City of Alexandria, Virginia
_____________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 5, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Purchase and Sales Agreement to Purchase Property at 1315 Duke Street and 225A S. Payne Street.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a purchase and sales agreement to purchase property located at 1315 Duke Street and 225A S. Payne Street.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council (1) ratify the attached purchase and sales agreement with the Northern Virginia Urban League (NVUL) to purchase property located at 1315 Duke Street and 225A S. Payne Street for $1,800,000, and (2) authorize the City Manager to establish a fundraising account at the ACT for Alexandria Community Foundation.
BACKGROUND: The historic Freedom House at 1315 Duke Street, constructed initially around 1812 served as the headquarters and slave pen of the largest slave trading firm in the United States in the first half of the 19th Century and has local and national significance to slavery. The property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978, a designation reserved for resources that represent an outstanding aspect of American history and culture. The property was purchased by the Northern Virginia Urban League in 1997 and has served as office and program space for the organization, as well as contained a small lower level museum.
In 2018, in order to generate interest in the museum/building, the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) in collaboration with the League implemented expanded access to the site by the public including Saturday hours supported by City staffing. In addition, the City entered into a Loan and Preservation Partnership Agreement with the League of up to $63,000 to fund nine (9) months of monthly $6,000 mortgage payments on 1315 Duke Street as well as pay up to $1,000 per month in utility expenses. The intent of these City funded mortgage and utility payments w...
Click here for full text