Save Woodlawn Stables: The Blog: Tally Ho!
Welcome to the blog for Save Woodlawn Stables! We are a local, grassroots organization, founded in April 2012 in response to the news that the Route 1 widening plans would cut directly through the property leased by Woodlawn Stables. We have worked to gather petition signatures, lobby our politicians, and worked with Federal Highways and Fairfax County to try and create a plan that would preserve Woodlawn Stables and the equestrian property owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation at Woodlawn. Our newest effort will be this blog, and we are excited to have you along for the ride!
Numerous articles have been written this spring and summer by our local Mount Vernon Patch, Mount Vernon Gazette, Fairfax Times and even the Washington Post about some of the issues and concerns of the many people who will be affected by the Route 1 widening through Woodlawn. What I will be doing with this blog will be more comprehensive, educational, interactive, and hopefully, deeply informative as this process continues.
Many of you may be wondering, "What is there left to talk about? I thought this Route 1 business was over already." To that I say, we have a great deal of work ahead of us. And by "us" I mean the Mount Vernon community, not just those of us involved with preserving the stables. There is a story to tell about what has happened at Woodlawn and what will happen to the property in the future. It is not just a story about horses and historic houses, or the battle over a road, or the tension between national and local preservation priorities. It is about the stewardship of this nationally significant site and how it is being protected for this generation and the next.
Route 1 will be constructed in phases between 2013 and 2016. We will be reporting on phases of construction as they come on line, updating the public about the plans for the new barns at Woodlawn (yes, we are getting new barns), and posting about the history of Woodlawn and Route 1 and how the public process got us all to this point.
I will be the primary blogger for Save Woodlawn Stables. I will be helped by my fellow Save Woodlawn Stables supporters and various guest bloggers. I am excited about sharing news and perspectives with you on our blog.
Next Post: September Updates & Beyond!
DAVE
8:41 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Wait a minute.....am I wrong? Isn't Woodlawn Stables a for profit, privately owned business, just like a thousand others in the MV community? What makes you so special?
Autumn Clayton
11:07 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dave - this blog is NOT WRITTEN BY WOODLAWN STABLES - do you actually read anything before you start trolling? And even if it was Woodlawn Stables - what do you have against people wanting to save their live's work? What do you have against preserving part of our community's history? Give it a rest.
DAVE
12:08 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
I was simply asking a question. As is typical with "groups" like yours if you aren't with us your against us. The elected officials support you just like they support cell phone tower opponents. You're just the flavor of the month. I was one of many who sent a letter stating I was against saving the stables because it was a private for profit business which actually makes 0 contribution to the community unless that community can afford to pay for it. So you aren't really being as altruistic as you would like people to think. Roadway aside, what was Woodlawn Stables planning to do when the lease wasn't renewed in a year or two?
Shelley
11:19 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Oh Dave, why don't you read the article to find out what makes it so special...Or ask the over 3000 folks that have signed the SWS petiion...or ask the over 500 citizens that attened the last public meeting on this issue...or the over 250 people that took the time to write and send Fairfax County and the FHWA their comments in support of Woodlawn Stables not being affected by the Rt. 1 widening...Or ask the hundreds of kids and students that ride there every week and love the 45 horses that reside there...Or ask all the local elected officials that have written and expressed their support for the stables and need for this type of facility in our community. Seems to me, you are about the only one in the community that hasn't figured it out and has to ask this question.
Miss Liff
1:23 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
What is wrong with supporting a business? Especially one that resides on land that once belonged to George Washington. As someone who rides and works at the stable you might think that I am a little to biased here, but I am also a life long Mount Vernon resident. I want to preserve as much of my community as possible. The stables and the land have a very rich history. There are few communities left in the Washington D.C. area that remain as they were 40-50 years ago. I am proud to be living in one of thosse communities - not only living here but contributing to and raising a family here. This is more than saving a business - it is saving a way of life, a piece of history, a beautiful green space and an oasis in an increasinly stressfull world. Reason enough for this mom and Mt. Vernon resident!
Cynthia Sloan
7:04 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Too much asphalt paving and decimation of habitat. Do we really need another restaurant, dry cleaner, dollar general, etc? Really? We need to hold on to every remaining green space at any cost. Traffic circles should be part of the future plan to handle increasing traffic needs and maintain our beautiful green space!
Amanda M. Socci, Freelance Writer
7:07 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
This piece on "Saving Woodlawn Stables" is very interesting. I have lived in southern Alexandria for nearly 10 years and had no idea that Woodlawn Stables was located on historical land. I believe this is the same business where the owner passed away earlier this year? I've not had an opportunity to catch up on the news about the expansion efforts of route 1, but I do agree with those who say that there needs to be a collective moment to preserve historic lands. I would like to learn more about these issues and look forward to reading more blog updates.
Susan E. Runyon
12:43 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
When a government agency works to increase the number of cars on a road versus improving public transportation, it is really working in the interests of big business and not the public good. A case in point is L.A. where people die every year because of smog. Yes, they die, and the increasing incidents of lung diseases occurs even amoung the very young. Does Northern Virginia want to follow that path? Save Woodlawn's green spaces and improve public transportation and public health.