In August 2015, a total of fourteen (14) demolition permits were applied for in Arlington County. All were for single-family homes. All of the properties are in North Arlington, except for one, which is located in the Aurora Highlands National Register Historic District, (809 19th Street South). One property (6608 18th Street North) was purchased by the County for expansion of an adjacent park. At least 9 of the 14 single-family demolition permits were for speculative developments.

Totals for 2015
Homes: 151
– 35 are located in National Register Historic Districts
– 90 are speculative developments (owned by developers)

Commercial buildings: 9

The looming demolition of these houses and buildings represents an incredible loss of history, architecture, time, energy, and materials. Many had the potential for renovation and additions or, at a bare minimum, reclamation/reuse of building materials. These buildings are often replaced with new construction that is out of scale and proportion to the community. Preservation Arlington urges citizens to adopt Local Historic District designations for their communities, with standards for design, height, and placement that could be customized to reflect community needs while still allowing reinvestment to occur.

Similarly, if you are a property owner and are contemplating a change to your property, Preservation Arlington encourages you to work with your architect or builder to consider how some or all of your house or building could be incorporated into a renovation, or the materials reused.