Annual Report to the Arlington Heritage Alliance,
2001--2002

From Laura L. Bobeczko, Chairman

Presented at the annual meeting, April 21, 2002, 3:00 p.m.,
at the Lyon Village Community House

"To promote the preservation and creative uses of sites within Arlington . which are of historical, architectural, cultural, natural, and national significance; to identify, research and encourage an appreciation of County resources"
  • Participated in a Working Group formed by the County Manager to resolve the problematic location of an off-leash dog exercise area within the County-designated historic district at Fort Ethan Allen (located between Old Glebe and Military Roads)
  • Advocated the retention of Section 29 of Arlington House Woodlands by the National Park Service and opposed transfer of site to the Department of Defense
  • Nominated Fort Ethan Allen and Arlington House Woodlands to the Preservation Alliance of Virginia's 2001 Most Endangered Places List
  • Testified before the Arlington County School Board in favor of an addition that would be smaller and more deferential in its massing and placement to the historic core of Swanson Middle School (5800 N. Washington Boulevard)
  • Monitored the development of revitalization plans for the Columbia Pike Corridor
  • Participated in the public process concerning the redevelopment of the Navy League Building (2300 Wilson Boulevard); Advocated that the building be fully documented to Historic American Buildings Survey standards prior to its demolition
  • Monitored the construction work at Fort C.F. Smith's Hendry House as part of its planned conversion to interpretive and rental spaces
  • Requested that historic district designation be initiated for Reevesland, the historic dairy farmstead of the Reeves family (400 N. Manchester Street), and a property that has recently been acquired by the County
  • Monitored the proposed sale of the Glebe House (4527 17th Street North) · Investigated the impacts that the planned improvements to Route 50 would have on surrounding twentieth-century apartment buildings
  • Supported the rehabilitation of the National Register-listed Maury School, constructed in 1910 as a public school and now the home of the Arlington Arts Center (3550 Wilson Boulevard)

    "To foster civic and financial involvement, independently and in concert with other concerned organizations"

  • Attended tour of Ft. Ethan Allen given by Wally Owen as part of Old Glebe Civic Association's Neighborhood Day celebration (May 12th, 2001)
  • Participated in Urban Design Forum on Historic Preservation in Clarendon (June 14th, 2001) and meeting on proposed Clarendon Commercial District (September 13th, 2001)
  • Attended networking meeting at Oatlands Plantation sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (September 24th, 2001)
  • Maintained membership in the Preservation Alliance of Virginia, the Northern Virginia Association for History, the Clarendon Alliance, and the Arlington County Civic Federation

    "To promote an awareness of and sensitivity to these resources through education and activities"

  • Redesigned and launched a new AHA Web site
  • Compiled AHA's first annual list of "Arlington's Most Endangered Properties" and released this list to local press in May 2001 in conjunction with the National Trust's Preservation Week
  • Prepared bulletin board display at County Offices highlighting these endangered properties in May 2001 in conjunction with the National Trust's Preservation Week
  • Reviewed text for new County historical markers
  • Sponsored a joint program with the Arlington Historical Society, Bicentennial Commission, and George Mason University (November 8th, 2001)
  • With support from the County's Historic Preservation Program, began monthly Preservation Roundtable lunches

    "To provide information to local, state and federal governmental agencies on local preservation matters and issues"

  • Presented report to the County's Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board on history, mission, and activities of the Heritage Alliance (September 19th, 2001)
  • Participated in Working Group to determine "Arlington's Top 100 Unprotected Historic Resources" (ongoing)
  • Participated in Working Group to support the creation of Black Heritage Museum/Arlington History Center/Museum (ongoing)
  • Wrote to the County Board during the FY03 budget deliberations in support of monies to fund the County's comprehensive historic preservation plan and to begin the long-awaited interpretation of Fort Ethan Allen