Chuck Anderson of Capital Trade, Inc. is Devoid of Ethics and Integrity
Charles Anderson of Capital Trade
125 Pleasant Street was added to the Vienna Historic District without logical reason AND against the Vienna Planning Commission's recommendation in 1998. Apparently the only reason to be added to the District was Charles Anderson (Capital Trade) desire to be in it. However, Anderson waited for his house to be built BEFORE seeking admission to the District. He avoided the review process that all others must endure. This same property was also removed from the District in 1991. Additionally, it should be noted that this property was put in the District against the wishes of the original owner in 1979.
"...the Commission felt there is a problem with redrawing the District's lines just to take in a single property - instead a group of lots that would create a cleaner boundary. The desire to maintain the integrity of the District's boundary convinced the majority to vote 4-2 to recommend denial of the proposed ordinance. If the ordinance was approved to include just 125 Pleasant Street, NW, the Town creates an anomaly whereby you have one non-included property next door to the Anderson's [125 Pleasant] as an "inholding" in the District. The majority did not want such an irregular boundary." Sydney Verinder, Chair Planning Commission, 1998
"Certain Commissioners were concerned that the Anderson home is a new structure completed in September 1997 and is not historic. There was also some consideration of the fact that the structure was built without the benefit of review by the Historic Board..." Sydney Verinder, Chair Planning Commission, 1998
"It was unfortunately removed from the District at the request of its owner in the late 1980's, perhaps because of its proximity to commercial property and a belief that it, too, could become commercial. However, now that the Andersons have built a handsome house incorporating many historic details from older houses in the District, it is logical and appropriate that it be placed back in the District. It has always belonged there and surely belongs there now." Charles Sloan
Sloan's quote fails to acknowledge that NO "historical details" of the District (whatever that may mean) have EVER been inventoried. There is no objective evidence to say this new house incorporates details from older houses in the District. By this logic if you build a new house and it is deemed "handsome" by some, it should be included in the District. It should be noted that commercial property across the street from 125 Pleasant Street is owned by Charles Sloan.
The Town Council accepted Sloan's logic and rejected their Planning Commission's recommendation.
In Charles Anderson's letter to the Planning Commission dated May 14, 2003 he argues:
"The Windover Heights Historic District is a residential historic district, with no commercially zoned properties within it's boundaries."
The Town Council removed the transitional office building from the District in 1991. Anderson left that fact out of his lobbying effort. Andeson continues:
"Moreover, the pattern of pre-existing development rendered 243 Church Street an unattractive residential location."
Anderson continues:
"A quick review of information on historic districts posted on the internet demonstrates that boundary extensions are a common feature of historic district administration."
The Windover Heights Historic District is supposed to be defined in law. While boundary extension may be common in some random district Anderson found on the internet, it is not part of law in the Town of Vienna.
