Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper April 15, 2021 Board Approves Historic Zoning for River Farm Annenberg Foundation reasserts intent on restrictions, requirements of grant. By Ken Moore as a horticultural center - and the The Gazette Society cannot use the Property for any other purpose,” according to igns have been posted in Kennard. front of American Horti- Both Keister Evans and Kennard cultural Society headquar- discussed Enid Annenberg Haupt’s Sters that say the property is passion for horticulture and her closed to the public, said Katherine devotion to River Farm, which she Ward, of the Mount Vernon Coun- said “belongs to the American peo- cil of Citizens Association. ple.” Haupt died in 2005. “We find that unacceptable,” she “The Foundation appreciates the told the Board of Supervisors Tues- Society’s commitment to the condi- day, April 13. tions of the Grant and Ms. Haupt’s Former AHS Executive Director philanthropic legacy.” Keister Evans, now a member of the Save the River Farms Commit- THE BOARD APPROVED a motion tee, reiterated the history of River Tuesday, April 13, 2021, to rezone Farm, including negotiations that River Farm as a historic overlay gave AHS ownership of the land district, adding a layer of protec- “once we made it clear we would tion for the property, as AHS con- … keep the property open to the tinues to try to sell the property. public.” Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan He called AHS plans to sell River photo Gazette file Storck and the Board of Supervi- Farm “a violation of the trust.” sors had asked Planning Staff in In fact, The Annenberg Foun- November to determine the feasi- dation’s letter to Terry Hayes, bility of creating the historic over- chairwoman of the American Hor- lay district. ticultural Society dated April 7, “A massive undertaking,” said surfaced before the Board of Su- Board of Supervisors Chairman pervisors meeting Tuesday, April Jeff McKay said Tuesday. River Farm. 13. Planning staff recommended ap- The letter explains the agree- proval of the Historic Overlay Dis- ment of the Annenberg Foundation any alternate use of the Property, and void,’” according to Cynthia “The Foundation urges the So- trict on Tuesday, April 13, and the to offer $1 million for the AHS to nor the right of the Society to sell Kennard, executive director of The ciety to adhere to the represen- Board approved the measure. Nine purchase the land in 1972 for its the Property. The Grant Agree- Annenberg Foundation. tations and directives in both the Supervisors approved the action “national headquarters and horti- ment further provides that, ‘The Kennard said Ambassador Wal- Grant Agreement and the Sales Tuesday; Pat Herrity abstained. cultural center for exhibits, meet- Trustee and the Society hereby ter H. Annenberg would never Contract, which contain express “This is a historic treasure, an ings and related activities.” agree that if title to the Property have made the grant to the Ameri- limitations on the Society’s ability environmental treasure, it is a “The Grant Agreement and the shall not pass to the Society, [the can Horticultural Society if it knew to use the Property - specifically once in a lifetime opportunity,” Sales Contract do not provide for Grant Agreement] shall be null AHS would later sell the property. for its national headquarters and See Board, on Page 4 Fairfax County’s Streams Are in Trouble 82 percent of Fairfax County’s streams were in very poor, poor or fair condition biologically in 2020. By Glenda C. Booth sites within a 100-meter span and In this the fifth year of moni- Mount Vernon Gazette then probed it for critters called toring, the Friends of Dyke Marsh benthic macroinvertebrates, one group found 66 organisms, the ive volunteers spent Friday indicator of stream health. Some highest recorded count for this morning jabbing a long-han- species are tolerant of pollution site, including multiple truefly lar- Fdled mesh net into a stream and degraded environments and vae and dragonfly nymphs. bottom, scraping the streambanks, others are very sensitive. See Fairfax, on Page 4 scooping up submerged woody debris and rubbing smooth round Photo by Glenda Booth by Glenda Photo rocks in the stream’s riffles. Their mission: determine the 13 Running for Lieutenant Governor habitat quality of an unnamed, in- Seven Democrats and six Republicans are trying to secure their termittent stream flowing through parties’ nomination to be the candidate for lieutenant governor on the 80-acre Mount Vernon Park the November ballot. Republicans will choose their candidate in a and into west Dyke Marsh. Led by May 8 unassembled caucus, which will take place at 37 locations Ashley Palmer and Meredith Kep- across Virginia. Democrats will choose their candidate in a June 8 pel of the Northern Virginia Soil statewide primary. Who are the candidates and why are they run- and Water Conservation District, ning? See page 8. John Fagan scoops up sediments as Ashley Palmer gives guidance. the group collected material at 20 McEnearney Associates has always had one motto in mind... not to be the biggest, but the best. 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Pitt Street | Alexandria, VA 22314 | McEnearney.com 2 v Mount Vernon Gazette v April 15-21, 2021 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News Conversion Work is Kicking Off at The Former Mount Vernon Tennis Club A workforce development and training center is needed in this part of Mount Vernon. By Mike Salmon The Connection ver the front door at 7950 Audubon Drive, the letter impressions Ofrom the Mount Ver- non Tennis Club can still be seen as a sign from an earlier time, where local tennis enthusiasts were hon- ing their skills. Now workers from Hitt Con- tracting are on site, converting the former tennis club to a workforce development and training center that is needed in this part of south- The former Mount Vernon Tennis Club sign can barely be seen ern Fairfax County. The site is sur- here above the doorway. rounded by the Audubon Trailer Park and the Audubon Apartments. Last May, the 5.3 acres site was purchased by the Fairfax Coun- ty Redevelopment and Housing Authority as a first step toward enhancing needed programs and services for the communities in the Buckman Road area on the west side of Richmond Highway in the Lee District portion of Mount Vernon.