Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Speaks up for Wilderness Battlefield
by National Trust for Historic Preservation on July 15th, 2009Written by Rob Nieweg
We are very pleased to report that on July 13th Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates William Howell wrote to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to strongly encourage the local elected officials to “work closely with Wal-Mart to find an appropriate alternative site” for the proposed Wal-Mart development which should be “situated outside the boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield and out of view from Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.” We hope the Supervisors are listening.
As you know, Wal-Mart wants to build 240,000 square feet of big-box development within the boundaries of Wilderness Battlefield and just across the road from the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Orange County, Virginia.
Wal-Mart’s project would irrevocably harm the battlefield, undermine the visitor’s experience of the National Park, and open the door for more incompatible large-scale development at this vulnerable site. That’s why preservationists have asked Wal-Mart to relocate the planned development to another site in Orange County away from the battlefield and National Park.
Ultimately, it is in Wal-Mart’s power to change their plans and relocate the planned development.
Rob Nieweg is the Director of the Southern Field Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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August 10th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Ashley Goodwin is doing a lot to preserve historic landmarks in Henrico County, Virginia. Please take a moment and sign her petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/henricohistory/index.html