In June 2018, a total of seventeen demolition permits were applied for in Arlington County. June is one of the more active months for application of demolition permits and previous years had similar numbers: June 2017 was 20; June 2016 was 12; June 2015 was 29; and, June 2014 was 44.

Single Family: All but one of the permits were for single-family homes. Three of the permits were in South Arlington. Thirteen of the six permits were for speculative developments. Eight of the homes are located in a National Register Historic Districts:

• 1515 North Highland Street is in the Lyon Village National Register Historic District
• 827 North Barton Street is in the Lyon Park National Register Historic District
• 922 16th Street South is in the Aurora Highlands National Register Historic District
• 1724 North Barton Street is in the Lyon Village National Register Historic District
• 5425 4th Street South is in the Glencarlyn National Register Historic District
• 1410 North Herndon Street is in the Lyon Village National Register Historic District
• 3174 21st Street North is in the Lyon Village National Register Historic District
• 4019 20th Street North is in the Cherrydale National Register Historic District

Totals for 2018
Homes: 81
– 26 are located in National Register Historic Districts
– 49 are speculative developments (owned by developers)
Garden Apartments: 0
Commercial Buildings: 4
Other Structures: 4
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.