Model response to Army "Section 106" questionnaire

 

At Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park, a number of us are echoing or even quoting Alec Gould's e-mailed answers to the Army's Section 106 public input questionnaire, which will help the Army establish guidelines for future disposition of Fort Monroe. (Please see the January 5, 2008, special update message in our Updates archive.) Alec is a former superintendent of Colonial National HIstorical Park who advises CFMNP.

 

 

From: Alec Gould
To: monr.106public@us.army.mil
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 8:45 PM
Subject: 106 Comments

Dear Sir/Madam -

I could not figure out how to send the questionnaire via e-mail so please use this e-mail as my substitute for the questionnaire.

I. A and B.  My answer is no.  The Programmatic Agreement (PA) does not address protecting Fort Monroe's 570 acres as a whole.  The whole is even more important than the sum of the parts.

I. C. The Landmark status should be updated and strengthened.

I. D. Critical archeological investigations are needed before 2011 such as identifying the site of Fort Algernon.

I. E, F, and G.  The most important thing is to decide what entity will be responsible for management of the 570 acres.  All of the other management strategies and details pale by comparison to the question of overall management responsibility, leadership and funding.  I like the National Park Service/Presidio Trust model.

The overall goal for Fort Monroe should be that the whole 570 acres be preserved and managed as a grand and vibrant public place.  The transition period just after 2011 should include provision for long-term leasing of land and facilities to businesses, educational institutions, and non-profits so that the whole of Fort Monroe is financially self-sustaining.  Leasing rather than selling should be, must be, the desired vehicle for doing this.  The Presidio Trust has shown this can be accomplished.

2. A.  Again, it appears that the PA is failing to address the preservation and comprehensive management of Old Point Comfort as a whole.  Dividing ownership and/or management into many entities will weaken success in accomplishing overall goals.

2.B.  My answer is Yes.

2. C.2 and 2.D.2.  The future use of Zone B should target its historic pre-World War II use as predominately open space. 

Having some leased housing, especially the historic housing, is desirable to continue Fort Monroe as a living community, but the housing should be limited to the critical mass needed to continue adaptive use of the historic houses and to have a viable community.  Beyond that, leased houses would only be an economic drain.

Alec Gould

Williamsburg, Virginia

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