20121214,0,843952.Story Consultant: Sustainability D

Media coverage since December 2012

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-december-meeting- 20121214,0,843952.story Consultant: Sustainability decades away at Fort Monroe Conservation groups asking preservation not take a back seat to economics By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 December 14, 2012

HAMPTON — The cost of operating Fort Monroe will continue to outpace revenue indefinitely unless the state agency overseeing the property finds creative ways to earn money, according to an accounting firm hired to plan the property's future.

Just three options are being considered for Fort Monroe's master plan, all of which run an operating deficit exceeding $3 million annually, according to a presentation given Thursday by master planner Sasaki Associates.

Those options include reusing the existing buildings for civilian uses, creating a Wherry Quarter park, and building homes in Wherry.

Wherry Quarter — an area north and east of the stone fort that is not included in the National Park Service monument — has been a focus for Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park, which has lobbied for that 72-acre area to remain park land.

The area has been a wild card of sorts throughout the planning process. While public input has overwhelmingly supported green space in Wherry Quarter, state officials have said developing that property may be vital to making Fort Monroe economically sustainable.

"We see it as an economic benefit to use that area as park space," said Scott Butler, of the Citizens group. "There are some tourism revenues that we feel haven't been considered."

The Fort Monroe Authority has hired consultants to create a master plan to transition the property from military uses to civilian uses. Thursday was the public's first opportunity to see how reuse options may align with expenses related to keeping Fort Monroe open.

"You need to bridge that revenue gap," said Fred Merrill, of Sasaki Associates. "You need to enhance your revenues by finding a lot of small funding sources and reworking your agreements with everyone, including the city."

The Fort Monroe Authority expects to receive $13.2 million this year, with about $8.8 million of that coming from the state. Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder has said the General Assembly will likely wean Fort Monroe off of those state funds with the hopes the property can become self sustaining in a few years.

The authority will need to decide how to generate revenue, but hasn't determined whether that means including new construction, charging to use certain amenities or increasing rents for tenants.

Building a large number of homes on the property is not the immediate answer, said David Shiver, of BAE Urban Economics.

In his presentation, Shiver said the three options Sasaki is considering show budget gaps of $3.3 million to $4.8 million annually once the fort loses its state funding. The largest difference between those plans is whether Wherry Quarter will be used for residential purposes.

Shiver said the Fort Monroe Authority should push to attract large "anchor tenants," such as the Virginia STEAM Academy — a school focusing on science, technology, engineering and applied mathematics.

"There are a number of different paths to close those economic deficits that you have to look at," he said.

What's next

This winter: Refine the property's economic model

Spring 2013: Meet with the Fort Monroe groups to discuss the more complete plan

Summer 2013: Submit the recommended master plan to the governor

More online

Sasaki's presentation: http://www.fmauthority.com/component/content/article/104-fma- board-of-trustees-meeting-december-12-2012

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0287dadf2a4741c49547fa4b2f87cbed/VA--Fort- Monroe Consultants conclude Fort Monroe future plans need more revenue HAMPTON, Virginia — The redevelopment of historic Fort Monroe needs new sources of revenue to make it financially self-sustainable. The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/Rs1P81) says consultants studying the Hampton fort's rebirth delivered that message Thursday to a meeting of the Fort Monroe Authority. The consultants sized up three redevelopment plans and concluded that none would generate enough revenue to offset expenses. The stone fortress on Chesapeake Bay was a military base until September 2011, when the Army moved out. A little over half of its 570 acres will be managed by the park service. The Fort Monroe Authority will oversee the reuse of the rest of the property. ___ Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-nws-edt-letsmon-1217- 20121216,0,3646895.story Dec. 17 Letters: Fort Monroe, welcome legal aid, Hampton, recycling cans

Re: "Consultant: Sustainability decades away at Fort Monroe."

According to the master-plan consultants at the last Fort Monroe Authority meeting, there is no magic revenue bullet for the historic site. None of the three options they presented, including those with aggressive residential or commercial development in Wherry, would make the FMA property self-sustaining. Each economic model requires additional sources of revenue. Also, the amount of shortfall between a developed Wherry and a green Wherry--characterized as an expense never covered, say, by the state parks or the NPS--is the relatively small amount of $.3- $1.5 million per year.

What this means is that there is no compelling financial reason to develop Wherry and thereby diminish Fort Monroe. Instead, the FMA should focus its energies on creating the other sources of revenue it will need anyway. Moreover, a green Wherry could play a major role in this extra revenue generation. By enhancing Fort Monroe's beauty and historic ambience, it would help attract high-profile anchor tenants, who in turn would attract other tenants--to say nothing of increasing the whole region's appeal to knowledge-based and creative businesses that appreciate a high quality of life. It would also attract tourists and repeat local visitors, an income source the FMA must find ways to tap to achieve self-sustainability. And Wherry Park itself could figure directly in the latter enterprise as, for example, a venue for large-scale outdoor events like concerts.

On the basis of the planners' recommendations, Wherry Park, not Wherry Office Park or Wherry Bayshore Village, is the best choice for Fort Monroe.

Scott Butler Board member, Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park Newport News

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/plans-fort-monroe-all-come-short-cash-0 Plans for Fort Monroe all come up short on cash By Sarah Kleiner Varble The Virginian-Pilot © December 14, 2012

HAMPTON Consultants studying the redevelopment of Fort Monroe said Thursday the historic site's governing board must find new streams of revenue to make it financially self-sustainable. A group of consultants presented financial analyses for redevelopment plans during a meeting of the Fort Monroe Authority board of trustees, but none of the plans would generate enough revenue to offset expenses of operating the site. David Shiver, Fred Merrill of Sasaki Associates and Eric Rothman, president of HR&A Advisors Inc., presented potential revenue generated by three separate redevelopment plans. One would focus on office or commercial development, another promotes residential development, and a third calls for leaving the Wherry Quarter district open and free from development. Without raising additional revenue, the deficits between revenue and expenses for each plan by 2027 would be, respectively, $4.5 million, $3.3 million and $4.8 million. Shiver suggested several ideas to generate revenue, including focusing on residential rather than office development, charging conservation fees and pursuing two major tenants that could be used as a marketing tool. One of those could be the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics Academy. The board approved a memorandum of understanding Thursday that allows the STEAM Academy to study the feasibility of using some of the fort's buildings. Construction of Fort Monroe began in 1819 to prevent an attack on Hampton Roads and to control access to Washington, Richmond and Norfolk. It is the largest stone fort ever built in the U.S. Fort Monroe remained a military base until September 2011, when the Army moved its personnel to comply with a 2005 base closure decision. A little more than half of its 570 acres will be managed by the park service. A state entity, the Fort Monroe Authority, will oversee reuse of the rest of the property, including limited development in certain sections, such as Wherry Quarter. The district is northeast of the fort and consists mostly of warehouses, utility buildings, parking, some open space and low-cost housing units built in the 1950s for military personnel. Sarah Kleiner Varble, 757-446-2318, [email protected]

http://articles.dailypress.com/2012-12-24/news/dp-nws-fort-monroe-stanwix- 20121224_1_fort-monroe-national-monument-national-park-service

Lessons for Fort Monroe at Fort Stanwix: An urban national monument

Fortification has been on protected land since the 1970s

A service ranger walks past Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY. Source: Robert Brauchle (Robert Brauchle, Daily…) December 24, 2012|By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 ROME, N.Y. — Soldiers standing guard at the rural outpost of Fort Stanwix in the 1770s spent countless hours peering through the wood battlements at tall grass and shrubs, searching for signs of friend and foe. The fort in New York's Mohawk Valley kept hostile British troops and Native Americans away from the colony's towns and cities and allowed the government to monitor and tax trappers and travelers heading west.

In 1777, troops here repelled a monthlong siege by British forces trying to advance toward the Hudson Valley. Three years later, troops abandoned the fort, leaving it in disrepair.

For just two decades, Fort Stanwix played an active role in U.S. military history. To honor that involvement, the National Park Service rebuilt the fort in the 1970s as monument to the country's bicentennial anniversary.

The view from atop the fort's walls today is a stark contrast.

A nail salon, dry cleaner and hardware stand outside Fort Stanwix National Monument. The blare of car horns and diesel engines from passing traffic is incessant, even in the fort's inner sanctum.

While the history and creation of Fort Stanwix varies from Fort Monroe, the fortified national park in New York offers a glimpse of what officials in Hampton can expect from the park service monument here.

Stream of visitors

Tourism related to Fort Stanwix has had a multimillion-dollar impact on the city of Rome and the surrounding area, according to a 2011 study on the national monument site.

National Park Service researchers found the park added $3.5 million to the local economy from visitor spending and payroll from jobs directly linked to the park during that year.

The park employed 19 people who received $1.2 million in salaries in 2011.

Those jobs and the 102,874 individual visits to the park meant businesses throughout the region benefited from Fort Stanwix, said Bill Guglielmo, president of the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce.

"The businesses here see results when we hold events at Stanwix," he said. "Not just here in downtown, but so do the shops and hotels along the highway and at the casino."

For Stanwix is a 20-minute drive to Turning Stone Resort Casino a major economic engine run by the Oneida Indian Nation. The Oneida Indian Nation has also provided historical re-enactors during events at Fort Stanwix, said fort superintendent Deborah Conway.

"It's very important for us to have strong relationships with the community, whether it's the Rotary Club or the local Native American community," she said. "We want people to know we're here and that they can come visit whenever they like."

Educational role

The National Park Service also has a role in educating people in the surrounding community.

"I'll be in my uniform at the grocery store and people will come up and ask where I work," Conway said. "I have to tell them that I work at the Fort Stanwix, the national park. There are people who don't know we have this gem right in their backyards."

So what can Fort Monroe officials take from a park site nearly 600 miles away?

For a start, keep the education component. Fort Stanwix invites a stream of school children to tour the site each year.

"They might bring their parents back, and if they have a good time they might come again and again," Conway said. "When I tell people where I work, I remind them it's free so its the cheapest date in town."

