We started off the year with a big bang of 21 buildings being demolished — 14 of them single family homes, three garden apartments and four commercial buildings. In comparison, January 2018 was 19; January 2017 was 9; January 2016 was 13; January 2015 was 22; and, January 2014 was 12;

Single Family: Fourteen (14) of the permits were for single-family homes. All but one were in North Arlington. 10 of the permits were for speculative developments. Three of the homes are located in a National Register Historic Districts:

• 2616 2nd Road North is in the Lyon Park National Register Historic District
• 908 21st Street South is in the Aurora Highlands National Register Historic District
• 2016 North Madison Street is in the Highland Park/Overlee Knolls National Register Historic District

Garden Apartments: Three of the demolition permits are for a collection of garden style apartments buildings known as Queen’s Court. These are being demolished as part of a major siteplan approved by the County Board. It is a complicated project involving a new fire station, new school and new committed affordable housing units.

Commercial Buildings: Three of the commercial buildings have long been the headquarters and operations for Transportation General, the holding company for Red Top Cab. The fourth is for a 1950s era commercial building from the heyday of Clarendon. All of these buildings are being demolished as part of a major siteplan approved by the County Board.

Totals for 2019
Homes: 14
– 3 are located in National Register Historic Districts
– 10 are speculative developments (owned by developers)
Garden Apartments: 3
Commercial Buildings: 4
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.