HISTORIC PRESERVATION PHOTO EXHIBIT AT WESTOVER LIBRARY THROUGH Jan. 5

Westover Library, Arlington, VA 22205

Tom Dickinson, Arlington historian, photographer, and historic preservation advocate, has recently completed an Arlington Arts Grant project entitled “Windows to the Past: Arlington, Then and Now.” This comparative historic photo montage is on exhibit at the Westover Branch Library through Jan 5, 2019.

The exhibit is a photographic documentation of the rampant and pervasive demolition of older, less expensive homes and commercial buildings in Arlington over the last 40 years. The exhibit implies that demolition reduces the supply of affordable homes in Arlington. New homes are not only more expensive, but also have costs in energy and transportation in the demolition process, new materials, lost tree cover, CO2 reduction, and reduced permeable surface surroundings. “The ‘greenest’ house is the one already built” according to Mr. Dickinson. Demolition also shows no respect for Arlington’s rich historical built fabric, including Lustron and Certigrade homes.

All window frames used in the exhibit were preserved from the demolished homes depicted.

Tom Dickinson is a 30 year member of the Arlington Historical Society, Past President, and currently serves on the AHS Board of Directors. He also served for 9 years on the Board of the Arlington Heritage Alliance, and is a founding Director of Preservation Arlington