Fort Monroe would seem to have several advantages over Fort Stanwix that could lead to a significantly larger economic impact.

Fort Stanwix, at 16 acres, is the size of a large city park. Fort Monroe, at about 560 acres, feels is an entire community.

Fort Stanwix is in the midst of a city, with busy streets on every side. Aside from a visitors center, the only structure on the site is the rebuilt wooden fort itself.

Fort Monroe is a waterfront property with expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay. It includes a number of historic buildings, a marina and acres of usable land. And the moated fort itself is not a re-creation.

"We have the actual original fabric right here," said Fort Monroe National Monument Superintendent Kirsten Talken-Spaulding. "People really identify with and are attracted to having the actual stone fort."

Regional resource

The Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau sees Fort Monroe as a regional resource for Hampton, even though the group has not been hired to directly market Fort Monroe, said executive director Sallie Grant-DeVenuti.

"Everyone is still trying to wrap their arms around what will happen there," Grant-DeVenuti said. "We see it as an asset and we're using it in our marketing material, but how exactly Fort Monroe fits into the larger picture is still something that is falling into place."

The visitors bureau is an arm of the city; the state is in charge of marketing Fort Monroe.

Grant-DeVenuti said visitors to Old Point Comfort will likely visit Hampton to eat, shop and spend the night. Not marketing Fort Monroe as an attraction in Hampton would be foolish, she said. http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-nws-letssun-1230-20121230,0,7272108.story

December 30, 2012

Fort Monroe possibilities

I attended the Dec. 13 Fort Monroe Authority public board meeting and learned that a final decision on the fort's Master Plan would be made during the summer of 2013. Two more public meetings will be held before the governor has to approve. Therefore, I was quite surprised to read in a recent letter to the editor that Scott Butler of Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park and a vocal green Wherry Quarter advocate, wrote that the planners recommended the Wherry Park option as the "best choice" for Fort Monroe. After double checking, I was correct. The planners have merely narrowed their choices down from five to three options, to include Wherry Park. Coincidentally, the "no development" Wherry Park option is the most "costly choice" for the Virginia taxpayer, with an approximately 4.8 million dollar deficit annually.

It is my opinion, that the fort, is a unique, historic site, that with its prominent shoreline location can "stand alone" in attracting visitors. Will it draw repeat tourist visits? Ask yourself, how many times have you visited Thomas Jefferson's Montecello or Gettysburg which are also unique historic sites?

It is significant to note that the planners suggest the need for a second attraction that would draw visitors from Virginia and adjacent states. I suggest we reserve about 40 acres of North Wherry Park now, and when the economy improves, build a compatible "grand" resort/casino there. This will eliminate the winter tourist doldrums, draw repeat visitors, and eliminate millions of dollars of forecast annual operating deficits.

Thomas S. Brzozowski Newport News http://insidehampton.com/stories/454873-romance-of-fort-monroe-to-be-held-feb-10-11

Romance of Fort Monroe to be held Feb. 10-11 An event called the Romance of Fort Monroe will be held Sunday, Feb. 10 and Monday, Feb. 11 at the Casemate Museum in Hampton. The free event will start at 6:30 p.m. both days. According to a press release, "The event is a Valentine candlelight tour of historic Fort Monroe. Reservations are required." Casemate Museum is located at 20 Bernard Road, Fort Monroe, Hampton. For more information, call 757-788-3391.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-transformed-military-bases- 20121227,0,2796065.story

Charting Fort Monroe's path through other closed bases

former Griffiss Air Force base is now a business and technology park. (Robert Brauchle, Daily Press / November 13, 2012)

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 December 27, 2012

ROME, N.Y. — On a sunny November morning, a dozen or so passenger jets are parked like cars at a repair shop on the tarmac at Griffiss Business and Technology Park.

With a wing missing here, and a tail missing there, these passenger jets are being repaired and overhauled by companies specializing in such services.

The operators of the former Griffiss Air Force Base have found a path toward prosperity in the two-mile runway used by B-52 bombers during the Cold War.

There was no cookie-cutter approach to redeveloping the 3,500-acre base or simple outline for success, said Steve DiMeo, president of the Griffiss Local Development Corp., the group overseeing the property's redevelopment.

The military closed the facility in 1995 after fears of a communist attack dissolved with the Soviet Union.

"We needed to make sure we had both the political support and the community support for everything we did," DiMeo said. "Without the community supporting what we wanted to do, we knew we'd have little chance of getting off the ground."

Sticking to a plan

Even though Griffiss is more than six times the size of Fort Monroe, its owner, Oneida County, faces many of the same challenges — maintaining and upgrading water and sewer lines, roads and buildings and razing unusable buildings.

"It's really a city within a city," Oneida County Executive Tony Picente said. "We were left the keys and left to keep the water running and the streets plowed. It was a daunting task at first."

The development corporation has followed the site's capital plan with a "religious" zeal, which has saved money over the long term and made the property more attractive to tenants, DiMeo said.

"The secret for us was having a good redevelopment plan," he said. "There at Fort Monroe, they need to understand the dynamics of the marketplace."

Using the facility's 2.2-mile runway and large hangars, Griffiss is now home to a pair of airplane maintenance companies, a distribution warehouse and a small college campus where professors teach avionics. Students can then find employment at those companies located just down the road.

Oneida County still subsidizes the airfield at Griffiss, but revenue from building leases increased 13 percent from 2010 to 2011.

There have been missteps along the way. Most publicly, in 1999 Griffiss hosted a Woodstock- themed festival. Attendees set fire to the concert grounds and reportedly looted numerous vendors during the three-day event.

DiMeo said the facility was "young" at the time and still feeling out its direction.

"If that opportunity came again in 2012, we'd respectfully decline," he said.

Picente said progress at Griffiss is now reverberating into the surrounding community.

"The leadership had to set a direction in that initial phase and get everyone moving in the same direction," Picente said.

Fort Devens, Mass.

Fort Devens is a nearly 5,000-acre campus about 38 miles west of Boston. It served as the U.S. Army's New England headquarters for seven decades before becoming a civilian community in 2007.

MassDevelopment, the semi-private entity that owns the former fort, has used the open green space to lure tenants such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Response Microwave Inc. and AOA Xinetics (an offshoot of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems) — companies that wanted to erect new buildings.

A block of historic brick buildings known as Vicksburg Square has not fared as well.

Political wrangling and concerns about the financial stability of at least two development proposals have kept Vicksburg Square nearly vacant, according to the Boston Globe.

Glenn Oder, executive director of the Fort Monroe Authority, said finding tenants for Monroe's historic buildings will be key to preserving their integrity. And he thinks Fort Monroe's buildings may be in better shape.

"Those buildings at Devens might already been too far gone to be saved," Oder said of Vicksburg Square.

The market for commercial buildings has dropped in Hampton Roads in the past five years as the economy has struggled, according to consultants creating Fort Monroe's master plan. But Fort Monroe has seen some initial success attracting residential tenants — more than 100 have moved into homes in the past year, Oder said.

The city of Hampton, state police and a veterans support center have rented office space.

That revenue will help Fort Monroe achieve its goal of being economically sustainable.

The Presidio, Calif.

The Presidio of San Francisco is both a closed military base and National Park Service site. Located along San Francisco Bay, its waterfront location evokes some of the most striking resemblances to Fort Monroe.

The Presidio's economics, however, differ greatly from Fort Monroe.

The Presidio Trust is a federal entity that has overseen the San Francisco site with the park service since 1996. In comparison, the Commonwealth of Virginia and park service will ultimately control Fort Monroe.

Congress has earmarked millions of dollars for the property over the past 15 years, according to the Presidio Trust's 2012 annual report, but that support ended in 2012 now that the site has achieved fiscal sustainability.

Fort Monroe's 2013 budget will include $6.2 million in state and federal funding.

Oder has said the Presidio's close to 800 buildings provide a larger source of revenue — close to $58 million from leases annually — than could be achieved at Fort Monroe.

On Dec. 13, master planning consultant Sasaki Associates reported that Fort Monroe will likely have an annual operating budget gap of more than $3 million indefinitely based on the current economic model.

"More development is not necessarily the answer," Oder said. "We need to come up with a strategic development that makes sense."

"We want what's best for Fort Monroe," Oder said. "I believe rising tides raise all ships, and I see Fort Monroe as being that tide."

Griffiss Air Force Base

Where: Rome, N.Y.

Military purpose: Opened in 1942, missions at Griffiss included fighter interceptors, electronic research, aerial refueling, and bombers. Named after Lt. Col. Townsend Griffiss who was first U.S. airman to be killed in the line of duty in the European Theater in World War II. (He was killed by friendly fire.)

Closure: 1995

Redevelopment: Griffiss Business and Technology Park now includes numerous aviation-based companies and government facilities. Sasaki Associates created the property's master plan.

Fort Devens

Where: Central Massachusetts

Military purpose: After opening in 1917, the campus served as the U.S. Army's New England headquarters for 79 years. A portion of the property remains a training center for Army reservists. Named after Civil War Gen. Charles Devens.

Closure: 1996

Redevelopment: A planned community that includes high-tech companies, hotels, homes with nearly 2,100 acres of open space and recreation lands. Sasaki Associates created the property's master plan.

The Presidio of San Francisco

Where: San Francisco, Calif.

Purpose: The land has been used since the 1770s, first as an outpost by Spain. The U.S. Army took over in 1846.

Closure: 1994

Redevelopment: Now a multi-purpose community and a National Park Service site. Sasaki Associates created the property's master plan.

About the series

Officials at Fort Monroe are looking at other regions that have been through base closings, aiming to learn from their experiences. This series looks at a few comparable sites in New England.

Sunday: The folks planning the future of Fort Monroe have a lot to learn from other people's experience. Monday: Commercial development has encroached on Fort Stanwix, a historic fort in Rome, N.Y. Look out over its parapets and the view includes a dry cleaner and a nail salon.

Wednesday: Lowell, Mass., has turned the heart of its once industrial downtown into a national park. It's not always easy to tell where the park ends and the city begins.

