stratford school historic district designation...may 24, 2016 lrpc meeting stratford school historic...
TRANSCRIPT
May 24, 2016
LRPC Meeting
Stratford School Historic District
Designation
Background
• Designation of the Stratford School requested in March 2015.
• APS Staff, HPP Staff, and HALRB collaborated on a designation report and
design guidelines during the year.
• Designation process has run concurrently with plans for new addition and use
permit review.
• HALRB held a public hearing in June 2015 and found that building met 8 of 11
designation criteria. Historic District report reflects this finding.
• Amended Zoning Ordinance process allows County Board to exclusively
determine local district designations and hear CoAs for newly designated APS
properties..
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Historic Overview
Historical & Architectural Significance of Stratford School
• Individually listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register (2003) & National Register of
Historic Places (2004).
• Nationally significant as the first integrated public school in Virginia. Integration occurred in
February 1959, ending the Commonwealth’s policy of “massive resistance.”
• Locally significant as the County’s finest example of International Style architecture as
applied to a school.
• Built in 1950
• Designed by Architect Rhees Burket, Sr., architect for 4 schools in Arlington.
• Burket was a highly regarded expert in modern school construction and was a prolific
architect in our region. Stratford is the purest and best example of his work.
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Designation Request
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Proposed Distorict Boundaries
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Historic Overview
Stratford School After Construction in 1951… and Today
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ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
First Elected School Board in Virginia (1948)
• International Style - reflected national trend
• Appropriate for public buildings
• Functionalism
• Devoid of ornamentation
• Post-WWII population boom
• Form follows function
• Specialized classrooms
Historic Overview
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Stratford School - Design
New modern science labs,
gymnasiums, and library facilities.
Historic Overview
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Half of the Arlington County Police force was deployed to protect the
school and students on the 1st day of integration.
African American Students walking to school under
guard.
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Stratford School - Integration
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Historic Significance
Criterion A: The property is listed or is eligible for inclusion in the National
Register of Historic Places
Criterion B: The property has character, interest, or value as part of the
development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the country, state, or
nation.
Criterion C: The property was the site of a significant local, state, or
national event.
Criterion D: The property is associated with a person or persons who
significantly contributed to the development of the county, state, or nation.
Criterion E: The property embodies distinguishing characteristics of an
architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, or method of
construction.
Criterion G: The property embodies the elements of design, detailing,
materials, or craftsmanship that renders it structurally or architecturally
significant.
Criterion H: The property has a distinctive location, or signgular physical
characteristic that makes it an established or familiar visual feature.
Criterion K: The property is suitable for preservation or restoration.
Design Guidelines
• The design guidelines are
intended to preserve and
protect the Stratford School
Local Historic District, and to
help manage new changes
and rehabilitation work in a
manner that is thoughtful,
predictable, and compatible
with the historic district.
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CoA Review Process
• New process only for School-owned properties designated after
January 1, 2016.
• County Board would review and approve, deny or approve with
conditions.
• HALRB would provide recommendation only to County Board.
• All other alterations would require consultation only with HPP
Staff.
• Design Guidelines based on Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
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Designation Process to Date
• Designation request received: March 31, 2015
• HALRB hearing: June 17, 2015
• School Board hearings: April 21st & May 5th, 2016
• Request to Advertise: May 14, 2016
• Planning Commission: June 6, 2016
• County Board Action: June 18, 2016
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Conclusion
• Staff finds that the Stratford School meets 8 of 11
Designation Criteria as defined in the Arlington County
Zoning Ordinance Section 11.3.4.A.
• Staff will be recommending that the Stratford School
property, as shown in the map attached to the
designation report, be designated as an Arlington County
Local Historic District.
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