Fort Monroe HRI Proposal Put on Hold

By Daniel Curran

March 1, 2011

"It's not the merits of the project, it's the time frame," said Terrie Suit, Chair of the Fort Monroe Authority. "We have hit a barrier of the site control documents, we will not authorize Bill Armbruster to sign over the site control documents."

HRI's response, "We urge you to re-consider, if you are interested in doing the project this year; and this project not being put off for a year."

"The time to consider this is too short," said Ms. Suit, "We are a public body, we have to provide the public and the board time to consider. The board feels that we should not rush this project."

"The City remains committed to realizing the vision set forth for Fort Monroe in the adopted reuse plans. Building 5 is a wonderfully special and unique historic building that deserves preservation in an equally special and unique manner," City Manager Mary Bunting stated.

Statement from Fort Monroe Authority March 1, 2011

"The Fort Monroe Authority Executive Committee voted to move a proposal to adaptively re-use historic buildings inside the moated fort for housing to the full board for consideration without endorsement.  It is unlikely, however, that HRI Properties will present to the full board March 24, 2011 as the Executive Committee did not authorize execution of site control documents in the developers favor without full Board consideration.  HRI properties represented to the Executive Committee that without the executed site control documents they could not apply for VHDA tax credits by a March 11, 2011 deadline.  Members of the Executive Committee commented that HRI Properties is a quality historic preservation developer and welcomes consideration of proposals in the future."

What happened...Tuesday morning, the Fort Monroe Authority Executive Committee met in Williamsburg. During the meeting, the committee was to vote on whether or not to allow the firm Historic Restorations Incorporated's (HRI) proposal to go for a hearing before the full Board of Trustees.

About 55 people were at the meeting, of those, about 30 were audience. Gordon Helsel was also present for the meeting.

Chair Terrie Suit talked aboout why the meeting was held in Williamsburg. "First, we had scheduling conflicts. Some of the members are coming in from Richmond. We had to be able to get everyone here. Next, we thought it would be nice to hole the meeting in an are that had been successfully historically revitilized."

Bill Armbruster: "We have been contacted by many developers over the last one and a half years. This HRI proposal is the first detailed proposal we have received."

Member's of HRI's team made their presentation.

Hampton Mayor Molly Ward (who is a member of the Executive Committee) voiced her opposition to the project. "Apartments are not a special use. The re-use plan calls for a special use. I do not believe this is a special use. Fort Monroe is a National Treasure. We need to have a huge standard of care. The development company HRI is fine, it's the project we are opposed to. We don't believe the project to be a proper use of the plan for Fort Monroe. These buildings, especially building Five, are supposed to have a grand plan; something like a museum, or college. Not mixed-income apartments.For us to cave in already would be shortsighted."

Colin G.Campbell:"It's a policy issue. I have a hard time saying we should stop something like this from going to the full board." Steve Owens, the Attorney for the group:"Everybody's kind of right. This is a policy decision not a legal decision about how to interpret the re-use plan."

Then came the public comments. Each speaker had two to three minutes address the committee. The following are excerpts from the citizen speakers; Scott Butler spoke for the group Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park. He said, "We were opposed to the project. We are now much less concerned since we met with Mr. Armbruster. We now support the proposal."

John Gergely: "Fort Monroe needs tourism. They've already admitted they want to restrict parking. Tourism is the only thing that is going to keep Fort Monroe from dying."

Karin Debwiler:"I am a resident of downtown Hampton. This project is worse because it's inside the moat. This is a National Treasure.Apartments have never attracted visitors. You are moving to fast."

John Quarstein: "Fort Monroe is not a place for affordable houusing. Several museums have requested to come on. Fort Monroe needs heritage and beach tourism."

Christine Gergely:'We need a museum committee. We need a museum inside the moat. Building Fivr would compliment the Casemate. I know you need quick money,but you need to think of the heritage. No housing ever in Building Five." After the public speaking period ended, the committee voted to allow the proposal to move forward for a hearing by the full Board of Trustees.

Here is how they voted: Molly Joseph Ward: No
Terry Suit: Yes
Collin G. Campbell: Yes
James Church: Yes
John R. Lawson:Yes

The committee then went in to closed session for about an hour. When they came out, the committee called for the HRI presentation team. Committee Chair Terrie Suit told the HRI team. "We want to be clear. Although we have voted to allow you to present to the full board, we have not authorized you to take control of the property."

A Spokesman for the developer responded by saying they must apply to VHDA by the March 11, 2011 deadline, and to do that they must have control of the property. If the Executive committe did not reconsider and give control of the property, the property would have to wait until next year for the project to start.

The committe "was not inclined" to give control.

The developer HRI said they would be in touch.

The Executive Committee adjourned.