http://www.journal-news.net/news/story/107...le_100705_n.asp

Does anybody else think that this will totally RUIN the historic property.

I have not been to the area, but it sounds like a lot of housing for a rather small area. I would most likely oppose it if I lived near there...

There are 13 acres of this property. The density is not an issue, because the entire historical property and nearly 4 acres have been deeded to the Berkeley County Historical Landmarks Commission in perpetuity. The proposal is supported by the vast majority of us who do live in the neighborhood. Our Historical Society is behind it, as is the Historic Preservation community in Martinsburg.

The reason the zoning was changed was to permit more vertical construction which saves much needed green space. It enables town homes with a large commons, landscaped walkways and gas lights. The current RUA designation is inappropriate because it wastes large amounts of land and simply invites Inwood-style ticky-tacky shacks, totally inappropriate to Boydville and its neighborhood.

There have been concerns about 3-story town homes being "too high" although they would be located below the sight line of Boydville Manor, which crowns a rise and dominates the site. In fact, there is existing public housing that does loom over Boydville. It is a six story Stalinesque monstrosity for the elderly called "Stonewall Haven". This ought to be torn down — it should never have been built in that location, but that is another story. Right now it just attracts fire engines 5 times a day as the elderly set their kitchen smoke alarms off with great regularity. Intense planting and trees hide this hideousness from most eyes.

Boydville is privately owned. It is not public property, although the owner has generously shared it with thousands in our community by hosting such events as the Easter Egg Roll and the West Virginia Wine & Arts Festival yearly, not to mention many tours for historic preservationists, the Garden clubs, high school students, etc. Thousands of us have enjoyed weddings, reunions, and putting our relative up at its B&B facilities. She has poured her life savings into saving it and should be commended for her example.


The owner has sought to find the right buyer for four years. And finally, she has done so. The architectural firm engaged by the Rector Companies did the historic Montpelier mansion of James Madison and is well known for historic "infill" projects in Manassas as well as the new Fish & Wildlife Center at Shepherdstown. They are top quality, not schlock.

Boydville was originally 300-plus acres. It has provided us with a high school, a middle school, athletic fields, recreational areas, vast numbers of housing which wasted many acres, an abandoned grocery store, an abandoned drug store, churches, and retail businesses. This proposal would attract professionals and "empty nesters" to our dying downtown.

We neighbors think it is time we shared in the prosperity of the 21st century by attracting educated, tax-paying citizens, not just the winos and shattered dregs that inhabit our homeless shelters. Our City Council just approved yet another expansion of yet another homeless shelter last month. Slobbering, stained-clothed degenerates and winos amble through our Downtown frightening off business and urinating in public with impunity.

Boydville Village will be a turning point for Martinsburg, so we Boydville neighbors hope others will come and see what we are supporting before they make up their minds without the facts.

The owner not only saved Boydville from development in 1992 (when the Planning Commission approved an 8 acre commercial designation for it, later turned down by City Council), but saved the historic B&O Roundhouse Complex as the Chair of the City's Roundhouse Preservation Committee. While rebuffed by the City government, she organized a massive movement that resulted in our County government buying the Roundhouse and ultimately saving it.

We neighbors support her continuing efforts to revitalize Martinsburg and to restore the quality of life in this wonderful center city.

At least 15 people we know have expressed interest in signing up to buy town homes because living at Boydville, facing the green commons, will be a real pleasure. We are amused by the do-gooders who have gone off half-cocked without knowing the facts. Boydville is saved by this proposal, and it is supported by the vast majority of Martinsburgers.