Thursday: At some former military bases, it's been easy to find companies willing to build new facilities. Making use of historic buildings presents a challenge.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-evg-fort-monroe-wherry-house- 20121226,0,5960384.story

Remaining Wherry building could become bath house One-story brick building had been slated for demolition

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827

December 26, 2012

HAMPTON — A lone Wherry housing apartment building originally scheduled to be demolished in December will remain standing and could be renovated into a bath house. Building 300 is a single-story duplex built on Fort Monroe in the early 1950s. The brick veneer building was saved from demolition because it could be renovated to serve visitors to the property, Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder said. The authority had hired a contractor to demolish 31 Wherry housing buildings along Fenwick Road. Oder called the demolition and change in landscape "exciting and dramatic." While numerous Wherry housing buildings had sustained damage in 2011 during Hurricane Irene, a Daily Press investigation revealed the Army had concerns about asbestos, lead paint and water damage in the units for at least a year prior to the storm. By December 2010, a disaster, recovery, restoration and construction firm had estimated the 31 Wherry buildings would require about $4.8 million in renovations to become inhabitable. Tenants were eventually relocated and leases for the units were not renewed. Now that 30 of the 31 buildings have been razed, Oder said he believes the remaining building could be renovated to provide showers, a kitchen and restrooms. Visitors could pay to secure the building for a day or weekend, meaning the building could generate revenue for the Fort Monroe Authority, he said. Order said the Fort Monroe Foundation — a non-profit organization set up to raise funds for Fort Monroe — could lead the bath house project, although a cost and definitive plans have not yet been made. Copyright © 2012, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-lowell- 20121226,0,7850635.story

Looking for lessons in a Massachusetts mill town

Lowell National Historical Park an example of public/private cooperation

Fort Monroe planners are still trying to decide whether a trolley or water taxi can be used to help visitors get around the property.

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 December 26, 2012

LOWELL, MASS. — In the mid-1800s, a seemingly endless stream of Southern cotton was shipped to booming New England cities where the raw material was woven into printed cloth.

The clang and racket familiar to 19th century textile factories is still heard here in the ground floor of the National Park Service's Boott Cotton Mills Museum

Guided tours of this operating weave room — earplugs are included — are among the interactive exhibits about the rise and fall of industry here.

Once visitors leave the museum, they can hop on a nearby electric trolley that carries them along in 19th century style. With their wicker seats and hand-crank controls, the cars plod along the tracks, powered by electric cables overhead, stopping at select historic sites downtown.

Wandering past quaint mom-and-pop shops and repurposed mill buildings settled next to museums and historic sites, it isn't always apparent where Lowell National Historical Park begins and where it ends.

That feel is something officials at Fort Monroe hope to emulate.

"Our goal is to work closely so people don't think about the intricacies of whether they're on park service land or commonwealth land," said Fort Monroe National Monument Superintendent Kirsten Talken-Spaulding. Preserving history

Several factors beyond the park service rangers in their green and gray uniforms protect the historic qualities of both Fort Monroe and Lowell National Historical Park.

More than 100 acres of downtown Lowell's man-made canal system and large mill buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Being included on the register means Lowell must ensure that any development within the district's boundaries is consistent with the 19th-century setting the city wants to preserve, said Lowell Planning and Development Director Adam Baacke.

Any significant project within that area must be approved by the Lowell Historic Board before it reaches city planners and the City Council.

"The business community and city leadership have really embraced historic preservation," said Peter Aucella, assistant superintendent for Lowell National Historic Park. "All of these things didn't come together by accident."

At Fort Monroe, the entire 565-acre property is listed on the historic register, even though only 325 acres are within the national monument created in 2011.

While the national monument proclamation comes with the glitz and glamour of the park service presence, the historic register listing provides the teeth to preserve Fort Monroe's history.

A historic preservation officer will review proposed projects to make sure they comply with the property's design standards, which are detailed in a two-volume, 633-page manual available on the Fort Monroe Authority's website.

The standards, the document says, "shall be applied to all undertakings at Fort Monroe, including building rehabilitation, new construction, maintenance, or any activity that has the potential to affect historic resources directly or indirectly."

Harnessing development

Using the park service sites and public financing incentives as carrots, the city of Lowell has enticed private developers to repurpose the city's historic mill building buildings, once thought to be relics of the city's industrial past. It's taken close to 40 years, but the economy in downtown Lowell is flourishing, city officials said.

Dec. 17 Letters: Fort Monroe, welcome legal aid, Hampton, recycling cans

December 16, 2012

Re: "Consultant: Sustainability decades away at Fort Monroe."

Moreover, a green Wherry could play a major role in this extra revenue generation. By enhancing Fort Monroe's beauty and historic ambience, it would help attract high-profile anchor tenants, who in turn would attract other tenants--to say nothing of increasing the whole region's appeal to knowledge-based and creative businesses that appreciate a high quality of life. It would also attract tourists and repeat local visitors, an income source the FMA must find ways to tap to achieve self-sustainability. And Wherry Park itself could figure directly in the latter enterprise as, for example, a venue for large-scale outdoor events like concerts.

On the basis of the planners' recommendations, Wherry Park, not Wherry Office Park or Wherry Bayshore Village, is the best choice for Fort Monroe. Scott Butler Board member, Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park Newport News

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-stanwix- 20121224,0,3501144.story?page=2

Lessons for Fort Monroe at Fort Stanwix: An urban national monument Fortification has been on protected land since the 1970s

As an urban national park site, Fort Stanwix offers some similarities to Fort Monroe.

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 December 24, 2012

For a start, keep the education component. Fort Stanwix invites a stream of school children to tour the site each year.

Fort Monroe would seem to have several advantages over Fort Stanwix that could lead to a significantly larger economic impact.

Fort Stanwix, at 16 acres, is the size of a large city park. Fort Monroe, at about 560 acres, feels is an entire community.

Fort Stanwix is in the midst of a city, with busy streets on every side. Aside from a visitors center, the only structure on the site is the rebuilt wooden fort itself.

Regional resource

The visitors bureau is an arm of the city; the state is in charge of marketing Fort Monroe.

Grant-DeVenuti said visitors to Old Point Comfort will likely visit Hampton to eat, shop and spend the night. Not marketing Fort Monroe as an attraction in Hampton would be foolish, she said.

Guglielmo of the Rome Chamber of Commerce would agree.

"The fort is a major plus for everyone down here," he said. "It's part of our heritage, and we consider its success quite a feather in the cap of Rome."

Wednesday: Downtown Lowell, Mass., is part national park.

Good neighbors?

Administrators at Fort Stanwix allowed the grass to grow along a pathway leading up to the entrance in an attempt to recreate the appearance the original fort's visitors would have experienced in the 1770s.

But complaints about the tall grass trickled into City Hall, forcing the mayor to nudge the park superintendent about the lawn.

The tall grass remains, although its purpose is still a topic among city residents.

The lesson, officials said, is that the park service site needs to be a good steward and a good neighbor.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-nws-edt-letsmon-0107- 20130106,0,1025450.story Jan. 7 Letters: Government leaders, Fort Monroe

In a recent letter published by the Daily Press, Thomas Brzozowski suggested putting a second attraction, like a compatible "grand" resort/casino, in the Wherry Quarter area of Fort Monroe. Such an attraction, he predicted, would draw repeat visitors from Virginia and adjacent states, eliminate the winter tourist doldrums, and eliminate millions of dollars of forecast annual operating deficits. I believe his suggestion is an excellent one, up to a point. In 2007, before the bottom fell out of the economy, Hampton was on the verge of signing on with a developer to create a "wonderful Crossroads entertainment complex" in the Coliseum area. A Daily Press story stated that Crossroads was going to be "an attempt to make Hampton a destination..", and Councilman George Wallace was quoted as saying, with Crossroads, Hampton is "...looking for people to come in, ..."

I strongly suggest Hampton go back to the drawing board and consider putting a "grand" resort/casino where they originally planned the Crossroads entertainment complex. Let's not destroy any chance Wherry Quarter has to become part of the Fort Monroe National Monument. Let's recognize the public-attracting value to Hampton and this area that the marketing of two major, though different, spectacular attractions would be for everyone. With a "grand" resort/casino in the Coliseum area and a beautiful unique historic National Monument running the entire length of the Chesapeake Bay at Fort Monroe, this area surely will "stand alone" as a destination in attracting thousands of visitors and tourists all year, year after year after year.

Sandra Canepa Hampton http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-tax-assessments- 20130120,0,7075678.story

Fort and Hampton debate cost for services Legislation proposed capping charges

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 January 20, 2013

HAMPTON — As Fort Monroe continues evolving from an Army base to a public attraction, a protracted debate has begun between the Fort Monroe Authority and City Hall over how much the state should pay for services the city provides on the fort property.

That debate has made its way to Richmond, where legislators will determine whether to pass proposed legislation and a budget amendment that both limit the amont the city can charge the authority for things such as police and fire services, schools and libraries on Fort Monroe.

At the heart of the debate is whether some portions of Fort Monroe — such as parkland, churches and non-profit organizations — should be exempt from paying taxes. While state law says they can be, the city has placed a moratorium on such tax-exempt designations.

"How do you treat the taxpayers on Fort Monroe equally to someone who lives in, say, Phoebus?" City Manager Mary Bunting asked. "It's a very unique creature in a sense, because if you buy or lease at Fort Monroe, you shouldn't be relieved of the same taxpayer responsibilities as someone else living in Hampton."

Beginning in September 2011, the Fort Monroe Authority began paying close to $300,000 to the city every six months as a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement.

The authority tried challenging the PILOT agreement with the city last year and was told there was uncertainty about the process because the Army still owns the property.

"We were told the Fort Monroe Authority probably didn't have the standing be appeal in front of the (city's Board of Review of Real Estate Assessments)," Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder said.

The Fort Monroe Authority Board of Trustees agreed in a split vote on Dec. 13 to request that legislation be introduced spelling out how the city can tax the authority.

"The board was very clear that it does not want to be paying a PILOT fee on the churches, the Casemate Museum and the public spaces such as the park area," Oder said. "That's a very reasonable request."

