Historic Town of Washington barn was ‘eyesore’ – or ‘simple beauty of rural life’

Architectural Review Board voted to OK The Inn at Little Washington’s application to demolish the century-old structure

A historic barn owned by The Inn at Little Washington was demolished this month, following an impassioned, but ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to save it by several Town of Washington residents. 

In its place? The inn plans to leave the lot empty, according to Ed Gannon, general manager of the inn.

“[The barn] was demolished due to its condition,” Gannon said in an interview Tuesday. 

The demolition came after the town’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) voted 3-1 in August to approve the inn’s application to demolish the century-old structure, located at 218 Piedmont Ave. Joan Platt, who lives on Piedmont close to the barn, subsequently appealed that decision.

Platt, who said she owns the only other historic barn in the town’s historic district, filed an  appeal. Later Wendy Murdoch, a nearby neighbor, joined the appeal. Around half a dozen other residents sent letters asking for the decision to be reversed and the barn to remain standing.

In a 3-1 vote, the Washington Town Council denied the appeal, with Mayor Joe Whited and the town’s legal team citing “several Virginia case laws” that would apply, and not allow Platt standing to appeal the decision. 

“I do not see how we could grant standing in this particular case without exposing ourselves to considerable potential legal action and legal expense,” Whited said.

Whited told council members at their October meeting that they as a governing body could vote to grant Platt the standing to appeal. Both ARB member Nanette Edwards and council member Brad Schneider — the only council member who voted to grant Platt the chance to appeal — spoke out against the demolition of the historic structure, but were overruled by the majority.

“My feeling is, as long as it’s not going to violate the Virginia code and we have the authority to do that, I would say that the person who is filing the appeal should have standing to do that,” Schneider said.

During all discussion of the barn, the inn’s owner and council member Patrick O’Connell recused himself. 

‘One of the last vestiges of simpler times’

This was the inn’s second request to demolish the barn. The first was submitted in 2018 and denied by the ARB after a survey was conducted that deemed the barn “repairable.” The original application was discussed at the August ARB meeting, but a majority of members agreed the barn’s condition had worsened over the last six years, and it was beyond repair, according to meeting minutes. 

One resident, Mary Anthony, who lives on Piedmont Avenue, submitted two letters to the town prior to the demolition and suggested that there may be other options, like restoration. 

“If we poke at it some more, perhaps we will come to a different conclusion [than demolition.] Then at least we will not look back and say we acted in haste,” Anthony wrote. “This little barn that is clinging to life is there to remind us of the humble and simple beauty of rural life … I beg you, please don’t tear down this barn, one of the last vestiges of simpler times.”

Fawn Evenson, one of the closest neighbors to the barn, wrote a letter in support of the demolition, writing that the “eyesore” has been “derelict since I moved into my home here thirty years ago.” She said the roof was peeling off, and that she was “sure it is infested with all kinds of creatures.”

In the ARB application requesting removal, the inn cites “copious amounts of animal feces, denoting the presence of vermin,” and wrote that the structural weakness of the building “poses more of a safety hazard than it contributes to the community.” The application also states that members of the community living near the shed have said it is unsafe and an eyesore. 

Preventative action

After the decision was made, Platt spoke during the public comment period and said she appreciated the council’s opinions and accepts its decision, but she hopes that in the future, it will be made clear that guidelines and rules laid out by the ARB and Town Council regarding the upkeep of historic structures must be enforced. 

Murdoch, fighting back tears, said it is a “shame” that the town has “allowed itself to be eaten by the inn.” 

“This owner of this property has been on the ARB and Town Council, and knows the guidelines. So it is beyond me how anything as lovely as that barn can be demolished. It is just beyond me,” Platt said. “This town is so important and it’s losing its heart.”

Vice Mayor Fred Catlin and council member Jean Goodine said they have concerns over a “trend” starting in the town of old buildings not being properly maintained, then falling into a condition that is beyond repair.

“I am very concerned, as a member of the town, with a trend that we have several old buildings in this town that seem to be deteriorated, and each of them is a historic or significant structure. And I think that we should … try to find a way to ensure that we don’t have to address this issue again in two years with another building that is an important part of the town,” Catlin said.

Next year, zoning administrator Steve Gyurisin plans to provide a report on the number of buildings in ill repair or that are not maintained.