Founded in 1880, the Old Dominion Boat Club has occupied its present location at the foot of King Street since 1923. Photo by John Bordner
Alexandria — My name is Miles Holtzman and I am the president of the Old Dominion Boat Club. We have been an Alexandria institution since 1880 and support many charitable activities within the city including underwriting the Fall Rowing Program for the T.C. Williams Crew Boosters and fundraising activities for those in need. Among others, our efforts have benefitted the Lombardi Cancer Center, APD Officer Peter LaBoy and children with special needs from the Alexandria Public Schools through parties and things of a like nature. We have been in our current facility since 1923 and acquired our parking lot in 1935.
As the public is well aware, the Department of Interior (DoI) and City of Alexandria have been interested in our parking lot for many decades. While the Boat Club recently prevailed against the DoI in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and acquired clear title to our property, the city's desire for our lot became more pronounced with the conception (and eventual passage) of its Waterfront Plan.
In the past two and half years we have been in an active dialogue with the city to see how we could accommodate their desires without compromising that which the courts have said we own. The six years prior to that, we participated with the DoI and the city to settle the federal litigation that, in the end, resulted in clear title to our property. This year, we have had vibrant and productive dialogues with city staff identifying 11 issues that frame our current discussion.
We appreciate the city's recent letter outlining issues requiring discussion and resolution and look forward to continuing a constructive dialogue to reach a long term settlement. The ODBC will be responding shortly to the city's letter.
Miles Holtzman
President, Old Dominion Boat Club