1 / 36

History of Old Point Comfort What is the Future?

Old Point Comfort is a barrier spit at Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay Home to Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark. History of Old Point Comfort What is the Future?. Bill Armbruster Executive Director Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority. History began before Jamestown.

titania-lyris
Download Presentation

History of Old Point Comfort What is the Future?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Old Point Comfort is a barrier spit at Hampton Roads and Chesapeake BayHome to Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark

  2. History of Old Point ComfortWhat is the Future? Bill Armbruster Executive Director Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority

  3. History began before Jamestown • People lived in Virginia for about 17,000 years before European contact. • People throughout eastern North America lived in thousands of large villages. • The first English colony in North America that managed to survive began at Jamestown in 1607.

  4. Old Point Comfort’sstory is about Defense and Freedom • 1607: John Smith named Cape Comfort, later called Point Comfort and then, Old Point Comfort • 1609: Fort Algernourne - protect Jamestown • 1819-1834: Fort Monroe and Fort Calhoun (Fort Wool) built in response to War of 1812 • 1861: Gen. Butler’s “contraband” decision frees slaves that move behind union lines. • Post-Civil War: Artillery Corps • Since WWII: mission to train soldiers • Since 1973: headquarters for Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

  5. 1607- John Smith names "Cape Comfort" later "Old Point Comfort"fortifications 1609.

  6. 1609 Fort Algernourne-mission was to protect approaches to Jamestown colony

  7. The White Lion arrived at Old Point Comfort (today's Fort Monroe) in 1619. • The first slaves from Africa landed in Virginia at Old Point Comfort in 1619. • They were from Angola, a colony of Spain and represented one ethnic group.

  8. 1728-Fort George • In 1728, Fort George was built on the site. Its masonry walls were destroyed by a hurricane in 1749. • By the early eighteenth century, the royal customhouse, wharves, warehouses and taverns were located in the bustling seaport town of Hampton.

  9. 1802--Old Point Comfort Lighthouse • In 1802, the Old Point Comfort lighthouse was built. • The British occupied this area during the War of 1812 and used the lighthouse as a watch tower.

  10. 1819-1834 – Fort Monroe built in response to War of 1812 • Construction was led by the French military engineer, Brigadier General Simon Bernard from 1819-1834 • 2nd Lt. Robert E. Lee was a construction engineer • mission was to protect entrance to Hampton Roads

  11. 1861 to 1865 Civil War • During the Civil War the fort's population exploded from 400 to 6,000 troops. It was secure enough even for President Lincoln who visited during the height of the war • President Lincoln visit – Plan attack on Norfolk 1862 • 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads (Ironclads) Monitor vs. Virginia (Merrimac) Battle marks the end of wooden fighting ships. • Fort Monroe in Union hands throughout Civil War • The number of soldiers killed in the American Civil War 360,000 union and 260,000 confederate

  12. Freedom’s Fortress • May 23, 1861: Three escaped slaves Baker, Townsend and Malloryseek refuge at Fort Monroe. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, appointed by Abraham Lincoln as commander of Fort Monroe, declares the three to be contraband of war and refuses to send them back to their Confederate masters. • By the end of the war, more than 10,000 slaves had sought refuge in or near Fort Monroe in Hampton. • December 1863: One year after Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation, the 1st Cavalry Regiment of Colored Troops is attached to Fort Monroe.

  13. Post-Civil War-Artillery Corps

  14. Since WWII –mission has been to train soldiers for war

  15. Since 1973-headquarter for Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

  16. Resort History 1820 to 2004

  17. Chamberlin, independent living apartments and fine dining • The Chamberlin enjoys a commanding view of Chesapeake Bay. • The dining room offers a simply splendid panorama, no matter what the weather. • It is open for Sunday Brunch and Monday Lunch.

