In a Virginia History message about the Civil War forum to be held at the 
Library of Virginia, I mentioned that the latest Fort Monroe news is that 
the overdevelopment planned for the disputed bay-facing section that was 
bizarrely omitted from the national monument will now, astonishingly, 
include a helicopter parts manufacturing facility. (Please pardon the florid 
adverbs--_bizarrely_ and _astonishingly_--, for which I do not repent.) 
Here's a message I distributed about that news. Because the Virginia History 
moderator may have copyright concerns, I've omitted the news article's text, 
but I've retained its URL. The press release is public property. Thanks.
Steve Corneliussen

- - - - - - - - - - - -

To a number of Fort Monroe stakeholders:

As shown in the Daily Press article and Hampton press release below the 
dashed line, the powers that be are taking another step in their grim, 
relentless cementing of Fort Monroe as primarily an extension of Hampton, 
and only secondarily as a national treasure crucially involving bayfront 
green space.

They’re importing an industrial firm, which is great because it brings jobs. 
It’s even great that they’re bringing this organization to Fort Monroe—as 
long as they put it on the bridge-tunnel side.

But they’re not. The problem is that, as reported below, they’re putting it 
on Fenwick Road, smack inside the disputed Wherry Quarter. That’s the 
endangered green heart of Fort Monroe. (See the illustration at 
http://www.fortmonroenationalpark.org/.)  Fenwick Road, you’ll recall, 
traces along the entire bayfront.

In other words, if you want the bayfront sense of place preserved through 
unification of the split national monument, this is instead a further 
cementing of Fort Monroe as never involving a real national monument or real 
national park.

The press release, by the way, once again repeats the Big Lie that has been 
sold to the national media. The release says, falsely, that “Fort Monroe was 
granted national monument status in 2011.” In fact, only two disconnected 
areas within Fort Monroe got that status. That’s why the National Parks 
Conservation Association is exclaiming “Protect Fort Monroe National 
Monument’s Historic Character.” (Excerpt from that Web page: “The proposed 
development would separate the two parts of the park, undermine the park’s 
historic character, and limit public access. We can’t let this happen.”)

The bayfront green space, if used to unify the split national monument/park, 
would preserve the historic sense of place, enhance Tidewater’s quality of 
life, and begin the process of establishing the Historic Diamond that could 
enlarge and improve the Historic Triangle—all while providing enrichment in 
multiple senses, including by leaving the bridge-tunnel side of Fort Monroe 
for redevelopment.

A Virginian-Pilot editorial called for unifying the split national monument 
by including the missing bayfront land, in order to avoid Fort Monroe’s 
being permanently “degraded.”

Degraded.

Yes, jobs are vital for the region to land. But this 
about-to-be-further-degraded land is even more vital—including financially.

Thanks.

Steve Corneliussen
http://www.fortmonroenationalpark.org/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

http://www.dailypress.com/news/hampton/dp-nws-fort-monroe-helicopters-20130813,0,1194772.story
Fort Monroe lands helicopter parts manufacturer
Carson Helicopters works with Sikorsky helicopter
By Robert Brauchle, [log in to unmask] | 757-247-2827

HAMPTON — A helicopter parts manufacturer that had operated in Pennsylvania 
for 50 years is moving to Fort Monroe.

[snip]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Press release linked as a pdf from http://www.hampton.gov/ :

Fort Monroe Authority
Phyllis Terrell
Director of Communications
757-251-2754
[log in to unmask]

Carson Helicopters
Terril Ziegler-Carson
Vice President of Business
Operations
215-249-3535
[log in to unmask]

City of Hampton
Fred Gaskins
Communications Coordinator
757-727-6191
[log in to unmask]

Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 - The Fort Monroe Authority and the City of Hampton 
are pleased to
announce that Carson Helicopters has selected Fort Monroe for its new 
location.
Based in Pennsylvania, Carson Helicopters has been in the helicopter 
business for more than 50
years. The company rebuilds and updates the S61 helicopter and other 
aircraft and holds over 35
STC’s (supplementary type certificates) for improvements and modifications 
to Rotor Wing Aircraft.
Carson’s capabilities also include research, design, and development. The 
Carson Composite Main
Rotor Blade, which was certified by the FAA in 2003, is used on Marine One, 
the helicopter that
carries the President of the United States.
“Hampton Roads’ business-friendly environment, the area’s diversity and its 
strong workforce were
all incentives for our coming here,” said Frank Carson, President of Carson 
Helicopters. “We’re very
satisfied with our new location and believe it’s an ideal fit with both our 
current criteria and our
plans for the future.”
“We are extremely pleased with Carson Helicopter’s decision to take 
advantage of the buildings that
are ready to move in at Fort Monroe,” said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of 
the Fort Monroe
Authority. “The FMA now controls commercial buildings, homes, beaches, 
boardwalks, restaurants,
and public programs that create a great quality of life for employers who 
locate at Fort Monroe.”
Fort Monroe was granted national monument status in 2011 and its historic 
buildings are preserved
and managed by the Fort Monroe Authority, a political subdivision of the 
Commonwealth of
Virginia.
The City of Hampton first identified the project last year. “We are excited 
to welcome Carson
Helicopters, a pioneer in the rotor craft industry, to Hampton,” said Mayor 
Molly Ward. “They are a
testament to our established aerospace industry and emerging composites 
initiatives. We look
forward to their future success.” With an investment of millions and 
numerous new jobs expected,
Carson plans to manufacture S61 Helicopter Composite Tail Rotor Blades and 
focus on composite
rotor blade manufacturing process research at the new facility.
“A project that will repurpose a portion of Fort Monroe to create jobs and 
investment is great news
for Hampton Roads and Virginia,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “We welcome 
Carson
Helicopters to the Commonwealth, and are confident that the company will be 
a great addition to
the composites manufacturing industry cluster in Hampton Roads.”
The Fort Monroe Authority and the City of Hampton worked with the Hampton 
Roads Economic
Development Alliance, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and 
Divaris Real Estate in
bringing Carson Helicopters to the region. 

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html