Authority board members who voted against the proposal to request the legislative change included Mayor Molly Joseph Ward; Vice Mayor George Wallace; Sen. Mamie Locke, D- Hampton; and Del. Gordon Helsel, R-Poquoson.

During the meeting, Ward and Wallace said they had reservations about backing legislation they had not first seen.

House Bill 2038 spelling out the authority's request was introduced on Jan. 9 by Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. The legislation has since been moved to the House of Delegates General Laws Committee.

Jones chairs the 22-member General Laws Committee, Helsel is a member.

"I expect delegate Jones took an interest in this because he is the chairman of the committee where this goes," Oder said. "He takes a strong interest in how the taxpayers' money from the Commonwealth of Virginia is spent."

Messages left at the Richmond offices of Locke, Helsel and Jones were not returned.

Ward said her role on the authority board of trustees is to both advocate for Fort Monroe and to highlight issues that may arise concerning the city.

Ward and Bunting made at least two trips to Richmond in the past 10 days to talk with legislators about the proposed legislation and budget amendment. In the governor's proposed budget, the Fort Monroe Authority lobbied for a provision capping the amount it must pay the city for services at $562,540 in fiscal 2013 and $983,960 in fiscal 2014.

Oder said the authority and Virginia Department of Planning and Budget talked about deducting all of the allowable tax exemptions out of the city's PILOT agreement bill. The state office then calculated those total bills and placed the figures in the budget amendment.

The $421,000 increase was included in fiscal year 2014 because a bulk of the Fort Monroe property is expected to transfer from the Army to the state in the next 12 months. The more property the state has in its possession, the more it expects to pay the city for services. http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-tax-assessments- 20130120,0,7075678.story?page=2

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 January 20, 2013

City officials believe that budget bill, if approved, trumps any other agreement between the city and Fort Monroe Authority, which may in turn hamstring the city's ability to charge for services.

Bunting said the city recognizes the authority's ability to use the city Board of Review of Assessments to challenge its assessment from the city. Talks between lawyers representing the city and Fort Monroe Authority were ongoing as recently as Friday.

Both city and state officials said they see the relationship between Fort Monroe and the city as being unique to Virginia.

"There's no model to go by here," said Ward, who expects conversations about finances between the city and Fort Monroe to continue for the foreseeable future.

"We want to see Fort Monroe rise and prosper to become the attraction we all know it can be," Bunting said. "I don't believe anyone is trying to get in the way of wanting to see that happen."

Tax bills due

Due June 30, 2012

Bill: $391,898

Date paid: May 21, 2012

Due Dec. 31, 2012 Bill: $299,963

Date paid: Jan. 13, 2013

Source: Hampton Treasurer's Office

Proposed Legislation: HB2038

Budget proposal: Notwithstanding any other provision of law or agreement, the amount paid from all sources of funds by the Fort Monroe Authority to the City of Hampton pursuant to § 2.2-2342, Code of Virginia, shall not exceed $562,540 in FY 2013 and $983,960 in FY 2014.

http://articles.dailypress.com/2013-01-06/news/dp-nws-edt-letsmon-0107-20130106_1_coal- industry-fort-monroe-energy-industry

I believe his suggestion is an excellent one, up to a point. In 2007, before the bottom fell out of the economy, Hampton was on the verge of signing on with a developer to create a "wonderful Crossroads entertainment complex" in the Coliseum area. A Daily Press story stated that Crossroads was going to be "an attempt to make Hampton a destination..", and Councilman George Wallace was quoted as saying, with Crossroads, Hampton is "...looking for people to come in, ..."

In reading about the changes in the Phoebus Master Plan (Jan. 18), the importance of citizen engagement in the planning process became even more clear.

How different things would be today without citizens leading the effort for a national park unit at Fort Monroe. The involvement of many citizens is certainly reflected in the changes that have been made in the Phoebus Master Plan. The wisdom of not rushing to implement the 2007 Phoebus plan can now be clearly seen.

As the article points out, Phoebus sees its future success as tied to the success of Fort Monroe National Monument. But the ability of FMNM to attract visitors to the area and therefore to gateway community Phoebus depends to a large extent on whether the state develops the Wherry Quarter and diminishes Fort Monroe's natural beauty and historic ambiance, or turns it into green space and unifies the monument.

With so many issues unsettled concerning the state-controlled portion of Fort Monroe, we cannot afford to turn the Fort Monroe process over to a small group of public officials and planners.

There needs to be continued involvement by citizens and much more transparency as the process continues. Shortcutting the process at this point will negatively affect both Fort Monroe and Phoebus, as stated in detail at fortmonroecitizens.org. The Wherry Quarter, the heart of Old Point Comfort, is destined to either unite or divide the two portions of Fort Monroe National Monument forever.

This is not a decision for a handful of people to make. Adrian Whitcomb Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park Newport News

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/four-office-leases-signed-at- hamptons-fort-monroe/322838/

Four office leases signed at Hampton’s Fort Monroe February 03, 2013 1:18 PM

Divaris Real Estate Inc., based out of Virginia Beach, has completed four leases for office space in Hampton’s Fort Monroe. The former army base, now a 565-acre National Historic Landmark District, is being leased by DRE and managed by Divaris affiliate Old Point Comfort Real Estate Services LLC.

The leases were handled on behalf of the landlord, Fort Monroe Authority, by Sanford M. “Sandy” Cohen, chief operating officer in the Virginia Beach office of Divaris. The Fort Monroe Authority serves as master developer, contracting with third-party service providers.

Among the new tenants: Marine Systems Corp. has signed a lease for 6,130 square feet of office space at 96 Stilwell Drive. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services took 3,745 square feet of space in Building 77 at Ruckman Road. Also in that building, architectural firm Q Design has leased 918 square feet. The fourth lease was signed with the Virginia Department of Fire for 2,516 square feet of space at 102 Pratt Street.

The Virginian-Pilot, February 10, 2013

COURTESY OF THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM Eastman Johnson painted “A Ride for Liberty – The Fugitive Slaves, March 2, 1862.”

A L O O K AT H A M P T O N R OA D S H I S T O R Y

How Fort Monroe helped inspire rides to freedom

IN THE MURKY LIGHT OF DAWN, a young family races across rolling country fields on horseback. The father, clutching his son with one hand and the horse’s reins with the other, leans forward, intent on the road ahead but also tense, as though bracing for a bullet at any moment. His wife, clasping an infant to her chest, echoes his fear as she studies the retreating landscape for signs of trouble and perhaps for a last glimpse at what they’re leaving behind.

This oil-on-board painting by Eastman Johnson, titled “A Ride for Liberty – The Fugitive Slaves, March 2, 1862,” dramatically depicts the joyful and frightening state that slaves were in after learning they might find sanctuary behind Union lines. It’s part of a current exhibit, The Civil War and American Art, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Johnson, originally from rural Maine, made a name for himself by painting scenes about slavery and emancipation.

This escape – assuming they made it – took place near Centreville in Northern Virginia, just before Gen. George McClellan’s advance toward Manassas. Eastman, who was present during the troop movement, wrote that it was “a veritable incident in the civil war seen by myself.” The drama didn’t play out in Hampton Roads, but the scene is directly related to an event that took place here in May 1861.

As the book accompanying the exhibit points out, the inspiration for such flights to liberty stemmed from what happened at the gates of Fort Monroe. There, in a heart-stopping impulse, three slaves who had escaped from their owner – a Confederate colonel stationed in Hampton – sought refuge.

Fortunately for them, Union Gen. Benjamin Butler, commander at the fort, decided that they were “contraband of war” and refused to have them returned under the still-existing Fugitive Slave Act.

It was an unprecedented decision, eventually forcing the hand of President Abraham Lincoln, who had not yet announced his intention to free slaves in the rebellious states.

“Butler’s ‘contraband of war’ effectively opened a breach in the levee,” according to the book. “What started as a trickle of fugitives grew to a steady flow as word spread and Union forces advanced. With each act of personal resistance against chattel slavery, black people contributed to their own emancipation and to the eventual uprooting of slavery in the United States.”

Fortress Monroe, as it was called then, became known to thousands of slaves as “Freedom Fort.” The audacity of the slaves who approached its gates led to countless acts of courage throughout the South.

This scene, splashed across Eastman Johnson’s canvas, dramatizes one such attempt, this time by a husband and wife who were no doubt elec trified by the concept of freedom and surely terrified that they could lose it all.

Even if they managed to escape, there was no guarantee that Union forces wouldn’t return them. Mc-Clellan was known to do just that. It was just days before March 13, 1862, when Lincoln ordered his generals to stop honoring the fugitive laws. “A Ride for Liberty has everything to do with capturing the gripping saga of a black family escaping from enslavement,” the authors say. “Better than any other painting, it captures the moment when the full scope of the slavery question begins to loom in the foreground.” Paul Clancy, [email protected], www.paulclancystories.com

http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-nws-edt-letswed-0206-20130205,0,112537.story

Feb. 6 Letters: Fort Monroe, Chuck Hagel

6:03 p.m. EST, February 5, 2013

Time to move on As a slip holder at Old Point Comfort Marina for [more than] 20 years, I am frustrated by seven years of bureaucratic inaction on the part of the Army in transferring the property to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The marina clearly has the potential to generate revenue for the Fort Monroe Authority (FMA). The appraisers hired to value the property in the coming months need to consider that only the docks located on the water are held by the Army. To be viable as a marina other basic amenities like parking and restroom/bathhouse facilities are required by city code.

Since the existing parking areas and rest room facilities automatically transition to the Commonwealth and are not part of the property being held hostage by the Army, the docks themselves are of no value to any potential buyer other than the FMA.

In addition, from a marina business entity perspective, the value has declined significantly as marina occupancy is now less than 40 percent with slip holders leaving the marina in the face of the uncertainty over its fate.

Time for the Army to divest itself of this property and move on to more important things.

