Owner of historic Virginia property battles to keep century-old century home as county tries to drive her out
A nearly century-old home in Arlington, Virginia, has sparked a dispute between a family and the county government.
The home, located at 1802 Columbia Pike and built in 1929, has been in Sandra Fortson’s family since the 1950s and is currently owned by her cousin, Karen Newman.
However, after Newman suffered brain damage from a carbon monoxide leak in the house, Sandra is appointed conservator of the house and fights to save it from demolition.
Arlington County is seeking to invoke eminent domain to acquire the property for traffic and safety improvements.
‘[Karen] I can’t fight for herself, so I fight for her,” Sandra said Fox 5. “There are very few African-American owned properties in the area, and they are trying to take this property.”
The century-old home, located at 1802 Columbia Pike, has been in Sandra Fortson’s family since the 1950s and is currently owned by her cousin, Karen Newman.
“If they offered me a million dollars, I still wouldn’t take the money. I want the house to stay in the family,” Sandra said, emphasizing the historical and sentimental meaning behind the house
Negotiations have been going on for several years, but Sandra claims the county’s offer of $620,000 is well below fair market value.
She also emphasized the historic and sentimental significance of the house.
She even told Sandra that the house is priceless.
“If they offered me a million dollars, I still wouldn’t take the money. “I want the house to stay in the family,” she said.
Dr. Scott Taylor, president of Arlington’s Black Heritage Museum, highlights the disproportionate impact that situations like Sandra’s have on historically black neighborhoods.
“Let’s just talk about it because if you have a plan A, there has to be a plan B somewhere that everyone can be happy with,” he said.
‘This is repeating history. Every time it feels like a project comes through and they have to demolish something, it happens to Black residents.”
Sandra said renovations are already underway at the home, and her attorney is preparing legal action ahead of the June 8 deadline set by the county for a title change.
After Newman suffered brain damage from a carbon monoxide leak in the house, Sandra is appointed conservator of the house and fights to save it from demolition. (Image: Old photos of Karen and her family at the dining room table in the house, decades ago)
Negotiations have been going on for several years, but Sandra claims the county’s offer of $620,000 is well below fair market value. (Photo: old family portrait with Karen)
She said she also has the support of her neighbors, who sent a letter to the county expressing their opposition to their demolition plan.
Natalie Roy, candidate for Arlington County Board, expressed her support for Sandra’s cause and echoed Dr. Taylor that there must be a better solution to the problem.
“This is outrageous,” Roy said. “This is a situation where – think about it – where else in the province would this happen? “I think the county needs to quickly reassess, regroup and say we’ve come up with a better plan.”
Arlington County Board Chairman Libby Garvey released a statement to Fox 5, acknowledging Sandra’s concerns but also maintaining her reasoning.
“The resolution and offer are the procedural steps the county needed to take to keep the possibility of realigning the intersection in play while we continue negotiations with the property owner; it was not intended to signal the end of all negotiations and discussions,” the statement said.
Arlington County Board Chairman Libby Garvey said in a statement that the demolition of the house (pictured) is critical to the ‘Columbia Pike Multimodal Project’ for traffic and safety improvements
Dr. Scott Taylor (pictured), president of Arlington’s Black Heritage Museum, highlights the disproportionate impact that situations like Sandra’s have on historically black neighborhoods
The statement also states that the demolition of the house is critical to the “Columbia Pike Multimodal Project,” which aims to transform this thoroughfare into a complete street that balances all modes of transportation and supports high-quality, high-frequency transit services in one of Arlington’s districts. most diverse neighborhoods.’
Garvey also claimed that the county has attempted to communicate with Sandra and reach an assessment agreement, but they have not received a counter assessment.
“The province is committed to exploring as many options as possible to reach a mutually acceptable solution,” the statement concluded.