To the Editor:
On May 15, Amy Smith, a resident of the Nethergate community, located at the intersection of Bashford and Abingdon Roads, attended a meeting of the Board of Architecture Review (BAR) in order to petition the Board for a Certificate of Appropriateness, allowing her to retain the new windows she had installed which in part were made of vinyl. I attended this meeting and was stunned by the rudeness of this board.
Ms. Smith is a very conscientious homeowner. She purchased new state of the art windows for her townhouse, combining historic accuracy with new environmental technology. Her windows were an improvement in the neighborhood, where most of the townhouses still have the old original windows with unattractive storm windows. Before acting she sought and received approval from her Homeowners Association to install these windows in keeping with the character and aesthetics of the community. However, because a portion of the windows were clad in vinyl and because Ms. Smith and her contractor had mistakenly not sought prior approval, the Architectural Board demanded a hearing.
What was stunning was the hubris of the members of this board at the public hearing. Ms. Smith had carefully prepared a power point presentation, including film footage of the windows. She was rudely told it was not necessary, as all members had visited the actual location (not true). Similarly, her contractor was dismissed by the board when he brought in an actual example of the construction of the windows. It was as if the Board had already made up its mind, denying her petition without even listening to the merits.
This case is not just about Ms. Smith. It is about all residents of Alexandria, who love their city, respect its history and are dedicated and responsible homeowners. Soon many residents will need upgrades to their homes. Will we all be forced to use 19th century technology? Do the citizens of this splendid city really want to be held captive by a Board that acts rudely and inflexibly without giving a fair hearing to citizens’ needs and concerns?
Alexandria City Council should review the practices of the Architectural Board in an effort to improve their relations with and responsiveness to community needs.