Ken Reynolds Yorktown

http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-edt-fortmonroe-editorial- 20130205,0,6880282.story

Editorial: Fort Monroe's future Creating a self-sufficient project requires addressing its unique obstacles 6:18 p.m. EST, February 5, 2013

If there is a conundrum more challenging to the Hampton Roads region than transportation funding, it has to be this: figuring out how to design a sustainable future for the property at Fort Monroe.

In 2005, the U.S. Army announced it would be vacating Fort Monroe as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process. In September 2011, after years of negotiations and discussions regarding the future of this historic military base, the Army decommissioned the fort and handed over the ceremonial "key" to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Immediately thereafter, the management responsibility was transferred to the Fort Monroe Authority. In the same month, a National Monument was established to preserve the historic character of certain portions of the property.

The Authority was charged with developing a plan for the property that would eventually lead to economic stability and independence. Visions of a mixed-use, live-work-play development alongside the historical components have guided the planning stage for Fort Monroe during the past year.

Since taking over, the Authority has seen a dramatic increase in public use. The number of visitors for concerts, the beach club, the fishing areas, and historic tours in 2012 well exceeded expectations.

In addition, 120 houses have already been rented. Commercial spaces are occupied by the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Fire Marshall and the Marine Services Corporation. The STEAM Academy has committed to establishing its new residential school for science, technology, engineering and math at Fort Monroe. The property is also being considered for a new veterans' care center.

This activity is good news for Fort Monroe. However, as the master planning process continues, it is important to remember that even with its many amenities and attractions, Fort Monroe is burdened with a unique set of problems:

The National Monument comprises two distinct pieces, the area inside the moat and the Dog Beach area, which are separated by the non-monument Wherry Quarter area. While monument supporters would like to see this area converted to green space, an economically sustainable plan might contemplate other uses.

Utilities are an aging collection of zig-zagging lines and connections, metered for one user.

Some of the buildings are in need of repair or adaptation for new uses, but historic guidelines make restorations costly.

Residential occupants are limited as to what they can do with their houses and yards.

The weather and tides are unpredictable and potentially damaging.

Access to the site is difficult.

There is insufficient parking for areas that might be developed into commercial spaces.

The Army still owns the property. While transfer is likely in the near future, the Army is now asking the Authority to pay for certain waterfront portions of the site that its engineers built up after the original survey was drawn.

For the past year, Sasaki Associates has been working on possible master plans, with various combinations of revenue-generating uses. In December, three possible configurations were presented: one that provides for reuse and infill of existing areas; one that converts the Wherry Quarter area to a park; and one that contemplates a waterfront community.

Yet Sasaki's economic analysis reveals that none of these options is financially sustainable. Each would be operating at a multi-million dollar deficit 15 years from now. None would generate enough revenue to support the huge operating and development expense that must be incurred to create them.

When the Fort Monroe Authority was established by the General Assembly, the idea was that it would not require a permanent line-item in the state budget. Yet it is clear that getting from point A — a complicated puzzle of problems that must be addressed in coordination with multiple stakeholders — to point B, a thriving and successful community with a major national landmark at its heart, will take significant time and resources.

The magic formula is elusive, and figuring out how to overcome the obstacles often seems like a chicken-and-egg pursuit. Fortunately, the board of the Fort Monroe Authority is a dedicated group that is working hard to find workable answers.

As long as the planning process keeps moving forward and Fort Monroe continues to generate interest and activity, we encourage the General Assembly to continue supporting this important project with annual funding. Finding the balance of progress and preservation for this gem is a dream worth pursuing not only for Hampton Roads, but for the Commonwealth.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-editorial-meeting- 20130205,0,3259603.story

Army wants state to buy portions of Fort Monroe

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 February 5, 2013

The guns and guards are gone, but Fort Monroe remains in the military's hands more than 15 months after the Army decomissioned the base and moved its personnel and equipment from the historic property.

The Army is keeping tight-fisted control of the property while it demands the state pay for portions of the property built up after the 1830s.

The military contends the state owes it money for the marina and land Army engineers created along Mill Creek near present day Stillwell Drive, according to state and federal officials close to those talks.

Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder wouldn't disclose how much the Army is asking for those areas other than to say it is 10 times the value estimated by the state.

"Fort Monroe is a great place to be," Oder said during a 90-minute meeting with Daily Press editors and reporters. "It's going to better for us if we don't have a huge mortgage to pay on it."

The Army's ownership will also limit what the authority can do once the property's master plan is complete, which is expected to happen this summer.

"If someone tried creating a model for a complex real estate deal ... this might be it," said Fred Merrill, a consultant working on Fort Monroe's master plan.

Attorneys for the authority and Army are still negotiating the property's transition, even if it's out of the public's view.

Legal documents involving how the land will be used, and the responsibilities of the Army and authority during the transition process are still being reviewed.

"There is no reason to believe that these legal documents will not be resolved later this spring or early summer," Oder wrote in a follow-up email.

Aid from Capital Hill Asked whether he has called on Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to nudge the Army, Oder said asking the federal representatives to intercede was akin to "asking the mayor to take care of a traffic ticket."

"There's a proper chain of authority you want to address first," he said. "We're still going through that process."

The property transfer, it appears, is a process Virginia's delegation on Capital Hill is watching from afar.

A spokesman for Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Virginia Beach, issued a statement saying, "This issue continues to have his full attention as he works with all interested parties to finalize the transfer."

Rigell toured Fort Monroe last April.

"I'd hope we could come up with a methodology to this that's reasonable and reflects the reality of the situation," Rigell said after that tour. "The process is quite complex, so it's going to take a lot of cooperation and collaboration to navigate all of this."

Fort Monroe's designation as a national monument and the property's reuse were topics Kaine worked on when he was governor. The first-term U.S. senator is still settling into the office he began occupying just last month.

"In his new role, Senator Kaine will continue to support Fort Monroe and is committed to hearing from all stakeholders on this issue," according to a statement from Kaine's staff.

Messages left with Sen. Mark Warner's staff and with an Army spokesman were not returned.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-living-on-fort-monroe- 20130216,0,1546531.story

Fort Monroe is gradually becoming a neighborhood

Amanda and Charlie Graham moved to Fort Monroe shortly after its September 2011 decommissioning ceremony.

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827

February 16, 2013 HAMPTON — A day didn't pass after a military reception in Building 118 before movers began hauling furniture in for the new tenants. On Sept. 16, 2011, the morning after Army officials passed Fort Mornoe's ceremonial keys to the governor, Charlie and Amanda Graham were moving into a home along Fenwick Road overlooking the waters of Hampton Roads. "I thought to myself, 'Oh my God please don't let this fall through,'" Amanda said. "We were looking at places all around and we thought this was a great deal."

The Army still owns Fort Monroe and is allowing the Fort Monroe Authority to lease buildings as homes, offices and warehouses. The authority's property manager was listing nine homes Friday afternoon ranging in monthly rent from $1,316 for an 1,131-square-foot two-bedroom duplex to $3,322 for a six-bedroom home with two and a half baths. On Fort Monroe, rent includes utilities.

"The traffic we get in the real estate office has been significant," Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder said. "And it's been from casual word of mouth. We're attracting people who love the history, they love being on a barrier island and they love the costal community and old houses." Family living The Grahams live in a home that for more than a century was reserved for high ranking military officers. The row of houses along Fenwick Road has long been known as Generals Row. Charlie and Amanda said they fell in love with the home's open feel, it's historic qualities and the view of the Chesapeake Bay. "We really like the feel of this place," Charlie said. "It's not too busy, it's safe and it's conveniently located." The Grahams grew up in military families stationed in Hampton Roads. They moved away and started a family before returning to take care of their parents. The couple have two grown sons who do not live at home, although the boys bedrooms are still tidy for when they visit. Charlie said he remembers the officer's club and beaches from visits to Fort Monroe as a child. "I love the small town feel here," he said. A place to live and work Planners at Fort Monroe hope to create an environment where people can live, work and be entertained without leaving the property. Andrew Schwartz could argue it already exists. Schwartz was speaking with a rental agent hours after accepting a job in December at the Freedom Support Center, located near Fort Monroe's west gate. "I jumped at the idea of living here," said Schwartz, sitting in his office. "It was really a no- brainer, dealing with that commute (from Chesapeake) or just being able to walk to work." Schwartz lives in an apartment along Ingalls Road with this wife and three children. The family often walks to nearby Continental Park so the children can play outside. "There aren't a lot of cars or people," he said. "We keep a watchful eye on the children, but I feel very comfortable allowing them expend their energy outside without worrying too much." At the Freedom Support Center, Schwartz is a transition assistance programs coordinator who helps veterans enter civilian life, a process he undertook after leaving the Marines last summer. As he works and lives on Fort Monroe, Schwartz said the history he traverses daily isn't lost beneath his feet. He has a bachelor's degree in American history from Old Dominion University.

Schwartz said he has an immense interest in America's Colonial period, and he now lives a stone's throw from where European explorers first met friendly native Americans.

Fort Algernourne, Fort George and now Fort Monroe have protected settlements along the Chesapeake Bay and James River since 1609.

"It's something I take seriously," he said. "The first time I came here, I was in heaven."

The environment

Marguerite Stankus drove past Fort Monroe on the interstate maybe hundreds of times before finally stopping to visit.

"I came over here a year ago, and I immediately knew I wanted to live here," she said.

Stankus, 73, drives her scooter to the Chamberlin and Paradise Ocean Club. She occasionally tries fishing on the pier in front of her home.

"I went out there one day — there were men offering to help me cast," she said. "I would catch something and someone would run over to help me reel it in. They're a great group of people out there."

Stankus said her passion lies with birds and the environment. She makes kites and founded Jackite Inc. in 1988. Many of her kites are modeled after birds and are flown from poles.

"When you consider the history, the environment and wildlife around us and the safety here, I'm not sure it gets any better," she said.

Commercial tenants moving in Ronald and Carrie Quinn see the office space they are leasing as a source of inspiration and a place they hope to help reshape.

The couple needed more space for their business, Q Design, and moved from downtown Hampton to Fort Monroe in early December.