  18. Fort MonroeProperty Characteristics • 570 total acres (108 acres submerged; 85 acres of wetlands) • Almost entire property listed as a National Historic Landmark, since 1966 • 130 acres of open space; 13 acres of beach (3 miles of Bay shoreline) • Nearly 200 buildings – vast majority to be reused • 332-slip marina

  19. BRAC closure – decision made in 2005 Army vacates in September 2011 Commonwealth receives property immediately upon Army leaving – Why the Commonwealth is Obtaining Fort Monroe

  20. Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority • Established by the General Assembly in 2007 (§ 15.2-6304.1) • Will hold and manage the property • Professional staff of 4 • 18-member board • 5 Gubernatorial appointees (cabinet members) • 4 General Assembly members (Dels. Hamilton and Gear; Sens. Locke and J. Miller) • 9 Citizen appointees (7 appointed by and from City of Hampton; 2 appointed by the Governor with expertise in historic preservation and heritage tourism)

  21. Historic Preservation Advisory Group • Created by the FMFADA board • 9 members (4 appointed by Governor; State Historic Preservation Office rep; National Trust for Historic Preservation rep; 3 FMFADA appointees) • Mission: Advisory to the FMFADA board • Develop Design Guidelines for the treatment and maintenance standards for historic resources. • Design guidelines for new construction • Business Plan and Management Plan for publicly accessible buildings.

  22. Governor Kaine’s 5-point charge for Creating Re-use Plan Respect Fort Monroe’s history Large-scale open space/park area Keep it fully open to the public Limited new development within strict limits Economic sustainability 22

  23. Re-Use Planning – Process • Hampton and Hampton FADA led early efforts (2005-2006) – lots of citizen involvement; community design charrettes (~ 600 participated) • State and new FMFADA given planning responsibility in 2007 • Since 2007, have been guided by the Governor’s 5-point charge • Must follow National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process (federal law) • Determining appropriate level of adaptive re-use, open space preservation, and new development 30+ consulting parties involved (allowed by federal law)

  24. Re-Use PlanningFive Management Zones • Historic Village • Inner Fort • Entry/North Gate • Wherry Quarter • Open-Space Park Re-use activity in each zone is supported by a Technical Manual

  25. PA Protects Fort Monroe’s Landmarksand History Programmatic Agreement Interpretative Master Plan Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources 25

  26. Economics—Current Fiscal ImpactMay 2008 Analysis • Current Fort Monroe employment level • 1,705 people in uniform • 2,405 civilian and contract employees • Current Fort Monroe residents – 804 residing on the post • Current economic impact to City of Hampton – $32.04 million

  27. Real Estate planning and budget impacts Establish Virginia’s long-term plan for management of Fort Monroe, 2009 workshops to explore strategy with State Departments. Plan for phased implementation. Need for Fort Monroe line item in state budget to fund interim seed money to develop, manage and market the property beginning in July, 2009. 27

  28. Economics – The Path to Long-term Economic Sustainability • The cost of public services (utilities and public safety) and of property Operations and Maintenance (O&M) is: projected to exceed revenues (rental income, local • FY 2012 $6.7 million • FY 2013 $5.9 million • FY 2014 $5.3 million • FY 2015 $2.1 million • FY 2016 $1.65 million • FY 2017 Anticipate FortMonroe will cover expenses.

  29. Capital Improvements • Fort Monroe authority's stimulus request •$20 million — Flood protection• $15 million — Waste water collection system• $10 million — Water system improvements • $6 million — Gas system improvements• $15 million — Beach replenishment• $4.94 million — Storm water management and drainage• $4 million — Streets and sidewalks

  30. Environmental Clean-up Primary Stakeholders: US Army, DEQ, FMFADA US Army required to fund investigation and clean-up under BRAC law Planned future uses identified in Reuse Plan will be considered by DEQ when developing clean-up requirements 30

  31. National Environmental Policy Act Primary Stakeholders: US Army, DEQ, VDOT, FMFADA Army will lead NEPA effort; has committed to completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the closure of Fort Monroe (12-18 months); draft EIS due in April, final by end of 2009 31

  32. National Park Service Involvement Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark District NPS Reconnaissance Study complete FMFADA has asked NPS to provide technical assistance Currently exploring additional possible NPS roles 32

  33. Ultimate Vision for Fort Monroe – What will it look like? Lease the remarkable collection of historic homes and buildings Select buildings for visitor's services inside moated fort Short-term leases and rental of Wherry housing units Change North gate from industrial to mixed use

  34. Land Use Concepts

  35. Old Point Comfort

  36. Fort Monroe: A future for freedom’s legacy

More Related