In December 2016, a total of fourteen (14) demolition permits were applied for in Arlington County.

Single Family: Ten are for single-family homes, all of which were in North Arlington. At least eight of the projects are speculative developments. Four are located in National Register Historic Districts:

• 2513 9th Street North, Lyon Park National Register Historic District
• 910 North Danville Street, Lyon Park National Register Historic District
• 106 North Garfield Street, Lyon Park National Register Historic District
• 2136 North Pollard Street, Cherrydale National Register Historic District

Commercial: All three of the commercial properties are part of the redevelopment of the “Mazda site” at Wilson Boulevard and Glebe Road in Ballston. The site is being redeveloped under Arlington’s publicly reviewed siteplan process.

Other: One demolition permit was for 2710 South Glebe Road but it is unclear of the purpose.

Totals for 2016
Homes: 172
– 33 are located in National Register Historic Districts
– 83 are speculative developments (owned by developers)
Garden Apartments: 14
Commercial Buildings: 14

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.