Just as Abraham Lincoln encircled Washington, D. C., with a string of forts during the Civil War, Lee District is being encircled with a boundary of colorful signs. Incorporating a public/private partnership with local real estate companies, Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) is the moving force behind these signs, which are intended to define boundaries, establish community and give citizens a feeling of ownership.
"It helps identify where Lee District begins," Kauffman said. "We'd like to get several more in logical locations, we want people to know when they are in Lee District."
The third sign in the project was unveiled on Friday, Aug. 29, in the island on Old Keene Mill Road, right in front of St. Bernadette church. This sign was paid for by Rappaport Properties, which manages Springfield Plaza. The other two existing signs, financed by Archstone Properties, are on an island in the Springfield-Franconia Parkway and on Van Dorn Street, north of the Franconia Road intersection.
"These signs wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the private sector," Kauffman said.
Bob Heittman is the transportation commissioner in Kauffman's office. His contact with Archstone led to its participation. It was a verbal process and not in the proffers.
"That was amazing how Archstone stepped up to the plate," Heittman said.
At first sight of the signs, bypassing motorists called Kauffman's office, complaining about county funds being spent for the signs. Kauffman had to explain that they were privately funded.
"Now folks are glad to see them," he said.
TWO MORE SIGNS are in the works around Lee District as well, both at locations along Telegraph Road. Permits were obtained from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the additional signs.
"Now we have to get someone to beautify the area, to do some landscaping," Heittman said.
Chairman Katherine Hanley (D) of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors attended the unveiling. She looked at the signs as a way to define local government.
"Anything that we can do to promote a sense of place," Hanley said. "Our local government depends on the magisterial districts."
Although no other district has boundary signs exactly like this, Braddock District has two announcement boards, similar to bulletin boards. One is along Braddock Road near Wakefield Park, and the other is along Shirley Gate Road. The Shirley Gate sign is on the boundary, but the Braddock Road sign is just outside the Beltway, which is not the Braddock District boundary.
Supervisor Sharon Bulova's (D-Braddock) signs were first, though, a fact she stands behind. They went up in the mid-1990s, and she had been approached by Kauffman since then.
"Dana was the only one who was interested," she said.
The Braddock announcement boards were paid for by private contributors and funds from the Braddock District Council, which is composed of civic associations in the Braddock District.