Download Old Point Comfort - Fort Monroe Authority

Old Point Comfort is a barrier spit at
Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay
Home to Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark
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History of Old Point Comfort
What is the Future?
Bill Armbruster
Executive Director
Fort Monroe Federal Area Development
Authority
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History began before Jamestown
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People lived in Virginia for about 17,000
years before European contact.
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People throughout eastern North America
lived in thousands of large villages.
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The first English colony in North America
that managed to survive began at
Jamestown in 1607.
Old Point Comfort’s story is about
Defense and Freedom
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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)
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1607- John Smith names "Cape Comfort"
later "Old Point Comfort" fortifications 1609.
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1609 Fort Algernourne-mission was to
protect approaches to Jamestown colony
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The White Lion arrived at Old Point
Comfort (today's Fort Monroe) in 1619.
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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.
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1728-Fort George
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In 1728, Fort George was
built on the site. Its
masonry walls were
destroyed by a hurricane
in 1749.
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By the early eighteenth
century, the royal
customhouse, wharves,
warehouses and taverns
were located in the
bustling seaport town of
Hampton.
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1802--Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
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In 1802, the Old
Point Comfort
lighthouse was built.
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The British occupied
this area during the
War of 1812 and used
the lighthouse as a
watch tower.
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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
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mission was to protect
entrance to Hampton
Roads
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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
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President Lincoln visit – Plan attack on Norfolk 1862
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1862 Battle of Hampton Roads (Ironclads)
Monitor vs. Virginia (Merrimac) Battle marks the end of wooden
fighting ships.
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Fort Monroe in Union hands throughout Civil War
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The number of soldiers killed in the American Civil War 360,000
union and 260,000 confederate
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Freedom’s Fortress
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May 23, 1861: Three escaped slaves Baker,
Townsend and Mallory seek 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.
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Post-Civil War-Artillery Corps
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Since WWII –mission has been
to train soldiers for war
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Since 1973-headquarter for Training and
Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
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Resort History 1820 to 2004
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Chamberlin, independent living
apartments and fine dining
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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.
Fort Monroe
Property Characteristics

570 total acres (108 acres submerged; 85 acres
of wetlands)
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Almost entire property listed as a National
Historic Landmark, since 1966
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130 acres of open space; 13 acres of beach (3
miles of Bay shoreline)
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Nearly 200 buildings – vast majority to be reused
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332-slip marina
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Why the Commonwealth is
Obtaining Fort Monroe

BRAC closure – decision
made in 2005

Army vacates in
September 2011

Commonwealth receives
property immediately upon
Army leaving –
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Fort Monroe Federal Area
Development Authority
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Established by the General Assembly in 2007 (§ 15.2-6304.1)
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Will hold and manage the property
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Professional staff of 4
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18-member board
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5 Gubernatorial appointees (cabinet members)
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4 General Assembly members (Dels. Hamilton and Gear; Sens.
Locke and J. Miller)
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9 Citizen appointees (7 appointed by and from City of
Hampton; 2 appointed by the Governor with expertise in
historic preservation and heritage tourism)
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Historic Preservation
Advisory Group
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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
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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.
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Governor Kaine’s 5-point charge
for Creating Re-use Plan
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Respect Fort Monroe’s
history
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Large-scale open
space/park area
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Keep it fully open to the
public
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Limited new
development within
strict limits
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Economic sustainability
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Re-Use Planning – Process
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Hampton and Hampton FADA led early efforts (2005-2006)
– lots of citizen involvement; community design charrettes
(~ 600 participated)
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State and new FMFADA given planning responsibility in
2007
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Since 2007, have been guided by the Governor’s 5-point
charge
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Must follow National Historic Preservation Act Section 106
process (federal law)
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Determining appropriate level of adaptive re-use, open
space preservation, and new development 30+ consulting
parties involved (allowed by federal law)
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Re-Use Planning
Five Management Zones
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Historic Village
Inner Fort
Entry/North Gate
Wherry Quarter
Open-Space Park
Re-use activity in
each zone is supported
by a Technical
Manual
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PA Protects Fort Monroe’s
Landmarks and History
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Programmatic
Agreement
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Interpretative Master
Plan
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Virginia’s Department of
Historic Resources
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Economics—Current Fiscal Impact
May 2008 Analysis
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Current Fort Monroe employment level
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1,705 people in uniform
2,405 civilian and contract employees
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Current Fort Monroe residents – 804
residing on the post
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Current economic impact to City of
Hampton – $32.04 million
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Real Estate planning and budget impacts
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Establish Virginia’s long-term plan for management of Fort
Monroe, 2009 workshops to explore strategy with State
Departments. Plan for phased implementation.
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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.
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Economics – The Path to Long-term
Economic Sustainability
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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
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FY 2012 $6.7 million
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FY 2013 $5.9 million
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FY 2014 $5.3 million
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FY 2015 $2.1 million
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FY 2016 $1.65 million
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FY 2017 Anticipate Fort Monroe will cover expenses.
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Capital Improvements
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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
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Environmental Clean-up
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Primary Stakeholders: US Army, DEQ, FMFADA
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US Army required to fund investigation and clean-up under
BRAC law
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Planned future uses identified in Reuse Plan will be
considered by DEQ when developing clean-up requirements
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National Environmental Policy Act
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Primary Stakeholders: US Army, DEQ, VDOT, FMFADA
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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
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National Park Service Involvement
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Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark
District
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NPS Reconnaissance Study complete
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FMFADA has asked NPS to provide technical
assistance
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Currently exploring additional possible NPS
roles
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Ultimate Vision for Fort Monroe –
What will it look like?
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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
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Land Use Concepts
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Old Point Comfort
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Fort Monroe: A future
for freedom’s legacy
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