Press Release - March 17, 2008

After more than two years of planning the Fort Monroe FADA is making decisions about the future of Fort Monore; new website will update monthly to inform public.

Press Contact: Conover Hunt, 757-637-7778, chunt@fmfada.com

Fort Monroe, Virginia…Bill Armbruster, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority (FMFADA) announced today, that the public can view and be a part of the Fort Monroe Reuse Planning by accessing the commission’s newly launched website, www.fmfada.com.

Armbruster, who assumed the position 25 February, comes to the post with six years experience working with the private sector and local municipalities in partnering with more than 36 other military bases as the Army’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privatization and Partnerships.

The FMFADA has commissioned an economic analysis to learn more about potential revenues from mixed use development at the site, and a tourism study that goes beyond heritage tourism to include recreational tourism and resort development.

“Once we have determined the potential revenue from buildings and future tourism activities and pinned down the final operating and maintenance costs at Fort Monroe, we can begin to make decisions that will keep the Site economically sustainable while, at the same time, protecting and promoting the almost four hundred year historic legacy that is Fort Monroe,” stated Armbruster.

Fort Monroe planning calls for an open space park and public access. Planning consultants, Dover Kohl and Partners have been asked to develop a new concept in accordance with historic preservation management zones. The zone concept has been developed since the expanded FMFADA was organized in 2007. These new aspects of the Fort Monroe Reuse Plan will be presented at the March 21, 2008 FMFADA board meeting, held from 1 PM to 3:45 PM, Bay Breeze Community Center, Fort Monroe, Virginia.

Editor’s Notes

The upcoming FMFADA meeting is all about the financial side of the Fort Monroe decision making. As the reuse plan nears the June approval date, the hard questions about how much is needed to operate and maintain Fort Monroe have to be answered. Newly hired consultants, Bay Area Economics have a track record of developing economic models for many BRAC closures, including the Presidio. Economic Research Associates has been retained to study how much revenue could be expected from heritage tourism, recreational opportunities and resort lodging.

Briefings and Reports

• Executive Director’s Report William A. “Bill” Armbruster (15 minutes)
• Update on BRAC and Timeline David Knisely, Garrity-Knisely (15 minutes)
• Update on Fort Monroe Reuse Plan Victor Dover and Amy Groves, Dover-Kohl and Partners (15 minutes)
• Plan for Economic Updates Blount Hunter, Blount Hunter Anita Morrison, Bay Area Economics (15 minutes)
• Plan for Tourism William Owens, Economic Research Associates (15 minutes)
• Completing the Section 106 PA David Dutton, David Dutton Associates Kathleen Kilpatrick, Director of Historic Resources (15 minutes)
• FMFADA Communications Trudy O’Reilly, O’Reilly Public Relations (15 minutes)