Letters To the Editor

A Historic Mistake For Old Alexandria

Alexandria is considered one of the most historic cities in the country. Four of our first five presidents, who were Virginians, walked these streets on a daily basis. For the past 259 years, people throughout the United States and overseas have visited our city, because over the years we have vigilantly attempted to maintain our historic preservation.

In the June 26 edition of The Washington Post, the president of the Alexandria Sculpture Festival stated that "until now, Alexandrians' concept of contemporary art was George Washington sitting on a horse." In addition, he also asserted that "Alexandria will come into the 21st century" by accepting the Van Alstine sculpture. The fact of the matter is that the Guidelines of Historic Preservation in Alexandria (all 197 pages) truly reflect why we are oriented toward keeping this city in the 18th and 19th century. We are one of a very small number of cities that has maintained its historic preservation.

The City Council had every right to accept the sculpture. However, it was dictated to by the Alexandria Sculpture Festival, which stipulated that the sculpture be placed at the southwest corner of King and Fayette streets. This totally disregards the desires of the citizens residing in the Old and Historic District. The council forgot to mention due process. The approval given the Alexandria Sculpture Festival essentially "end ran" the formal legislative process and went directly to council. When can any Tom, Dick or Harry walk into the mayor's office and get instant approval for their project? It just doesn't happen without going through the carefully laid out public hearing process.

To make matters worse, Paul Smedberg, who is the only council member who lives in the Old and Historic District, made the motion before council to approve the acceptance and placement of the sculpture. So much for looking after the interests of one's immediate constituencies. Please don't tell us that you represent the interests of Old Town.

We already have one of these "red herrings" on the corner of King and Diagonal, it's the "tri-foil" or the Colonial Hat. Why do we need another? Bit by bit, many pejorative changes to the historic fabric of King Street are continually being approved by council and the Board of Architectural Review. If we truly want our city to maintain its historic preservation, we have to put the brakes on right now.

Everyone I have talked to that has seen photos of the Van Alstine sculpture views it as a phallic symbol. This is indeed a cruel joke on Alexandria's citizenry. This sculpture will essentially be giving the citizens, tourists and passersby "the bird." I have a gut feeling that is exactly what was intended.

There are literally thousands of other suitable places outside the Old and Historic District where the Van Alstine sculpture can be placed. Van Alstine himself recommended the sculpture be placed on a grass parapet. The sculpture is not historically compatible with any other feature or structure within the historic district. The dysfunctional Board of Architectural Review needs to be reconstituted!

Townsend A. "Van"

Van Fleet

Alexandria