Back when Ravensworth Plantation stretched from Stafford to Arlington County and the land was fostered by 203 slaves, it was divided among the five grandsons of William Fitzhugh. One of the grandsons built the Oak Hill plantation, in the Braddock District, which was recently saved from bulldozers by taxpayers for $750,000.
Jane Trimber lives across the street from the Oak Hill property, a site that is dominated by old boxwoods. Last Halloween, Trimber's husband brought their children up to the house, pretending that it was haunted. She heard about the original plan by Seville Homes to build two houses close to the street.
"We're hoping it might slow traffic on the street," Trimber said of the new houses. "I'd prefer to have it this way, though."
Louisa McAllister-Vore lives across from the plantation as well.
"I'm all for spending the county money for this," McAllister-Vore said. "The house has historical significance. There will be no houses going in there as I understand it."
Oak Hill, located off Wakefield Chapel Road in Annandale, is the only remaining home built by the Fitzhugh family left in Fairfax County. It was originally built by Richard Fitzhugh in 1790 as a two-story, single-pile, wood-frame dwelling in an austere, late-Georgian style. Additions to the house were made in 1830 and 1930, and a sun room was added in the 1970s. The property was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places.
Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) heard about the Seville plans from the residents in the area. That was before the holiday season, and passed on the information to the Fairfax County Park Authority to try to save the historic property. Bulova was happy the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust Fund stepped in and put up the $750,000. The Fairfax County Park Authority will repay the money from a bond referendum that is on the November 2004 ballot.
"It's [Oak Hill] got an interesting history. The county purchased an easement over the entire property," Bulova said.
"The Park Authority will pay them [Conservation Trust] back with money from a bond referendum. The Park Authority thinks this is a good way to start preserving our historic property. Ultimately we pay for bonds with taxpayers’ money," Bulova said.
The Conservation Trust Fund is an open space preservation group, partially funded by the county, according to Bulova.
A CONCERN over how taxpayers' money was being spent was why Supervisor Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) was the only supervisor to vote against the move at the March 29 Board of Supervisors meeting. The vote was 9-1.
"I'd rather see the kids enjoy some ball fields," McConnell said. "$750,000 could go a long way towards some parks.
"With an easement, they [Seville] can ask for tax deductions," McConnell added.
Although the property is now preserved from construction, Seville owns it. When the developer decides to sell the property, the county receives first priority in purchasing it. The property and house are priced at around $2 million.
Currently, the house will be open to the public only four days out of the year. The actual dates are undecided thus far, but during the holiday season, a candlelight tour is one possibility Bulova mentioned.
Steve Corfanta of Seville Homes planned on developing the property but weighed the options. Seville paid $1.7 million for it.
"It's such a beautiful piece of land and house," Corfanta said. "Since I sold the easement at a loss, there's certain state and federal tax benefits."
"I think we actually came out way ahead, he's [Steve Corfanta] helped us save history. He takes a tax write-off, and his property taxes will be a little less," Bulova said. "I think mainly he's doing it for the right reasons."