harmless Things Ruined by Donald Trump, His Supporters, and His Detractors” can pencil in “banners that sports fans hang from their apartments”—at least in one building across the street from Nationals Park.

Since the 11-story Camden South Capitol building opened in 2013, some residents of the units facing South Capitol Street—directly across from Nationals Park—have hung flags and pennants supporting DC’s baseball team. The decorations are visible inside the stadium from the left-field line, especially when going up the ramp or escalator to the mezzanine level. But Camden South Capitol’s baseball-loving tenants have been instructed to take down their curly W’s and other signage by the end of the month or be fined, according to an email from building management.

I took this pic yesterday. It's is across from @Nationals park. I love D.C. #Nope pic.twitter.com/MXnaD68yW6

— nicole gabrielle (@nicolegabrielle) April 15, 2017

Can confirm that the "nope" flag is really outside Nationals Park. Also shout out to the Astros flag. pic.twitter.com/GGGV6fCRI4

— Gabe (@thelatinochild) April 15, 2017

“While we love our residents creativity and unique decorating, the time has come for us to remind all residents it is a lease violation if you…hang anything off of your balcony—yes this even include banners/flags supporting our beloved Washington Nationals,” reads the email from building manager Shaun Lambert.

The likely inspiration for this sudden order, according to one resident, was a rush of political banners in the past few months, starting with a “Trump: Make America Great Again” flag that appeared shortly after last November’s election. Before that, the only political signs hanging off the building were Black Lives Matter and rainbow LGBT pride flags that were mounted in October on the balcony of the unit three floors below the Trump supporter.

But people in the building say it was the “Make America Great Again” flag that set off a sign war. An apartment one floor above the Trump-friendly apartment hung a flag proclaiming “Resist.” The newest addition, which went up shortly before the start of baseball season, positions the word “Nope” accompanied by an upward arrow directly beneath the Trump sign. And now, what was once a gallery of local sports fandom is just another political shouting match.

Officially, Lambert’s email is a reminder of many balcony activities prohibited by the building’s rental agreements. His note also warns tenants against installing grills or household furniture, leaving unattended pets, and smoking on balconies. But the resident who forwarded the note to Washingtonian says the crackdown only happened after the banner war broke out.

“The takeaway is that the flags caused it,” he says.

Tenants of Camden South Capitol who object to the redecoration order on First Amendment grounds are unlikely to prevail, according to Joel Cohn, the legislative director for DC’s Office of the Tenant Advocate.

“Generally, the balcony rule doesn’t sound that out of the ordinary,” he says.

Correction: A previous version of this article reported the Trump flag was the first political banner to go up. The Black Lives Matter and LGBT pride flags were mounted in October.

More: Donald TrumpNationals ParkNavy Yard
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Benjamin Freed
Staff Writer

Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.

Most Popular in Real Estate

1

This New Website Is Like Match.Com for Homebuyers and Sellers

2

A Real Estate Nightmare on Foxhall Road

3

The 10 Places in Washington Where Home Prices Have Risen the Most

4

4 Predictions About DC Real Estate

5

The Hottest Neighborhoods of Washington’s Real Estate Boom

Washingtonian Magazine

May 2022: Fantastic Foodie Getaways

May 2022: Fantastic Foodie Getaways

View Issue
Subscribe

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Related

Franks at Haute Dogs and Fries. Photograph by Scott Suchman.

Your Guide to Eating and Drinking at Nationals Park in 2022

The Fake Feds Were Just Looking for Friendship, Lawyers Say

Inside the Navy Yard Suspects’ Wild Apartment Building

6 Exciting New Things to Look for at Nationals Park 2022 Season

More from Real Estate

This New Website Is Like Match.Com for Homebuyers and Sellers

The Hottest Neighborhoods of Washington’s Real Estate Boom

4 Predictions About DC Real Estate

Tons of Homes Are Now Selling in These 10 Washington Zip Codes

These Are the 10 Most Expensive Places to Buy a Home in Washington

The 10 Places in Washington Where Home Prices Have Risen the Most

4825 Glenbrook Rd., NW —a vacant lot on a leafy street in DC’s Spring Valley neighborhood

A Former Toxic Waste Dump in a Hot DC Neighborhood Is for Sale for $1.3 Million

The 7 Most Notable Homes in the Washington Area This Month—and Who Bought and Sold Them

© 2022 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs