What's Next for Westmore?

UPDATE (Nov. 16): Description of Westmore School changed slightly. "Dilapidated" may be a little harsh.

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Neighbors and church leaders met with council members late last month to decide what to do with a "creepy," worn down school building. They discussed the merits of demolishing the building for park space, leasing it to a Christian school, or reopening it as affordable housing for seniors.

Formerly Westmore Elementary School, the 1950s-built school building closed to students 11 years ago. Since then it served as an administrative office for Fairfax County Public Schools and a home for Northern Virginia Christian Academy, a private educational group that had trouble paying the rent on time.

Now, vacant for two years, it's a target for teenage vandalism and a makeshift park for Westmore families with young children.

"We see kids on top of that building all the time. The way they get up and down is not real safe. Windows are constantly getting broken out. I'm ready for it to be torn down and turned into a park," said Kathie Massey of Westmore Drive. 

She and other Westmore-area residents asked the council to consider demolishing the school building and transforming the 10-acre property into open space at an outreach hearing on Oct. 25. The school is set back in the Westmore residential neighborhood on Berry Street and includes a worn basketball court and several untended fields.

"We jump the fence and the kids play," said county resident Christine Watson, whose property adjoins the Westmore School site. "That's our sledding hill. It's what we consider our park."

Ross Landis, who lives on Fern Street, helped collect over 100 signatures from Westmore residents in support of the open space idea. "I was taking the petition around this weekend and one lady described the building as 'creepy'," he said. "The city's gone out of its own pocket before to purchase open space. This is free open space. We just have to get that building down."

Aging in Place

Community church leaders argued that the building should be redeveloped for other uses.

Jessica Tate, associate pastor at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, recommended what she called a "win-win situation" that would redevelop the property into affordable senior apartments as well as a playground and some picnic areas.

"We have heard stories over and over within our congregation of long-time Fairfax residents who've lived here for 40 or more years. When it got to the point when they could no longer live in a split level house with stairs, there was nowhere in the city for them to go," she said.

Tate talked of one woman from her congregation who wanted to stay in Fairfax but couldn't find the services she needed at non-luxury prices.

"When she got close to making that decision she said, 'I would be one step closer to leaving this earth if I moved away from Fairfax City because this is where my church is, this is where my friends are.' And right now there is not an option for her."

Douglas Stewart of Maple Street agreed that a mixed use plan could be the solution the community needs.

"People need homes to live in and people need homes they can afford to live in," he said. "That's how this neighborhood was built--so people could come to a place they could afford to live."

Westmore Citizens Association President Gary Perryman argued for a plan that would not add to the community's traffic, light and noise problems. Backed by his wife and daughter, he said he did not want to see the property turn into an independent living home for older people still in the workforce. He liked the idea of open space with fields for youth sports, but said he didn't want lighted recreational facilities.

Neighbors backed up Perryman's traffic concerns, saying that the small roads in Westmore are already ill-equipped to handle increased traffic from the on Lee Highway. Though about a mile from Lee and Route 50, the Westmore property is accessible only through small neighborhood roads.

Lease to a Church?

Dominion Christian School board member and Cobbdale resident Paul Balserak asked the council to consider leasing the property for school use. "A nice thing about a school using this space is that it could continue as a park, largely, and yet the city would avoid the fairly significant cost of demolishing the building, he said.

Balserak said that Dominion Christian would make lease payments on time.

Bob Tate, Parish administrator at Truro Church, suggested leasing the property to the church on a temporary basis. Truro is in the middle of a legal battle against the Episcopal Church over whether the congregation can keep its Fairfax City church property. Church members are looking for a "home away from home" in case the legal decision isn't made in their favor. He said that in leasing the property, the city could set aside money for future Westmore plans.

Council members plan to continue the Westmore discussion at public meetings in the near future. Check Patch for more details as they become available.