Historic Alexandria Resources Commission

Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
Name	Historic Alexandria Resources Commission
Founded	1970s
Location	Alexandria, Virginia
Type	Historic preservation commission
Headquarters	Alexandria City Hall
Leader title	Chair

Historic Alexandria Resources Commission

The Historic Alexandria Resources Commission is a municipal preservation body in Alexandria, Virginia tasked with oversight of architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources in Old Town Alexandria and surrounding areas. It works alongside entities such as the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria City Council, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, National Park Service, and local civic associations to conserve sites linked to figures like George Washington, Robert E. Lee, John Carlyle, and events tied to the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. The commission engages with federal programs including the National Register of Historic Places and state initiatives such as the Virginia Landmarks Register.

History

The origins of the commission trace to municipal preservation movements in the 1960s and 1970s influenced by national legislation like the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and local campaigns similar to efforts in Charleston, South Carolina, Boston, and Savannah, Georgia. Early actions focused on protecting colonial-era fabric associated with Mason and Dixon Line-era boundaries, mercantile architecture near the Potomac River, and properties linked to merchants such as John Carlyle. The commission has navigated controversies paralleling debates seen in Preservation Society of Newport County cases and precedent-setting reviews involving the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and preservation covenants echoing rulings like Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City. Throughout its history it collaborated with preservationists from organizations including Historic Alexandria Foundation, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Institute of Architects.

Mission and Responsibilities

The commission’s mandate includes designation of historic districts akin to the Old Town Alexandria Historic District, review of alterations under local ordinances modeled after provisions in the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and stewardship of archaeological resources comparable to practices at the Jamestown Rediscovery Project. Its responsibilities intersect with regulatory bodies such as the Alexandria Planning Commission, Alexandria Board of Architectural Review, and enforcement mechanisms tied to the Alexandria Circuit Court. The commission advises on compliance with statutes like the Virginia Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program and federal statutes administered by the National Park Service and Historic American Buildings Survey.

Programs and Initiatives

Key initiatives mirror nationwide best practices including historic designation processes similar to those conducted for sites on the National Register of Historic Places, architectural survey projects like the Historic American Engineering Record, and educational programs inspired by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution. The commission manages grants and technical assistance programs comparable to the Save America’s Treasures initiative, supports rehabilitation funded by programs like the Virginia Main Street Program, and participates in easement efforts akin to those of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Landmarks Illinois. It sponsors archaeological investigations with methodologies used by the Archaeological Institute of America and partners on adaptive reuse projects reminiscent of work at Pearl Brewery and Ghirardelli Square.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance follows a model used by municipal commissions such as the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Chicago Landmarks Commission, with appointed commissioners serving terms established by the Alexandria City Council. The commission coordinates with departments including the Alexandria Office of Historic Alexandria Resources, Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning, and the Alexandria Office of Historic Preservation. It consults with professional bodies such as the American Institute of Conservation, the Society of Architectural Historians, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation board, and may call on experts from universities like George Mason University, George Washington University, University of Virginia, and Johns Hopkins University.

Preservation Projects and Landmarks

The commission has overseen treatment plans for landmarks akin to Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, Lee-Fendall House, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. Preservation projects have included façade stabilization, archaeological digs at waterfront warehouses comparable to finds at Colonial Williamsburg, and conservation of collections on par with work at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History. It has provided oversight for sites tied to Slavery in the United States, Civil War-era fortifications resembling Fort Ward Historic Site, and Revolutionary-era structures associated with Mason and Dixon Line-era commerce, ensuring compliance with standards of the Secretary of the Interior.

Public Outreach and Education

Outreach strategies draw on programs used by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Park Service, Foundation for Historic Preservation, and National Trust for Historic Preservation, offering walking tours, lecture series, and school curricula aligned with state education frameworks like the Virginia Standards of Learning. Collaborations include civic groups such as the Alexandria Historical Society, neighborhood associations, and cultural organizations like Historic Alexandria Foundation and Alexandria Archaeology Museum. Interpretive programming highlights figures like Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Francis Scott Key, and events comparable to Washington’s Crossing and seeks to integrate narratives presented at museums including the African American History and Culture Museum.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include municipal allocations from the City of Alexandria budget, grant awards modeled after the National Endowment for the Humanities, state tax credits like the Virginia Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, and philanthropic support from foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and Ford Foundation. Partnerships span federal agencies including the National Park Service and Library of Congress, academic partners like George Mason University and University of Virginia, and nonprofit partners such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic Alexandria Foundation.

Category:Historic preservation in Virginia Category:Alexandria, Virginia