In January 2018, a total of nineteen (19) demolition permits were applied for in Arlington County. In comparison, January 2017 was 9; January 2016 was 13; January 2015 was 22; and, January 2014 was 12;

Single Family: All but one of the permits are for single-family homes and all but one are located in in north Arlington. At least thirteen of the projects are speculative developments. One of the homes was bought by Arlington County to provide a third access point to the Glebe Elementary School property. Five of the homes are located in a National Register
Historic Districts:

• 812 19th Street South is in the Aurora Highlands National Register Historic District
• 2027 North Taylor Street is in the Cherrydale National Register Historic District
• 1901 North Oakland Street is in the Cherrydale National Register Historic District
• 1005 North Kentucky Street is in the Westover National Register Historic District
• 1700 North Adams Street is in the Lyon Village National Register Historic District

Commercial: The one commercial building, 1900 Crystal Drive, is an out date office building which is being demolished for the next phase of the revitalization of Crystal City.

Totals for 2018
Homes: 18
– 5 are located in National Register Historic Districts
– 13 are speculative developments (owned by developers)
Garden Apartments: 0
Commercial Buildings: 0
Other Structures: 0
Civic Buildings: 0

The pending demolition of these homes and buildings represents a 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.