To the Editor:
What is our goal for Alexandria? To be attractive to upper-income retirees? Or make Alexandria a place where talented young people want to live and raise a family? Judging from recent waterfront discussions, it’s the former — affluent seniors. The best research available, however, says if you want to lock in future prosperity, go for young families.
Don’t get me wrong. Waterfront development is coming along reasonably well, and I compliment leadership on its work. It’s just that we need a course correction to make sure we’re heading where we want to go and don’t drift into a dead-zone of older seasonal residents whose memories and priorities are elsewhere.
The word “families” appears only once in the 31-page “Goals” section of the Waterfront Small Area Plan. No mention of “children” at all. Fortunately “history” appears 22 times, is a key focus of the plan, and provides one way to get families and kids on the waterfront, aware of its history and environmental importance, and better yet, on the river itself learning what the river really is.
What’s the course needed correction? Refocus on Alexandria’s maritime history and boat building arts in hands-on ways. Create places where people can see woodwork artists actually building traditional boats and even spend time on the river in one of the boats. Develop memories and priorities in which Alexandria is first. Rather than yet another trendy restaurant, provide a place for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation to properly do what it already does so well and where it could do so much more for children and families.
The waterfront planners understood this. “The Plan recommends continuing the Seaport Foundation’s current activities in The Strand area, as well as exploring how the Seaport Foundation’s boat building activities could be part of a multifaceted engagement with Alexandria’s shipbuilding past, along with outdoor display of boats and boatbuilding, ‘living history’ programs onboard historic ships, and other creative approaches to involve the public.”
Foundation’s boatbuilders have constructed many stunning, traditional wooden boats, including three Potomac River dory boats (one 42’, and two 30’) and, most recently, a 28’ whaleboat built for Mystic Seaport’s restoration of the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan. The Foundation’s Potomac River dory boats and other smaller craft should be used to enjoy the river, appreciate its environmental importance, and educate families and children about Alexandria’s maritime past.
The Foundation’s main boatbuilding shop is located in 8200 square feet of space in Robinson Terminal South, which will be redeveloped under the new waterfront. For Alexandria to stay on course and keep the Seaport Foundation on the waterfront, where should the main shop go? If enabling young people to get to know the river first-hand is a priority, a location with access to Orinoco Bay would be ideal.
The Seaport Foundation is a national treasure that will attract many visitors, but more importantly, it’s a way to help young Alexandrians see living history and understand our maritime past.
Robert H. Dugger
Alexandria