The Historic Register Scam

What would you do if you were Maud Robinson? She wants the Windover Heights Historic District REAL bad, but she has a problem. She knows that it is a joke. She knows that it will be declared unconstitutional. She knows that she is wasting tax dollars to defend multiple lawsuits. She also knows that there is a long history of deception with all that is so-called "historic" in the Town of Vienna.

What do we mean? At one point in the history of the Vienna historic district charade the Town created a "historic register". This was to put a "historic marker" on so-called historic structures and places. Sounds plausible right? One big problem. There are no rules. There are no guidelines to get on the Vienna historic register. And last, but not least, it is 100% voluntary.

Here are the three pages that constitute the register: (1), (2), (3).

Any real historic preservation professional at the National Trust for Historic Preservation or at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources would laugh at this ordinance. What's the bottom line? If you want a historical marker for your house you can get one and join the club. The Town doesn't turn down anyone and there is no rationale to deny anyone a marker. What's the big problem with this? In the abstract, not much. A few busy bodies want to pretend they are "historic" and the Town recognizes them with a special plaque. But here is where it gets fun. Watch what Maud Robinson does with a voluntary and meaningless "register".

Every five years the Town of Vienna issues a Comprehensive Plan. It is a tightly worded document designed to lay out a Vienna vision in terms of planning and zoning for the next 5 years. In the Town's zeal to make it seem like they are "historic" they have added the voluntary register that accepts everyone to the 2006 Comprehensive Plan. They have positioned this register as meaningful and documented. It is neither.

Here is the excerpt from the 2006 Comprehensive Plan (PDF)

We asked Maud about this register in the context of the 2006 Comprehensive Plan. Watch her response:

Maud confirms the voluntary nature of the register:

We repeat: Maud Robinson will do anything to make it seem there is some grand historicity in Vienna. The register is one big scam to prop up the notion that the Town of Vienna is all things historic. Remember when Vienna actually did have a structure on a National Historic Register? Moorefield was on the register with the National Trust, but Maud engineered its demise and destruction. Little commentary is needed from us. Maud and her wanna be historic cronies sink themselves with their words and deeds. This site simply keeps tab on the ruse.

Oh, we almost forgot. Guess who plays a role in the historic register process? That would be the infamous Laine Hyde who once complained through her attorney that this site was damaging her "social standing" in the Town. Imagine that. You work like hell behind the scenes to mess with people's lives, you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, and people then look at you funny causing a decline in "social standing". Try not to chuckle at all of this.