The closing chapter of the Aldie fire station story

By Reed Carver

Negotiations between representatives of Aldie, the Piedmont Environmental Council, and Loudoun County reached their conclusion on Dec. 6. A purchase agreement was given from the County to PEC. In the coming months, they will sell the approximately 6.42 acres, three different parcels known as the “Aldie Assemblage,” to PEC for $600,000.

A new fire and rescue station has been needed in Aldie for a long time, Chair Phyllis Randall said in the meeting. Aldie is located on Rt. 50, just to the west of the intersection with Rt. 15. The new station will be used by the Aldie Volunteer Fire Department. 

That new station is being built on Rt. 50 as it leads out of Aldie, in Gilbert’s Corner. The final site is near the subdivision where the first proposal for the site was made. Residents of Aldie are satisfied with the location.

PEC was founded in 1972 as a non-profit organization. It functions throughout nine counties in Virginia. In Loudoun, they describe their purpose as documenting the significant natural, historic, and scenic resources, with the goal of bolstering the rural economy, wildlife habitats and improving access to nature. They often work with community stakeholders who oppose certain building projects.

Elizabeth Ellers spoke at the meeting, along with Madeline Skinner who is the chair for the Loudoun Historic Village Alliance, and Mike Kane who is the Director of Conservation for PEC.

“At a time when citizens have a generally low opinion of Government, the Aldie Assemblage shows how public participation and responsive public officials can make a real difference,” Ellers said. “Thank you so much for hearing us over the last few years, with the closing of … the Aldie Assemblage saga, I think a happy ending is in sight.”

“Thank you, thank you, for the Aldie Assemblage … we are so excited to support the sale to the Piedmont Environmental Council. We cannot think of a better outcome. While it has been quite the journey, PEC’s 50 plus years of dedicated service to protect Loudoun’s environmental and historic resources, especially the Loudoun Rural Gateway, has been appreciated by so many,” said Skinner.

Kane added, “I wanted to express our appreciation and delight that you have acted in 2022, and again tonight, to proceed with the sale of the Aldie Assemblage to the PEC. Our plan for the property reflects a continuation of our conservation and community planning work that spans over 25 years in and around Aldie. We see ourselves as a member of the Aldie community, and recognize the obligations and responsibilities that come along with that. We look forward to the long term stewardship, renovation, and restoration of the property.”

In the process of building of this fire station, three different properties have been discussed. That whole process has been about 14 years long.

In May 2009, Little River Farms neighborhood was being built in Aldie – with some of the houses already occupied. The county sought to buy land for the fire station, and included four parcels that were designated for houses. The residents opposed the idea, due to the station’s possible effect on property values, and four owners took the county to court.

The original residential purpose of the land was maintained, and the county lost the ability to build there. 

In 2012, a second piece of land was considered – 3 parcels known as the Aldie Assemblage – but the initiative to build ran into numerous problems. The site would require extensive regrading to make up for its low elevation and proximity to the creek.

In addition, some of the “fill,” that is dirt used in regrading, could be slow to absorb water in a flood. Building would include cutting into a mountainside slope which ends on the property. Doing so would disturb their aesthetic integrity, and leave the site susceptible to a landslide.

The property is also located within four overlay districts, the “village” and the “historic,” which protect the existing buildings from being torn down, and the “mountainside” and “floodplain” overlays. The intentions to preserve land in its current state behind those overlays made the site completely incompatible with a large, modern facility.

A common objection from the community was that the project would disrupt the town’s character.

PEC identified the land as a conservation priority, and decided to buy it, wrote Christopher G. Miller, the president, in December 2021. On Feb. 9, 2022, Katie Johnson, the president of the Aldie Heritage Association, wrote in a letter that they fully supported PEC as the owners. Other groups like Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area also indicated their support for PEC.

The county bought land which recently became available at Gilberts Corner. Ground was broken on Nov. 16, and that is where the station is being built.

Kane said Aldie is a good example of constructive government communication with residents. Some proposed projects still remain that indicate that the process by which the county determines what can be built where, is still not adequately considering the feelings of the people those projects will impact the most. Residents of what are classified as “historic villages” are very protective of the character of their places, he said.

PEC’s plan for the Assemblage will be to document and restore the existing historical structures: a tavern (built around 1810-‘20), a Victorian house, and a cottage. They plan to apply for the tavern to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

They plan create a public green space on the creek-side (Little River) part of the property. The plans for the space will be developed in public sessions to make sure that it fits the public consensus and needs.

By owning the property, they will document the natural features, protect the mountainside and river by placing perpetual limitations on the uses of the land. They will make sure the site will be able to withstand once-in-a-hundred year flooding. In general, they are committed to fulfilling all the intentions of the four overlays to which the land belongs.

The Aldie property is at northern terminus of the Bull Run Mountains. The mountain’s southern end is at Interstate 66, which is parallel with Beverly Mill Drive in Broad Run.

The conservation of the mountains has been an ongoing project for PEC for 20 years, with the goal of highlighting natural and cultural significance. They created a fund to acquire mountain land and preserve it from development, creating permanent “conservation easements.”

The current Gilbert’s Corner property and construction plan is something most of the Board is happy with, since the goals of the residents and PEC line up with what the 2019 Comprehensive Plan prescribes: towns with a distinct identity and sense of place.