City Alters Parker-Gray Architectural Guidelines

Alexandria’s Planning Commission last week approved numerous and wide-ranging changes to the city’s Parker-Gray historic district regulations.  

The long list of changes were the product of a yearlong evaluation of the existing architectural regulations by an advisory group made up of local residents, builders, historians and members of the Parker-Gray Board of Architectural Review. The BAR signed off on the changes in December 2012.

“The new guidelines and policies represent significant procedural changes and overall reduced regulations for owners of residential properties within the Parker-Gray Historic District,” reads the city staff report on the changes. “At the same time they preserve the historic architectural features valued by the community that provide cultural and economic value for the City.”

Three principle changes include reduced regulations on buildings constructed after 1932, less regulations on the rear and sides of “Early Era” buildings constructed prior to 1932 (the exception being corner buildings), and changes in the projects that can be approved administratively and those exempt from BAR review and administrative approval.

• For a list of which projects fall under review and those that don’t, check out the Parker-Gray Residential Reference Guide.

Buildings constructed prior to 1932 were cited as preservation targets because they usually exhibit a level of hand craftsmanship that’s difficult to replicate.  

The Parker-Gray historic district is a 40-block area situated west of Washington Street extending north to south from First Street to Cameron Street and from east to west from Alfred Street to N. West Street. A historically black neighborhood, the Parker-Gray name comes from the last names of two leading black educators in the community—Sarah Gray and John Parker. The segregated school for black students in Alexandria was named Parker-Gray.

Planning Commissioner Derek Hyra, a professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech, said it was important for the city to be cautious as it moves forward with these changes because their consequences might not be apparent.

He also expressed concern the changes could push some people out of the neighborhood.

“I just fear taking away some of the regulations may stimulate some of the development for newcomers as opposed to preserving the people who are in place,” he said. “I guess time will tell. We’ve had a lot of redevelopment in the area of private and public housing. My concern is really how do we preserve the legacy, not just the architectural features of the community but the history of the people who have lived in the community and some of the people who still continue to live there. … I am a little concerned that some of the changes might stimulate pushing people out.”

Al Cox, historic preservation manager in Alexandria's Department of Planning and Zoning, said some of the changes were made because second-generation residents of the district complained about the costs of renovating homes they inherited or purchased from their parents.

“You lose something, but you gain something,” Commission Vice Chairman Stewart Dunn said of the changes. “I think the community, city has to decide where they are willing to strike that balance. I think a lot of good thought has gone into this. I think it is a reasonable and appropriate resolution, but it worries me. I think the pressures that come from this are going to not be limited to the Parker-Gray.”  

Editor's note: The spelling of Al Cox’s last name has been corrected since this post was first published.