City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 19, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, and Acceptance of a Grant Award of $900,000, to Acquire Real Property Known as the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House Located at 517 Prince Street for Historic Preservation Purposes.
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ISSUE: Council consideration of a grant application to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund (VLCF), and acceptance of a grant award of $900,000 to acquire the real property known as the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House located at 517 Prince Street, for use as a historic house museum and education center.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorize the City Manager to:
(1) Retroactively approve a grant application (submitted on July 28) to the VLCF;
(2) Accept a grant of $900,000 awarded from VLCF on September 14 with the understanding that the property be acquired for historic preservation purposes subject to open space, exterior architectural and interior woodwork easements as specified by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources; and
(3) Execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Murray-Dick-Fawcett House, located at 517 Prince Street, has long been recognized as one of the oldest, and most authentic pre-Revolutionary homes remaining in the City of Alexandria. The house was built about 1772 and documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in the 1930's, with the architectural drawings prepared at that time now held within the collections of the Library of Congress. In the 1960's the house was included within the Alexandria National Historic Landmark District, receiving the highest designation for historic recognition and protection afforded by the Federal government. Since its original cons...
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