FORT MONROE MASTER PLAN APPROVED BY GOVERNOR

Preserve the Property, Tell the Stories and Make Fort Monroe Economically Sustainable
The Fort Monroe Authority is pleased to announce that the Governor of Virginia has approved the Master Plan developed for the 565-acres of Fort Monroe. The Master Plan focuses on a mixed use concept, combining adaptive reuse, new construction and open space. The plan features residential, retail/dining, hospitality, employment and institutional areas, along with enhanced public access to the waterfront and beach.

The final presentation, which was given to the Board of Directors on October 24, 2013, sets the design standards for all new construction on the property. “The final product is a milestone in the history of Fort Monroe and establishes a pattern for the future of the property,” said Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority. Throughout the two and a half years of development, there were three main goals guiding master planners Sasaki Associates – preserve the property, tell the stories of Fort Monroe and make Fort Monroe economically sustainable.

Click here to view the final presentation of the Master Plan.

Click here to read Governor McDonnell’s letter of approval.

FORT MONROE WATERFRONT PARK

On February 9, 2016, the Fort Monroe Authority held a public forum to present the conceptual plans for a Waterfront Park at Fort Monroe. The plan consists of several individual park spaces along the Fort Monroe waterfront. These spaces will include sites such as Continental Park, the Kayak Launch Area, Outlook Beach, and the entrance to Fort Monroe.

View the PDF of the Waterfront Park presentation.

To provide additional comments or questions, contact comments@fortmonroe.org

SEPTEMBER 2012 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING

The master plan process at Fort Monroe is about two-thirds complete. The Sasaki Design Team presented multiple options at the last public meeting and is now beginning to refine those options into three potential plans for Fort Monroe. The public input to the process has been essential to developing a balanced approach to the future of Fort Monroe.

Using studies of the potential for Fort Monroe, combined with the universal comments from the public to keep waterfront open to the public, the Sasaki Team has developed concepts for preserving the green area around the Fort, maintaining continuous open access to the waterfront, and highlighting the history at Fort Monroe.

The first idea is a crescent-shaped 40-acre waterfront park that extends from the Chamberlin to Outlook Beach and then across the property to Mill Creek. In addition, the Sasaki Team is imagining a 7-mile waterfront trail that traverses the entire waterfront and you only have to cross a road twice. Finally, as you travel the waterfront trail or visit other sites, imagine the ability to purchase an App for your phone that explains the history that you are standing near while you are at Fort Monroe.

The Sasaki Team will now begin to cross-evaluate the plans with economist to determine the most economically viable solution for Fort Monroe. We ask the public to remain engaged as we transition into the final design stages and begin the plan approval process.

JUNE 2012 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING

The Fort Monroe Authority continues its Master Land Planning process with a second public meeting on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Building 75 located at 110 Pratt Street. The format will be Open House where citizens can come any time between 3:00 and 8:00 to view static displays. A short introductory presentation will be conducted at 3 p.m. and repeated at 6 p.m.

“We remain committed to having this as a very open and transparent process to the public,” says Glenn Oder, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Authority. “We want our citizens to give us their input about the direction and future of Fort Monroe”, adds Oder.

Sasaki Associates, Inc., the consultant hired to provide Master Land Planning and Real Estate Advisory Services to the Authority, will lead the presentation. The presentation will summarize citizen input to-date and provide an overview of the ongoing market, cultural programming, engineering, and land use analyses. The full planning team will be available to address citizens’ questions and concerns.

“The master plan and implementation strategy will preserve the historic property, tell the extraordinary Fort Monroe story through enhanced cultural programming, public events, and historic programs, and propose new facilities such as a visitor center to enhance public awareness and increase visitation, and identify economically viable reuse opportunities for the historic buildings and property”, says Fred Merrill, Sasaki Principal in Charge for the project.

MARCH 2012 MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING

The Fort Monroe Authority and Sasaki Associates held three public meetings in March with citizens and stakeholders to solicit their input on the future of Fort Monroe. These meetings were attended by a broad and diverse cross section of the community. Despite the diversity, the groups shared one goal: ensuring that Fort Monroe continues to be a thriving and important part of the Hampton Roads community.

Key Points from Meeting

• The role of the National Park Service in the development and the need to bring the designated properties together.
• Accessible housing development on the property, not gated, that is available for a variety of different income levels.
• Make the Fort economically viable while not making it too commercial.
• The idea of bringing some sort of educational entity to the Fort, like the STEAM Academy, received widespread support. The students could serve as ambassadors or tour guides, meeting with visitors and providing information about Fort Monroe and its history.
• Telling the total history of Fort Monroe, particularly the contraband story, received a great deal of attention. One group suggested that Fort Monroe be the catalyst and center of a national discussion about race and ethnicity relations. Fort Monroe would be a part of the “national healing” on race and slavery.
• Fort Monroe could become the fourth point in the historic points on the Peninsula, joining Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown

MASTER PLAN PRESENTATIONS

• Master-Plan-Approval_2013-12-11
• Board_Master_Plan_Presentation_Final_2013-10-23
• FINANCE_Master_Plan_Presentation_FINAL 2013-10-10
• Additional worksheet for slide 39 to 10.10.13 presentation
• Planning Advisory Group Meeting – September 2013
• Master-Plan-Update July 2013 Board Presentation
• Board Meeting – December 2012
• Community Meeting – September 2012
• Community Meeting – June 2012
• Community Meeting – March 2012

For more information or to review the ideas and suggestions that have been shared, visit the Fort Monroe Idea Report FINAL