FORT ETHAN ALLEN NEEDS OUR HELP

Destruction Continues at Ethan Allen Site; Friends Committee Formed

Ongoing abuse and mismanagement by Arlington County of one of its best-preserved Civil War fort sites-Fort Ethan Allen-have prompted AHA to take several steps. We ask for your support and participation. Please read on.

The fort is Number One on AHA's Arlington 2002 Most Endangered List-and a continuing blot of shame on the County's preservation record. The County owns the fort and designated it a Local Historic District in 1978. Though much of the property has been developed, original breastworks, gun platforms, bombproof shelter, two magazines, guardhouse, and fort well provide the largest and most valuable group of Civil War earthworks under control of the County. Control and designation have not translated into protection. Who is the perpetrator of this abuse? The County itself.

For two years, AHA, HALRB, and other preservation organizations have worked to relocate the inappropriate siting of a Dog Exercise Area (DEA) in the heart of the historic district. (The DEA is now named the Community Canine Area-as if that made the destruction any less wrong!)  Without required review and approval of the HALRB, the County installed the DEA. A highly invasive fence, heavy mulching to cover erosion, and intensive dog use continue to cause damage to such important features as the fort's well, below-ground archeological resources, and, recently, the death of about a dozen trees.

The County Manager has promised to relocate the DEA, but says the current site will remain until a new DEA is located, constructed, and opened. The fate of the fort is in his hands, but he has delayed a decision on relocation for more than a year. Deterioration at the fort continues.

To focus attention on the fort and to provide a vehicle for action, AHA voted to organize a subcommittee within our organization, the Friends of Fort Ethan Allen and the Arlington Line." Its purpose is to focus attention on valuable Civil War history and resources in the County. AHA has already raised funds for this project (See below.) and "Friends" provides a tax-exempt vehicle to collect donations until the group decides if and when it will become self-sustaining. It will also work to educate the public and lobby for County support to restore and interpret irreplaceable assets that are being destroyed day-by-day.

We have been encouraged by the interest of such groups as the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program, staff of which toured the Fort and wrote a letter in support of preservation of its resources. Ed Bearss, NPS Historian Emeritus and authority on Civil War sites, visited the site and also wrote a forceful letter in support of preservation at FEA, calling it an ". important site of national significance . part of the Capital's history," noting the County is caretaker [and] has responsibility."

If you are interested in joining in this work, come to the October 20 tour, and/or complete the form at the end of the newsletter. We need your support to get action!

OTHER ACTIVITIES, CONCERNS

Columbia Pike Charette Suggests Future Development Course, But Leaves it to County and Developers

The County and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization sponsored a Design Charette September 6 to 12 in locations along and near the Pike. AHA Board and members participated in the sessions, which focused on developing a Form-Based Code for the Pike. Sessions included Hands-On Meetings, Open Design Studios, and a Work-in-Progress presentation at which the Dover, Kohl & Partners team presented a number of "What Ifs." We were disappointed to hear that the team had spent a total of only 10 days along the Pike. The presentation featured pretty-if generic-pictures of life along a revitalized Pike that could be Anytown, USA. (Some were, in fact, from Olde Towne Alexandria). But we were pleased to learn that many participants in the charette shared our concerns over proposed density that would be part of the new code, as well as the desire to retain the historic character of the Pike. While the planners recognized these concerns, it appears from their architectural renderings that the "historic character" they envision for the Pike is one that never existed there. 

Columbia Pike, continued....

The Vision is to bring the Pike back to a more traditional Main Street, "the end result being an improved enhanced, and walkable Main Street for Arlington." The road and commercial districts were divided into four special revitalization districts (SRD) that will permit greater height and density in these areas. They are a Town Center SRD near Walter Reed Drive, and-travelling west-a Village Center SRD, a Neighborhood Center SRD, and a Gateway SRD at the Fairfax boundary. Each emphasized an open space, tree planting, buildings moved closer to the sidewalks, and shared parking located behind commercial buildings. Light rail or modern buses were proposed along the route. One fanciful feature-a massive statue of Benjamin Banneker surveying the original boundaries of the District of Columbia to be located at the Gateway. It was worthy of one of the Capital's Circles or Squares and might do as much to keep out advancing armies as they do. When the Form-Based code is finalized and put-forth this fall, we plan to endorse some features, but also convey our many concerns. We encourage all members to send letters as well.

AHA Hosts November 14 Program with Arlington Historical Society

AHA and the Arlington Historical Society will co-host a meeting on Thursday, November 14, at 7:45 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium, 1015 North Quincy Street. Don Hawkins will discuss "Arlington's Historical Geography." Please join us for an excellent program at this shared annual event.

Arlington House Woodlands Project

AHA has campaigned actively to prevent further encroachment of Arlington Cemetery into the remaining historic tract of virgin woodlands adjacent to Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial, a National Park property. We have worked with Cong. James Moran and other officials in opposing further encroachment by the cemetery, and AHA has been named a "Concurring Party" by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to any Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will be developed regarding management of the woodlands. The mansion is focusing more on the Woodlands and their importance to the site. AHA Board members joined other volunteers in an "invasive plant removal" project on Aug. 24 organized at the mansion by Kendell Thompson, Site Manager. AHA will continue to monitor activities and to support efforts to protect the house and its remaining environment.

2002 Endangered Properties List

In addition to Fort Ethan Allen as Number One on the 2002 Endangered Properties List, AHA also named Garden Apartment Complexes, Local Public School Buildings, Low-Scale Commercial Buildings along Wilson Boulevard, and Historic Residential Neighborhood Scale and Character. We maintain a watch on all these areas, with Board members assigned as monitors to individual sites. See our Website for detailed descriptions (www.arlingtonheritage.org). If you know of others, please call Laura Bobeczko and let her know of your concern. Volunteers needed to monitor sites!

Activities Highlight History; Benefit Historic Preservation

A Special Evening at the Knee-Wells House June 8 paid tribute to the work of William Grillo, who renovated the 1920s house and saved a significant Lyon Park landmark. Laura Bobeczko, AHA Chair, presented Bill with a preservation award. The event was a great success and raised approximately $2,000 to benefit Fort Ethan Allen efforts.

Earlier, AHA sponsored talks and a tour of The World of Frank Lyon, a look at a major Arlington developer and civic leader, and the neighborhoods and buildings he developed. The tour began with talks at Lyon Park Community Center, wound through that neighborhood, the grounds of Missionhurst (Lyon's home, then called Lyonhurst), and Lyon Village, ending with a reception and annual meeting at the Lyon Village Community House. The slate of Officers and Directors presented included: Laura Bobeczko, Chair; Shannon Bell, Vice Chair; Mary Redfern, Secretary; and Margaret Welsh, Treasurer; Jack Adler, Gail Baker, Larry Goldschmidt, Sara Amy Leach, Judith Muniec, Constance Ramirez, Kathryn Smith, and Howard Thorkilson, Directors.