"Historic Church Street" Sign Scam

The Windover Heights Historic District and Historic Church Street are historic in that they are among the original founding constructs of the Town of Vienna as evidenced on this 1915 map. Being old and first makes them historic. But that's about it since there is nothing much left there these days to recognize, appreciate, celebrate, preserve, or regulate besides just remembering the area's history with some signs.

Are those dots on that old map historic? Is this term "founding construct" defined in Vienna law somewhere? Meaning, has anyone bothered to officially lift a finger to document the dots and constructs?

Additionally, there is NO documentation that anything in the WHHD is 'historic' compared to any other land area or building in Vienna. What is 'original'? What exactly compared to what exactly? Maud, we still have a $10,000 bet outstanding to you. The only reason a charity doesn't receive that money is because you can't answer a simple question?

I'm satisfied that the WHHD and Church Street are shown among the original founding village roads of Vienna on a historic map surveyed in 1911 by the US Department of Interior, USGS, George Otis Smith, Director. Being among the founding roads of Vienna, they are historic to the Town in that they obviously affected the course of the Town's history. If the Town chooses to recognize its history, then these old roads are suitably historic.

One's history does not need to be approved or sanctioned by some central authority... some keeper of all things historic. Being historically relevant is good enough for signage. Historic events and locations are happening worldwide at this moment regardless of who appreciates them or how they are documented. If you insist on history being something special, recognized on some specific register by the history Gods, then you will never be satisfied that Church Street is historic to the Town of Vienna.

That said, I do agree that the WHHD regulation is malformed law and of trivial motive, and has been applied inequitably and probably even abusively... I heard George Creed voice his 'feelings' in Council chambers once and I felt abused!

If you insist on history being something special, recognized on some specific register by the history Gods, then you will never be satisfied that Church Street is historic to the Town of Vienna.

Disagree. If these people want to play the "history" game and all that goes with it (and it is indeed a game for these people), then they should follow the basic precepts by groups such as their heroes. They don't follow ANY of it and in turn it makes every use of their word 'history' look like a self-serving political sham for some other motive. In the abstract you have a point, but it doesn't apply to Vienna after 25 years of a government sponsored farce.

Agreed, they certainly stretch historic recognition beyond mere signs and without the underlying hard work and material proof that should be required to substantiate their claims and legal enforcements, and to preclude the arbitrary jurisdiction that is the Windover Heights Board of Review.

If church street is considered historic, why not protect it instead of allowing so many cars on it? Many cities turn the most historic street into a blocked street with businesses so people can enjoy the historic walk. Instead the town could care less about Church street and allows too many cars to travel on it. What do they plan to do? With a new Traffic Calming Proposal $40,000, how much will the town protect a historic street? Not at all.

You know what you need to do then.

When the time comes: VOTE for a CHANGE!

Agreed, tbrduc.

I will not vote for any incumbents.

FYI Town Green. See the Vienna Ordinance 18-261 for the specific legal requirements for establishing historic districts (passed 1975). None of these requirements were followed in establishing the Windover Heights Historic District (established 1979).