"We love the historic buildings in both places — we really practice what we preach," Carrie said. "Fort Monroe really is a conversation piece and it's strategically located for us."

"This place was built when people cared about well-planned villages," Ronald added. "They're quality buildings and they're laid out beautifully."

Fort Monroe facts

Home rented: Close to 114

Offices/commercial spaces rented: Fewer than 20

Yet to be leased: About 30 percent of the homes, although some are not in the authority's control.

What is next: This spring, the authority will focus its sights on buildings used as office space by the Army. Some of those buildings were once barracks and can be converted back to residential units, Oder said. http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-tsq-hpt-five-questions-0214- 20130214,0,1196844.story

'Bones' of the Phoebus plan still intact

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 9:54 a.m. EST, February 14, 2013

HAMPTON — Making its way through City Hall's approval process is a land use plan that will dictate future development in Phoebus.

The neighborhood just north of Fort Monroe is expected to experience an economic thrust from tourism attracted to the fort. The city hopes to harness any development that may come with that increased visitor foot traffic.

The master plan was approved by the Planning Commission on Feb. 7. The document will then be reviewed by the City Council. This week's Five Questions comes from excerpts of a presentation Hampton Senior Planner Mike Hayes gave to the Planning Commission on Feb. 7.

Does the creation of the Fort Monroe national monument change how the city approaches planning in Phoebus?

One of the biggest reasons for looking at the Phoebus master plan is because of the changes at Fort Monroe and what it means for this community adjacent to Fort Monroe. Phoebus certainly has it's own identity — it was once its own town and it is now a part of the city. It also had a strong connection to Fort Monroe as an employment center as well as a space for recreational activities.

What is the process for updating the plan?

First we wanted to understand what is going on, what the markets are saying right now and what we can come to expect from some of the changes at Fort Monroe and how it will affect some of those other connections to the community such as in Buckroe.

Then we reviewed those ideas we received during our outreach, and we looked to see how some of those ideas can be executed, and we reviewed any changes that can be made in the plan.

Finally we create an updated plan with those proposed changes and we hopefully move forward with an updated document.

What has happened in Phoebus since the current master plan was adopted in 2007?

The American Theater experienced an expansion, the Farm Fresh has created additional commercial space which has created a fresh face along Mallory Street, Old Point town homes were constructed and have been rented by the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority and then we've seen a few investments made at Mercury Boulevard and Woodland Road.

What did you hear at community meetings for this plan?

We heard that the overall vision for the community was a good vision and it still makes sense and it's still a direction we should move in for community. Secondly, is to build on the strengths — Phoebus is a place with a strong history, there's great character, there's great bones physically in the community in terms of the block pattern and the existing homes and the commercial structures.

It's everything we should build upon, from the inside out.

What happens next? The proposed master plan will be presented to the City Council during an afternoon work session on Feb. 27. A public hearing and vote will then likely take place on March 13.

http://insidebiz.com/news/4-more-businesses-sign-leases-fort-monroe

4 more businesses sign leases at Fort Monroe

Posted: February 8, 2013 By Lydia Wheeler [email protected]

Though the commonwealth hasn't officially been handed the keys to Fort Monroe, businesses are increasingly showing interest in the old Hampton Army post.

Divaris Real Estate Inc., the commercial leasing agent for Fort Monroe, announced four businesses have signed leases in the 565-acre National Historic Landmark District. In December, Q-Design PLC, a Hampton Roads architecture firm, began leasing 918 square feet of office space on the second floor of Building 77, located at 3 Ruckman Road. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services will share the building, occupying 3,745 square feet on the ground floor. "It's really quite a beautiful historic village," said Ronald Quinn, who with wife Carrie owns Q- Design. "It has the most spectacular sunsets." Needing more space, Quinn said they moved the firm from 133 Kings Way in downtown Hampton. The Fort Monroe Authority, a political subdivision of the commonwealth, has hired Q-Design to do the renovation drawings for the new authority headquarters, which will be located in the old post office building. Authority quarters are now in Old Quarters 1, at 151 Bernard Road, but Quinn said the National Park Service wants to own that building. The fort, which was built to guard the channel between the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads after the War of 1812, opened in 1819. The commonwealth agreed to give the property to Congress, as long as the deed said the property would be returned to the commonwealth if the military ever stopped using it as a base. Though the Army abandoned the post in September 2011, ownership of the property has not officially been transferred to the commonwealth. As a result, the Fort Monroe Authority must lease space from the Army and then sublet those properties to third parties. To date, the authority has leased a total of 147,764 square feet of commercial space from the Army, of which approximately 85,000 square feet is leased to third-party tenants. "The majority of the property will transfer sometime this year," said Glenn Oder, the authority's executive director. Marine Systems Corp. recently signed on as a new tenant, leasing 6,130 square feet of office space at 96 Stilwell Drive, according to a news release issued by Divaris. The service-disabled, veteran-owned small business specializes in engineering, design, planning and maintenance programs that support the U.S. government and commercial clients. The Virginia Department of Fire is another tenant, having leased 2,516 square feet in Building 268, located at 102 Pratt St. Total, the Fort Monroe property has 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, said Joe Dos Reis, the authority's director of commercial real estate. Some of the buildings on the property are already furnished, but since the authority is not the property owner, it does not have jurisdiction to discard unwanted items. Quinn said he took down the 1980s-style valances hanging in the windows of Building 77. Though some of the decor will probably never be used by anyone again, he said, the authority has to catalog and store everything. Same goes for furniture. If left intact, Quinn said, it could be helpful to new businesses moving in. As for residential space, Dos Reis said there are 176 homes on the property, a mix of single- and multifamily. Of the 165 to 170 units that are habitable, 40 to 45 are available. "There are probably a dozen that are going to require a little bit of work to make them habitable," Oder said. With 8 miles of waterfront, 3.2 miles of public beach on the Chesapeake Bay and a 332-slip marina, Fort Monroe, Oder said, is an area where people can live, work, play, learn and, with two churches on site, even worship together. "If we haven't leased a property from the Army yet, we can get it," he said.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/hampton-matters-blog/dp-neighbors-finding- friends-on-fort-monroe-20130218,0,5174005.post

Neighbors finding friends on Fort Monroe

11:29 a.m. EST, February 18, 2013

Marguerite Stankus thought she understood what she was getting when she signed a rental agreement on a home along Fenwick Road.

The two-story home built with a Classic Revival style in 1910 has an stunning view of the Chesapeake Bay. There is just one step into the home, which helps her joints. And the home is just down the street from the Chamberlin, where she likes to brunch and swim in its pool.

Stankus was among a handful of residents who let me into their homes this past week to talk to me about their experiences living on Fort Monroe. While living in such a beautiful building is a treat, what Stankus has found are that the property’s intangibles are what keep her happy.

No one mentioned the way the moonlight would shine through the second-story skylight, or the birds that would gather to sun themselves on the pier on days when people aren’t fishing. She can look down on the fort’s moat from her bedroom and the lighthouse shines in her kitchen on the occasional night.

The view of the bay is a constant she enjoys, but the interactions she has had with the neighbors and their children, and the fort’s visitors has been have been an unexpected treat, she said.

The buildings at Fort Monroe might be old, but the Fort Monroe Authority is working to create a mixed-use community there. What I suspect though, is that the people who live there are already creating their own culture.

These neighbors are already creating friendly neighborhood.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/03/consultants-urge-patience-fort-monroe-park-plans

Consultants urge patience in Fort Monroe park plans

By Sarah Kleiner Varble The Virginian-Pilot © March 2, 2013

HAMPTON Fort Monroe advocate Adrian Whitcomb believes the Wherry Quarter section of the historic property should be set aside as park land as soon as possible. But consultants studying the redevelopment of the former Army base said Friday it's too early to make that decision. Fred Merrill, principal of Sasaki Associates, urged the planning committee of the Fort Monroe Authority to continue leasing the buildings in the quarter and hold off on deciding about a permanent use for the section until other parts of the fort have been redeveloped.

"We're saying with Wherry, let's think about it 15 years out," Merrill said. "This can become a very important part of the whole story, but we want to continue to lease the buildings and generate revenue, which the Fort Monroe Authority desperately needs... and let that happen as long as it can." Sasaki previously had proposed three plans for the quarter - one centered around commercial development, another around residential development and a third plan that would designate it a park. The quarter is northeast of the fort's stone-walled section, which was designated a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2011. A group of outspoken residents has supported the park plan. On Friday, Whitcomb urged the members of the authority to move quickly. "To keep it in limbo for 15 years will not advantage the national monument as much as if you say up front, this will become (a part of) the national monument as soon as possible," Whitcomb said. Merrill suggested focusing in the next five years on projects within the stone-walled section, which is surrounded by a moat. Within the next 10 years, the Historic Village, which is west of that section, should be redeveloped, Merrill said. The project should include the development of a waterfront park, the sale of homes to private owners and the addition of small businesses, such as dentists or law offices. Merrill also proposes the addition of a seven-mile hike-and-bike trail around the peninsula and a high-speed ferry based at the southern end that would travel between Newport News, Norfolk and Old Point Comfort. The North Gate section should be redeveloped within the next 15 years, and it should serve as a transition zone between historic sites and new development, Merrill said. Fort Monroe was a military base until September 2011, when the Army moved out to comply with a 2005 base closure decision. A little more than half of its 570 acres will be managed by the National Park Service. The Fort Monroe Authority, a state entity, is overseeing reuse of the rest of the property. Sarah Kleiner Varble, 757-446-2318, [email protected]

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-planning- 20130302,0,3499979.story

Fort Monroe properties to be sold after all

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 March 2, 2013

HAMPTON — The state authority overseeing Fort Monroe's redevelopment plans to sell the homes and buildings within the property's Historic Village as a way to shed expenses.

The announcement Friday by Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder is a turn from the path the group has taken in the past year, which is to lease those homes to tenants.

The authority will use the profits from the sales to pay for infrastructure upgrades needed on the property.

"We have a train coming at us in terms of expenses," Oder said. "This is one way we're going to be able to deal with that."

