Mount Vernon Named An Endangered Historic Place

MOUNT VERNON, VA—As George Washington's Mount Vernon will fight a Dominion Energy compressor station reportedly threatening the view, the estate has been named one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the U.S. by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The annual list looks at examples of architectural and cultural heritage that could be vulnerable to destruction or irreparable damage. These threats range from public policy effects to insufficient funding and inappropriate development. Almost 300 places have been on the list over 31 years, but fewer than five percent of the sites have been lost.

"The designation has been a powerful tool for raising awareness and rallying resources to save endangered sites from every region of the country," says the National Trust for Historic Preservation in statement. "At times, that attention has garnered public support to quickly rescue a treasured landmark; while in other instances, it has been the impetus of a long battle to save an important piece of our history."

The list identifies Mount Vernon, as well as Piscataway National Park and Accokeek, Md., which are near the Dominion Energy site on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.

Mount Vernon, the privately run estate preserving George Washington's home on the Potomac River, officially launched its campaign opposing Dominion Energy's station Tuesday. Leaders are asking Dominion Energy to move the station in order to preserve the first president's beloved view and discourage future industrial development across from the estate.

"There's no size of compressor that we would be happy with being put in this rural area," said Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn at a press conference Tuesday. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

He added that the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is a "scary list to be on" given the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association's efforts to preserve the estate for 160 years.

Dominion Energy stands behind its assertion that the station will not impact Mount Vernon's view, as it will sit behind Piscataway National Park in Maryland about three miles away from Mount Vernon across the river. The power company says the location was chosen to not impact the estate and grounds of Mount Vernon, and the planned 50-foot stacks will not be visible over the trees.

Should regulations require a change in height, Dominion Energy plans to modify plans to keep the height at 50 feet. In addition, Dominion Energy is required keep noise from the station at 55 decibels, about the level of conversation in a restaurant.

Dominion says the station will allow Washington Gas Light to deliver natural gas for homes in Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland, and the rest will go to the future Panda Mattawoman Energy Project.

As Dominion Energy works to secure final permits for the project, Meanwhile Mount Vernon is asking for petition signers and donations.

See the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered list here.

Image via Visit Alexandria