tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post3472487727560423429..comments2024-03-25T18:50:15.135-04:00Comments on DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: Preservationists In Alexandria Play the Race CardKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08295461340042242438noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-37904636816147277282010-09-26T16:36:38.355-04:002010-09-26T16:36:38.355-04:00I've had experience with both Alexandria BAR&#...I've had experience with both Alexandria BAR's, including my home in Parker Gray two blocks from the American Legion Building. The written BAR guidelines and the staff have always emphasized the importance of maintaining the historic fabric of the districts without regard to architectural or special historical significance. The only exception is when the structure is unsafe. (I was able to demo part of my house on that basis – after an inspection by BAR staff)<br /><br />I have never been in the building, maybe it is ready to fall down. If it’s not, the City could lose the lawsuit on the basis of its guidelines alone.<br /><br />Mr. Cromley has a very long, very friendly history with the City, and has more experience with development and redevelopment in Parker Gray than anyone else. Period. More likely, the demolition approval Mr. Cromley secured is not because the building is unsafe, but just another example of a long, long, long list of questionable approvals he has secured over the years because no one in small town Alexandria is prepared to tell him “no”. And if that’s case, the City is going to have to pay to defend a losing lawsuit and eventually Cromley will discover an adaptive reuse that will probably involve demolishing most of the structure anyway (with the City’s approval).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-14154854915418722562010-09-24T20:15:12.532-04:002010-09-24T20:15:12.532-04:00Off the top of my head, here are some similar buil...Off the top of my head, here are some similar buildings in Old Town Historic District that are not attractive but still standing/protected.<br /><br />Jones Point Lighthouse<br /><br />The closed down military surplus store at the foot of Prince, which is really worn down but might get re-habbed.<br /><br />House at NE corner of Prince and S. St Asaph. Looks like an old country shack, but preserved due to its age, one of the oldest in OT.<br /><br />It seems to me that buildings are saved in the Old Town historic district, but in Parker Gray, people just want to get rid of them.<br /><br />As far as undesirable prior uses, some of the buildings that were saved in OT had seedy pasts. <br /><br />Heck, they saved part of the Alexandria Jail on North St Asaph and even put up a plaque to commemorate it.Jayhttp://jay.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-43132515221711000622010-09-24T17:26:09.591-04:002010-09-24T17:26:09.591-04:00In many parts of the country, situations like thes...In many parts of the country, situations like these are resolved by timely yet mysterious fires. Of course, I would never advocate such an illegal and dangerous approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-8677034184000639772010-09-23T17:16:24.370-04:002010-09-23T17:16:24.370-04:00I agree that the phrase "playing the race car...I agree that the phrase "playing the race card" is sometimes used inappropriately, but in this case, where the City of Alexandria is being sued for racial discrimination for allowing a property owner to demolish a building, I think it applies.<br /><br />Alexandria is a majority white city with an African American Mayor, an African American Chief of Police and an African American City Attorney. Two of seven City Council members are African American, both of whom voted in favor of the demolition.<br /><br />Calling them racist is a stretch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-41508207718723174632010-09-23T15:17:28.466-04:002010-09-23T15:17:28.466-04:00I agree w/ first comment.
Are we shocked only a c...I agree w/ first comment.<br /><br />Are we shocked only a couple of the old Af-Am petition signers showed up at the meeting. They are old. <br /><br />I do not see this a playing race card. That is thrown around too casually now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-39223100686915983262010-09-23T14:16:52.460-04:002010-09-23T14:16:52.460-04:00I'm not really comfortable with the author'...I'm not really comfortable with the author's use of "Preservationists" in the title of this article. The spirit behind preservation is to preserve history both cultural and architectural but to also encourage adaptive reuse of structures. That is what preservationists do - not this NIMBY one sided activity that makes the rest of them look bad.<br /><br />For example - other preservationists will be celebrating tommorrow night the adaptive reuse of a long derelict property now a Room & Board retail establishment on 14th Street.<br /><br />There are preservationists and there are NIMBYs - believe me - there is a difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-73154531167069439232010-09-23T13:19:07.197-04:002010-09-23T13:19:07.197-04:00woohoo! i trolled a randite!
(without is one word...woohoo! i trolled a randite!<br /><br />(without is one word, by the way)<br /><br />that's why, in certain instances, preservation requires something besides the judgment of captialism alone to assign value and worth. this appears to be one of those.IMGophhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389077782536090328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-69294523808182138512010-09-23T13:00:09.072-04:002010-09-23T13:00:09.072-04:00And proof, IMGoph, that with out capitalists we...And proof, IMGoph, that with out capitalists we'de be looking at old rotten dilapidated buildings that no one wants or cares for.J. Galt Speakingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-24755721914842925082010-09-23T12:29:12.200-04:002010-09-23T12:29:12.200-04:00this is proof that using capitalism or "the m...this is proof that using capitalism or "the market" as the judge of what's valuable, what's historic, and what's worth saving will, inevitably, result in the destruction of history towards the favor of those who have money. simple as that.IMGophhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389077782536090328noreply@blogger.com