City Council Resolution on the Carver School/ American Legion Post #129 February 25, 2013

City of Alexandria, Virginia

MEMORANDUM

DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2013

TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR & MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

FROM: CouncilmEN Paul Smedberg & Justin Wilson

SUBJECT: 224 N. FAYETTE STREET

Colleagues: 

As we arrive to the conclusion of the two year marketing period dictated in the settlement of the litigation relating to the City’s approval of a demolition permit for 224 N. Fayette Street, there are signs that the private landowner is inclined to provide additional time for a purchaser to come forward. 

Additionally, while certainly overdue, there are signs that private efforts to secure the financial resources necessary to purchase and preserve the property are becoming more organized. With those factors in mind, we believe that a statement of City policy will assist those efforts. As such, we would propose the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the building at 224 N. Fayette Street was constructed using Federal Funds in 1944 as the Carver Nursery School and was used to educate African-American children; and

WHEREAS, the building later became the William Thomas American Legion Post 129; and 

WHEREAS, the City of Alexandria acknowledges that the building is meaningful for our community and helps tell the story of 20^th Century Alexandria; and 

WHEREAS, in 2009 a land-owner with a reputation for thoughtful and sensitive development in the Parker-Gray Historic District purchased the property with plans to redevelop; and 

WHEREAS, the Parker-Gray Board of Architectural Review approved demolition of the property in July of 2009; and 

WHEREAS, the Board of Architectural Review’s decision was appealed to the City Council, which upheld the decision of the Board of Architectural Review in October of 2009; and 

WHEREAS; after an appeal of the City Council’s decision in Circuit Court, a settlement agreement allowed two years for the City to market the property for acquisition and preservation; and 

WHEREAS; no purchaser has come forward during this period of time to acquire the property for any use; and 

WHEREAS; under the terms of the settlement agreement, the landowner has the ability to now proceed with demolition; and 

WHEREAS; any extension to that time period would be at the sole discretion of the landowner; and 

WHEREAS; the City Council wishes to authorize the City Manager to proceed with actions designed to support private efforts to raise the necessary resources to acquire and preserve the property. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA:

1. That the City Council recognizes the patience of the landowner in allowing additional time for purchasers to come forward. 
2. That the City Council endorses efforts in the community to raise the necessary resources to acquire the property.
3. That the City Manager is authorized to utilize existing Staff to assist in researching available grants, donations and Federal or State appropriations that may assist in private efforts for the acquisition and preservation of this property.
4. That the City Manager is authorized to recommend to City Council reasonable accommodations (both financial and with land-use authority) to the landowner and potential purchasers to support any extension of time for purchasers to come forward.

Cc: City Manager Rashad Young; City Attorney James Banks; Planning Director Faroll Hamer