The Army and the state have been negotiating for 18 months over the property's transfer from the military. The state and National Park Service are now planning the future of Fort Monroe, even before the property transfers to those groups.

Oder said he doesn't foresee a strong appetite in the General Assembly to spend money on tile floors, new windows or other maintenance projects associated with owning a home, or 170 of them.

"The commonwealth is not set up to be a real estate company," he said. "We see it more as a homeowners association, although there are still some buildings we foresee continuing to own."

Oder's comments came during a Fort Monroe Planning Advisory Group meeting. The board was formed to review proposals for the property before they are taken to the authority's board of trustees.

"We're not selling the public's access to the water," group member Joseph Spencer said. "With all the trails along the waterfront and public land, we're continuing to keep the water available to the public. To me, that's remarkable."

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed legislation last spring allowing the Fort Monroe Authority to sell property in the Historic Village and North Gate areas of Fort Monroe.

No sales can take place until the Army completely vacates the property and both the Fort Monroe Authority and the governor approve a master plan being assembled by Sasaki Associates.

Inner Fort and Wherry Quarter areas are excluded from property sales.

Fred Merrill, of Sasaki, said the authority should focus its attention on directing people and businesses toward the buildings within the Historic Village within the next year or so.

"There are plenty of buildings for people to live in, to love them and to take care of them," Merrill said.

An accurate timeline has not yet been set for the transfer of Fort Monroe from the Army to the commonwealth. http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-monroe-boil-water- 20130306,0,7411392.story

Fort Monroe issues boil water advisory Problem not affecting Phoebus and Buckroe

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 March 6, 2013

HAMPTON — Fort Monroe will remain under a boil water advisory until Wednesday afternoon because of repairs the Army was forced to perform on a broken water main.

The Army is asking that residents boil water before drinking it, although bathing and washing clothes are considered safe, said Robert Reali, the Fort Monroe Base Realignment and Closure environmental coordinator.

The Army is waiting for the results of a second coliform bacteria test. An initial test was found to be within levels deemed acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Reali said.

Coliform is naturally present in the environment and is found in human and animal feces, according to the EPA.

Reali said a 10-inch-diameter water main near Eustis Lane broke Friday morning, and workers fixed the problem that afternoon.

The main break caused the water pressure to drop to less than 20 pounds per square inch, meaning the Army was forced to send water samples a laboratory for testing, Reali said. "What can happen is if the pressure drops below 20 psi, then there can be a potential for bacteria," he said. "So we're doing an extra test to verify no bacteria entered the system."

Reali said normal water pressure returned to buildings shortly after the repair was completed

The problem is not affecting residents in nearby Buckroe and Phoebus, city spokeswoman Robin McCormick said.

At least 120 housing unit are now occupied on Fort Monroe, said Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Glenn Oder during a March 1 meeting.

The authority — which is a state entity acting as a property manager — has spent the past 18 months trying to reoccupy Fort Monroe after the Army decommissioned the base.

The Army still owns the property while federal and state lawyers negotiate the property's transfer to the state. http://articles.dailypress.com/2013-02-28/news/dp-tsq-hpt-fort-monroe-rentals-0228- 20130228_1_fort-monroe-authority-historic-homes-executive-director-glenn-oder

Rentals available on Fort Monroe

Commercial space can be reconfigured to meeting tenants needs; homes still available for rent February 28, 2013|By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827 | By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827

HAMPTON — The brick homes along Pratt Street could be plucked from any block in nearby Wythe, Buckroe and Phoebus.

These homes at Fort Monroe include quirks unlike any neighborhood on the Peninsula. A water tower emblazon with the Army insignia shades the street and yards on sunny days and the Virginia Department of Fire Programs offices nearby remind residents that first responders (or people with direct access to them) are close by.

Fort Monroe's transformation into a civilian community within Hampton is just 18 months old, and both residential and commercial tenants are showing interest.

Not every home and office has been filled though, and many places are being set aside while planners decide what to do with the more than 500-acre property.

A brick walkway lined by crape myrtle leads up to the two-story building at 9 Pratt Street (there is also another Pratt Street in Wythe). The home would have been used by non-commissioned officers when Fort Monroe was still used by the Army. Now, the Fort Monroe Authority is leasing it for $1,512 a month, including utilities.

"This is one that I think feels most like a home," said Angela Henery, an asset manager with the authority. "With the quiet street and the open porches, I really like this particular home."

Henery said she fields frequent questions about schools and safety during tours.

"A lot of people want to know when the homes are built," she said.

Close to 120 homes on Fort Monroe are now occupied, and the Fort Monroe Authority is processing four more applications, Executive Director Glenn Oder said.

There are about 40 units yet to be leased, he said.

Among those homes is Building 101, a home once reserved for military colonels.

The five-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath duplex includes tin ceilings, wood floors and a square spiral staircase.

The 3,604-square-foot home comes with a substantial rent: $2,250 per month, although the bill includes basic utilities.

Both Building 101 and Building 100 were both designed by German-American architect Paul J. Pelz, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

Unlike the home down the street, Building 100 was retrofitted from a bachelor's quarters into an expansive office space by the Army.

The exterior brick, gable-roofed dormers and central porch give the building a historic feel. Inside, long hallways are filled with movable office dividers and communications conduit.

"All of our commercial buildings are unique, and many of them can be outfitted to meet the needs of our clients," said Sanford "Sandy" Cohen, chief operating officer of Divaris Real Estate.

Oder said that while some of the homes and commercial spaces are being filled, the authority is intentionally keeping some buildings off of the market because the planning process is not yet complete.

"People are coming back to live and work here," Oder said. "People love the historic homes, and they feel like there's nothing else like it in the region."

Residential listings are available at: http://www.fmauthority.com/residential-housing/living-at- fort-monroe. Commercial listing are here: http://www.divaris.com/.

Fort Monroe homes

Address: 9 Pratt Street

Build date: 1934

Stories: 2

Features: The building is a rectangular block building with brick end sleeping porches and rear porches. Significant interior features include original windows and doors, casings, and moldings; fireplace mantels, stairs; and wood flooring.

Address: Ingalls Road (Building 101)

Build date: 1906

Stories: 2.5

Features: This building designed by architect Paul J. Pelz includes original window and door casings, built-in sideboard, fireplace mantel with mirrors, original window and door moldings, stairs with bracketed stringers and original wood flooring.

Address: 18 Harrison Street

Build date: 1906

Stories: 2

Features: The building includes original windows and doors; stairs with open stringers; living room mantel; wood flooring. There is a one-story, full width porch with chamfered, square wood columns with a standing seam metal roof.

Source: National Register of Historic Places

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-company-town-casting-call- 20130316,0,6730785.story

975 show for extras casting call at Fort Monroe A pilot TV show for the CW network is being filmed in Hampton in March and April.

By Tara Bozick, [email protected] | 757-247-4741 7:57 p.m. EDT, March 16, 2013

HAMPTON — Almost 1,000 TV extra wannabes flocked to sleepy Fort Monroe on Saturday for a chance to be in a new show.

While many thought it would just be "cool" to appear in a one-hour television pilot in development for the CW network, several residents hoped to one day see the former Army base bustling with production crews and tourists wanting to see the setting of a popular TV drama.

"I think this TV show will give it a lot more recognition, definitely," 20-year-old cinema lover Graham Spady of Hampton said, adding he hopes Fort Monroe becomes a film destination.

If CBS Television Studios' "Company Town" pilot gets picked up by the network and the show continues filming in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell envisions up to a $50 million annual economic impact for the region, according to a news release. That's why the Virginia Film Office sought to make Fort Monroe and Hampton Roads the setting for Academy Award-winning director Taylor Hackford's story of a female commander who takes over operations at a Naval base in the aftermath of a scandal, according to online reports.

Project plans call for scenes about the child of the naval commander to be filmed at Hampton High School starting the first week in April, said Hampton City Schools spokeswoman Ann Stephens-Cherry. More notices for extras casting will be posted at the school.

On Saturday, about 975 people streamed through the doors of Paradise Ocean Club to wait in line for an hour to drop off head shots or take photos and talk about their availability for shooting, said extras casting director Jeanne Boisineau of Richmond.

"That's all I need," Boisineau told one hopeful as 100 more waited in line. "Next."

One exception to the long wait was a Salvation Army brass band from Washington D.C. They were shuffled through for a group shot within five minutes.

Eight-year-old Elysa came with Hampton dad Donnell Lattimore, who was an extra in the film "Troop 491." She said she loves the spotlight.

"This is my entire dream: to be on TV," the girl said.

Caitlin Williams, an 18-year-old Kecoughtan High senior, signed up with her boyfriend, Spady. If the show airs, they will watch for their friends and Hampton landmarks.

Destini LaCour, a 17-year-old Hampton Roads Academy junior, felt like she had a good shot, as the casting director needed several hundred extras, including high school-aged students. Her mom, Tara LaCour, encouraged the future business major to go for it. The mother said the closing of Fort Monroe was bittersweet — while she misses the military presence, she enjoys visiting the water-encircled historic site and hopes other companies feel the same and move in. If the TV show works out, she hopes crews stay in town to boost local business.

"It's an excellent location for filming," Tara LaCour said. "I think it'll show America how beautiful this place is." http://www.wvec.com/news/New-TV-pilot-to-be-filmed-in-Hampton-Roads-198149901.html

New TV pilot to be filmed primarily at Fort Monroe by 13News

WVEC.com

Posted on March 14, 2013 at 3:08 PM

Updated Thursday, Mar 14 at 3:42 PM

RICHMOND — A new television pilot for the CW network will be filming at Fort Monroe in March and April.

If the show called Company Town moves forward as a series and continues filming in Virginia, it could mean an annual economic impact of up to $50,000,000.

