Erecting a 12-story, modern apartment building on a block full of historic art deco apartments might not seem like a concerted effort at historic preservation. But that’s exactly what Arlington County Board members aim to accomplish by allowing property owners at Wakefield Manor, a garden apartment complex at 1215 N. Courthouse Road, to build a 104-unit high-rise on the property.
The plan is one of the first tests of the county’s unusual approach to historic preservation. Unlike most communities, which label only specific buildings or properties historic, Arlington ranks all buildings over 50 years old as historically significant. And while Arlington is no Alexandria or Washington, D.C., with their century-old architectural marvels, it did find 393 properties it considers “historic.”
Twenty-three of those properties – from garden apartments to office buildings – were deemed “essential” historic properties that Arlington intends to protect through initiatives like tax breaks and zoning changes.
Wakefield Manor is one of those essential properties. Built in 1943 and designed by Mihran Mesrobian, a Turkish-born architect who designed luxury hotels like the Hay-Adams and Wardman Park in Washington, Wakefield is a prime example of art deco and moderne architecture, according to county records.
Owner Ralph Johnson, who bought the apartment complex 30 years ago, had promised the county board that he would take care of the property “as long as I’m alive.” Still, he wanted his business partners to be compensated for taking care of historic buildings that wouldn’t necessarily generate a large profit.
The solution? Allow Johnson and his partners to build a high-rise in exchange for maintaining Wakefield Manor.
“This allows [Johnson] to realize the value of his property without destroying the historic buildings,” said county board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman.
Still, the agreement has its detractors.
“Arlington could do better,” said resident Robert Atkins. “You’re trying to combine too many things in one package, too many things on this one site.”
But county officials and property owners say the arrangement is mutually beneficial, saving historic buildings without stifling development.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to get very rich on this, but it’s a nice community benefit,” Johnson said.
