Fort Monroe 2014 Annual Report
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2014 Annual Report 2014 Annual Report From the Chairman and Executive Director.....................1 A Major Step into the Future .........................................2 Real Estate Drives Revenue ................................. .........3 A Historic Tourist Destination ........................................4 Stewardship of Nature and History .................................5 Music, History, and the Bay Attract Visitors ....................7 2011-2014 Donors ......................................................8-9 Financials for 2013-2014 ..............................................10 Board Members ...........................................................11 2015 Events ................................................................12 The Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, created to preserve, protect, and manage Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort after the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) closure in September 2011. The Authority is governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees. fmauthority.com From the Chairman and Executive Director For more than 400 years, this spit of land in the Chesapeake Bay has been the site of historical events that have shaped our country. There have also been many periods of construction and development at Fort Monroe as the property has transitioned into new roles and uses. We are amid one of these periods again as the U.S. Army transfers ownership of Fort Monroe to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This means that we are legislatively mandated to fulfill three objectives: 1) preserve the property, 2) tell the history of Fort Monroe, and 3) move it towards economic sustainability. Created by the General Assembly in 2010, the Fort Monroe Authority (FMA) is responsible for the planning and reuse of Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort. We are pleased to report that investments are already being made in the properties, buildings, and infrastructure. An estimated 100,000 people visit the property each year, and building leases, special events, and guided tours are bringing revenue growth. Under the leadership of the 12-member Board of Trustees, and with assistance provided by the National Park Service, the City of Hampton, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, the FMA experienced significant successes in 2014. The Casemate Museum is now fully staffed and received more than 800 historic artifacts from the Army Center of Military History. All of the habitable historic homes have been rented and numerous commercial tenants now occupy the properties. Visitors to Fort Monroe enjoyed concerts, weddings, historic ceremonies, fireworks, ghost walks, and home tours. The Fort Monroe Foundation is a charitable organization that provides grants toward these events through the generous contributions of donors, sponsors, and local giving campaigns. These grants provide the opportunity for people to learn the history of this property while also experiencing the attributes of its location on the Chesapeake Bay. The FMA has adopted the slogan “Where Freedom Lives!” to describe this historic community. The slogan is inspired by the three slaves —Frank Baker, Sheppard Mallory, and James Townsend—whose escape from Confederate forces to Fort Monroe paved the way for more than 10,000 slaves to seek their emancipation at Freedom’s Fortress. We hope that our successes will inspire you to want to join us in our efforts. Volunteers are always welcome at Fort Monroe and donations to the Foundation are greatly appreciated. To learn more, please visit www.fmauthority.com, or call our office for a visit or tour. John R. Lawson II G. Glenn Oder, ASLA Chairman Executive Director, Fort Monroe Authority 1 A Major Step into the Future The transfer of the property was the most significant accomplishment at Fort Monroe in 2014. During the FMA’s first full year as managers of 312 acres of land on the property, we became responsible for the management of 176 historic housing units and approximately 1.2 million square feet of commercial space. The Army and the FMA maintain the utility systems, building maintenance, and security on the properties they respectively control. During the FMA’s first Planning for the future is also an important part of the mission for the FMA. In full year as managers partnership with the Fort Monroe Foundation, the FMA decided to employ a of 312 acres of land team of landscape architects, engineers, and architects to plan and program on the property, we approximately seven miles of waterfront at Fort Monroe. The team of designers, led by WPL Site Design, will begin the design process in 2015. became responsible for the management The Fort Monroe Foundation completed a successful year of fundraising in 2014 of 176 historic housing and provided significant support to the special events at Fort Monroe. Corporate sponsors provided the resources for concerts in Continental Park and a Fourth of July units and approximately fireworks display from the top of the fort’s ramparts. Naming rights sponsors provided 1.2 million square feet of the resources to cover the expenses associated with new exhibits in the Casemate commercial space. Museum, a ghost walk program inside the fortress, and production costs associated with the Mistletoe Home Tours. The combined attendance at all of these events exceeded 30,000 visitors. The foundation also received two restricted donations of $50,000 each to pay for the conceptual master plan for the Fort Monroe Waterfront Park. This design project will provide the basis for future capital campaigns associated with improvements to the shoreline and public spaces along the Fort Monroe waterfront. 2|fmauthority.com Real Estate Drives Revenue Everywhere we look at Fort Monroe there has been significant progress toward growing this community into a place to live, work, and play as we celebrate our country’s rich history. The FMA staff has been hard at work over the past several years, and the increases in real estate occupancy best illustrate the transformation of Fort Monroe. In 2014, our residential occupancy rate exceeded 90 percent, and a significant portion of the usable commercial real estate space is now occupied. These two factors produced a significant increase in rental income from residential and commercial leases. Market factors give us reason to believe this trend will continue for some time to come. There are a number of projects on the horizon that will increase our capacity and attract more interest in Fort Monroe. They include: Liberty Source This outsourcing company, which will primarily employ members of the local military community, is leasing 12,000 square feet of space in buildings 259 and 260, and will possibly bring up to 600 jobs to Fort Monroe. The company has already hired about 100 employees. Alternatives, Inc. The FMA has agreed on terms to lease approximately 5,800 square feet in Building 263 to this organization. This company has about a dozen employees, and it collaborates with other programs to develop a sense of altruism, self-confidence, self-efficacy, social competency, critical thinking, and an appreciation of diversity in young people. The conversion of Building 80 into a multi-family housing development When completed, the building will have eight one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units. The project already has a waiting list. Constructed in 1897, this building served as a bachelors’ quarters and as visiting personnel quarters. The conversion of Building 83 into an office building for the Fort Monroe Authority This building will enable the Authority to accommodate public meetings and activities in addition to bringing its staff together in one facility. Constructed in 1898, this building served as the Post Office for Fort Monroe. 3 A Historic Tourist Destination The Casemate Museum has also been a major attraction, bringing people from around the globe to learn about Fort Monroe’s role in American history. 2014 marked the start of a new era in the Casemate’s history when FMA officially took control of the Casemate Museum. In addition, the United States Army’s Center of Military History gifted the museum some 844 artifacts. This is one of the largest artifacts transfers by the U.S. Army in more than 150 years. The acquisition of these artifacts was made possible as a result of an operational and ownership change, which we expect will continue to grow the collection and make the museum even more attractive for visitors and enthusiasts. Casemate Museum staff are working with individuals and other museums to bring new items to Fort Monroe. The museum also introduced new program opportunities. The staff collaborated with the National Park Service, the City of Hampton, Project 1619, and the Contraband Historical Society to develop a full day of interpretive programming to commemorate Contraband Day on May 24, 2014. Plans are for this to become an annual event. Statistics show visitation to the Casemate is on the rise, up about 12 percent year over year for 2014 compared to 2013. This is the result of increased tour offerings. School children and social and professional groups have made up the majority of the guided tours. For example, during the past year every senior from Hampton City Schools visited the museum for a guided tour. The museum’s dedicated volunteers make these types of tour offerings possible. Volunteers logged nearly 2,000 hours during 2014. We are looking forward to an exciting year in 2015, with more planned exhibits, tours, and programs designed to engage the