“The film industry in Virginia has proven to be good for job creation and tourism revenue. A network television series would be another great step forward in growing our production infrastructure and expanding Virginia’s stature in the industry,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell. The announcement that this pilot series is being hosted by Fort Monroe will shine a national spotlight on Freedom’s Fortress,” said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority. “This production will bring jobs to the area, fill hotel rooms with the production crew, and sell meals in local restaurants. Activity like this is exactly why Fort Monroe will be a success for Hampton Roads,” said Oder. The casting director for the show says they are looking for men and women of all ages and ethnicities to be extras. They are specifially looking for people from all branches of the military, ER, medical and hospital staff, and brass band or orchestra musicians.

An extras open casting call will be held Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Paradise Ocean Club, 490 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Those attending the open call should bring a recent, non-returnable photo of themselves. A parent or legal guardian must accompany minors. Company Town will be directed by Academy Award winning director and producer Taylor Hackford who is best known for feature films including An Officer and a Gentleman, Ray, The Devil’s Advocate, La Bamba and White Nights. According to the governor's office, the pilot project will be eligible for up to $1,000,000 in Virginia Film Tax Credits. In 2011 the total economic impact of the film and television industry in Virginia was $394.4 million, a 14.5 percent increase over 2010. In addition, 3,817 jobs were attributed to the film industry in 2011, up from 2,651 jobs in 2010. www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-edt-spring-editorial-20130319,0,5764953.story dailypress.com

Editorial: The rites of Spring

Seasonal offerings include floral abundance, fun activities, and fresh starts

6:28 PM EDT, March 19, 2013

When the sun came out Tuesday afternoon, the Peninsula finally got a glimpse of spring — just in time for the vernal equinox, which arrives at 7:02 a.m. today on the east coast.

While the name derives from the Latin words meaning "equal night," it's not quite true that equinoxes have exactly 12 hours of daylight. But one thing is certain: the days are getting longer, bringing new life to the planet in a burst of pastels and greens.

Spring on the Peninsula also brings a lush array of festivals, events and activities for residents and tourists of all ages.

This week the Virginia Arts Festival kicks off its diverse offerings of world-class performances and concerts, hosting the Art of Chocolate Saturday and Sunday in Norfolk.

Busch Gardens has already opened, and spring activities are abuzz at Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown.

Gloucester's annual Daffodil Festival is April 6 and 7 — two glorious days of family-friendly events that celebrate the golden flowers early settlers grew to remind them of England. Buckroe Beach and the beach at Fort Monroe will soon be filling up with sun worshippers, and the harvest of Blue Crabs has begun in the Chesapeake Bay. Area farmers' markets are gearing up for the season's bounty.

And because it's the Virginia Peninsula, entertainment often includes a little history. Fort Monroe's Paradise Ocean Club and Bay Breeze Conference Center are ready for spring visitors, and the Casemate Museum is hosting Military History Cinema Night on March 27. The Smithfield Wine and Brew Fest weekend is April 12-14, with Saturday's events taking place at Windsor Castle Park. Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the Hampton History Museum presents "Singing the News: Broadsides and Ballads," an evening of songs commemorating famous and infamous people and events, as part of its Front Porch Music Series.

Spring is also a time to hear the crack of the bat and the pop of the glove, as the Norfolk Tides open their home season April 4 against the Durham Bulls. The Peninsula Pilots take the mound May 29 in their home opener against the Petersburg Generals.

Wedding planners are busy arranging spring and summer nuptials, gardeners are pulling their tools out of the shed, golfers are practicing their swings and boaters are sprucing up their crafts. For bargain hunters and spring cleaners, spring is high time for yard sales. Group and charity sales are especially popular — watch our classified ads for times and places — and Poquoson's ever-popular Community Yard Sale in the Park is April 27.

Free activities for the kids include the 23rd annual Newport News Children's Festival of Friends on May 4 in Newport News Park, featuring hands-on activities, storybook costumed characters and rides. Hampton's International Children's Festival is April 20 in Mill Point Park.

History, art, sports, nature, family fun and all things waterfront: the list of activities goes on and on. For a complete listing of area festivals and events, visit http://www.virginia.org.

Spring is a great time to be on the Virginia Peninsula. Most importantly, the beauty of springtime is our annual cue that no matter what challenges face us, the Earth is full of new beginnings and possibilities.

www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-company-town-casting-call-20130316,0,6730785.story dailypress.com

975 show for extras casting call at Fort Monroe

A pilot TV show for the CW network is being filmed in Hampton in March and April.

By Tara Bozick, [email protected] | 757-247-4741

7:57 PM EDT, March 16, 2013

HAMPTON — Almost 1,000 TV extra wannabes flocked to sleepy Fort Monroe on Saturday for a chance to be in a new show. While many thought it would just be "cool" to appear in a one-hour television pilot in development for the CW network, several residents hoped to one day see the former Army base bustling with production crews and tourists wanting to see the setting of a popular TV drama.

"I think this TV show will give it a lot more recognition, definitely," 20-year-old cinema lover Graham Spady of Hampton said, adding he hopes Fort Monroe becomes a film destination.

"That's all I need," Boisineau told one hopeful as 100 more waited in line. "Next."

One exception to the long wait was a Salvation Army brass band from Washington D.C. They were shuffled through for a group shot within five minutes.

Eight-year-old Elysa came with Hampton dad Donnell Lattimore, who was an extra in the film "Troop 491." She said she loves the spotlight.

"This is my entire dream: to be on TV," the girl said.

Caitlin Williams, an 18-year-old Kecoughtan High senior, signed up with her boyfriend, Spady. If the show airs, they will watch for their friends and Hampton landmarks.

"It's an excellent location for filming," Tara LaCour said. "I think it'll show America how beautiful this place is."

City Council passes Phoebus plan

Master plan update costs $70,000

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827

March 19, 2013

HAMPTON — A revised plan to guide future development in Phoebus has been approved by the city's top legislative body.

Up next is putting that plan in action.

The city, Fort Monroe Authority and National Park Service are all creating documents to guide how their respective properties will take advantage of the anticipated tourism boom on Fort Monroe.

The Fort Monroe and park service plans are expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The City Council unanimously voted at its Wednesday meeting to back the Phoebus master plan. The $70,000 revision comes after an initial plan was adopted in July 2007.

City Planner Mike Hayes said the city can still improve the neighborhood's appearance despite the dour economy.

"Even if the economy doesn't allow for some of the bigger projects to move forward, lets get some of the smaller things going," said Hayes during a presentation prior to the council's vote.

Phoebus is located just north of Fort Monroe, meaning motorists will need to pass through the neighborhood before entering the decommissioned military base.

City and Fort Monroe officials have said Phoebus and Fort Monroe both should experience an economic windfall as the military base attracts residents, businesses and tourists.

Hayes said the city will work to:

•Improve the "gateway" areas leading into Phoebus.

•Create a waterfront park at the foot of the Mugler Bridge.

•Find suitable developers for publicly owned properties. •Remain vigilante about making sure property owners maintain their land.

The Partnership for a New Phoebus supports the master plan, with a few caveats, group president Faith Jones wrote in a letter to the city Planning Commission.

In her letter, Jones said, "...the Partnership believes this revised master plan brings with it a renewed focus and new opportunities, but we cannot rely alone on another's success to carry us forward."

The community group's concerns include future plans for a vacant site owned by Maida Development Co. and the types of in-fill housing that can be built in South Phoebus.

No community residents spoke at the Wednesday evening hearing for the plan.

Hampton First also continues work on an updated for downtown Hampton. The city is also expected to update the Buckroe master plan in the coming year.

www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-state-vets-center-20130313,0,6882512.story dailypress.com

Hampton veterans care center shelved until 2014

Project lacks federal funding for construction

By Robert Brauchle, [email protected] | 757-247-2827

8:58 PM EDT, March 17, 2013

HAMPTON — A veterans care center expected to create as many as 500 jobs has been shelved by the state Department of Veterans Service for at least a year because the facility lacks the federal funding needed to build it.

The state confirmed in September it is eyeing just two locations for the 240-bed facility — Fort Monroe and the property of the former Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-disabled in Hampton. The facility is needed to treat the state's increasing population of aging and infirm veterans.

In 2012, state lawmakers set aside $37 million for the facility, but Congress has not yet granted any funding for the project. Based on formulas provided by state and local officials, about $106 million will be needed for construction. "We're hoping the stars align toward the end of this year or the early part of next year," said Steven Combs, director of planning and policy for the Department of Veterans Services. "At that point we would have a site selected, the state money is there, and then we might have the federal piece of the puzzle in place."

Combs said Veterans Services learned in February that the veterans center would not be funded, prior to the sequestration budget cuts began taking effect on March 1.

Calls to the offices of U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, and U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, R- Virginia Beach, were not returned. Fort Monroe is in Rigell's district, the school site is in Scott's.

In Hampton, discussion about the veterans center has been scant since architects hired to help pick a site visited in late November.

"There really isn't a lot of activity right now," said Bruce Sturk, director of Federal Facilities Support for the City of Hampton. "There are conversations you hear on the surface, but I haven't heard any details or movement on it at this point."

City officials have openly lobbied against Fort Monroe as a site for the veterans facility because of concerns about flooding.

"When we had discussions with the architects, it was to relay our concerns about Fort Monroe," Sturk said. "Those concerns are out there in the public. City staff believes Hampton needs a veterans care center, but it needs to be put in the right place and for the right purposes."

Combs, of the Department of Veterans Services, said the state will update its request to Congress for funding needed for the facility for fiscal year 2014.

Narrowing the proposal to a single site has taken longer than expected, he admitted.

"The work required to do a proper site study is still ongoing," he said.

The state already operates two veterans care facilities.

Near Roanoke, the Virginia Veterans Care Center has 240 beds and offers long-term care along with a variety of health services. It is adjacent to the Salem VA Medical Center.

In Richmond, the Sitter and Barfoot Veterans Care Center has 160 beds in three nursing units, two 60- bed skilled nursing care units and a secure 40-bed unit for patients with Alzheimer's or dementia. It is located on the campus of the McGuire VA Medical Center.

The facility in Richmond recently received federal funding for a 40-bed expansion, Combs said.

"It's really a question of vacancy for these veterans," he said. "We want them to be at a center that can provide the individual care they need."