FXCO purchases and demolishes house on floodplain
The vacant lot in the photo above used to
be the site of a single-family house in the Annandale area.
The house, at 6613 Dearborn Drive, was torn down earlier this spring after it was purchased
by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for $705,000, using federal FEMA funds. This was the first time the county participated in this kind of
arrangement, says Craig Carinci, director of the stormwater planning division
in the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for $705,000, using federal FEMA funds. This was the first time the county participated in this kind of
arrangement, says Craig Carinci, director of the stormwater planning division
in the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
A section of Holmes Run flows by the backyard, and the
property had flooded frequently. After taking down the house, the county is in
the process of restoring the land. Removal of impervious surfaces will improve
the drainage, Carinci says, so less runoff will flow directly into the creek.
The county plans to carry out more reforestation later this summer.
property had flooded frequently. After taking down the house, the county is in
the process of restoring the land. Removal of impervious surfaces will improve
the drainage, Carinci says, so less runoff will flow directly into the creek.
The county plans to carry out more reforestation later this summer.
That house and the others along that section of Holmes Run were built before the
county passed an ordinance in 1976 prohibiting construction on
flood plains. Those houses are close Sleepy Hollow Road, just outside the Lake Barcroft Association.
According to Carinci, the homeowner had applied for and received
an $833,000 Repetitive Flood Claims Grant from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to cover
the sale and demolition of the house and compensate the owner for the loss.
an $833,000 Repetitive Flood Claims Grant from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to cover
the sale and demolition of the house and compensate the owner for the loss.
The county signed a grant agreement with FEMA in
August 2011. The
federal and state governments covered 95 percent of the costs, and Fairfax
County covered 5 percent. After receiving a “fair market rate for their home,” the former
residents moved to California, Carinci said.
August 2011. The
federal and state governments covered 95 percent of the costs, and Fairfax
County covered 5 percent. After receiving a “fair market rate for their home,” the former
residents moved to California, Carinci said.
Other homeowners can apply for a FEMA grant if
they meet the criteria: They must have had repetitive flooding, have flood
insurance, and have filed two claims for flood insurance. The house at 6613 Dearborn had flooded in
2006 and 2008 and again last September during tropical storm Lee, he says.
they meet the criteria: They must have had repetitive flooding, have flood
insurance, and have filed two claims for flood insurance. The house at 6613 Dearborn had flooded in
2006 and 2008 and again last September during tropical storm Lee, he says.
It’s not clear what the future holds for the other homeowners
on Dearborn close to Holmes Run, considering they are on a floodplain, too. Basil
Hall Sr., who has lived at 6615 Dearborn since 1976, says he has had some minor
flooding over the years.
on Dearborn close to Holmes Run, considering they are on a floodplain, too. Basil
Hall Sr., who has lived at 6615 Dearborn since 1976, says he has had some minor
flooding over the years.
Removing the house at 6613 Dearborn will help reduce runoff
but “won’t dramatically change the hydrology of the creek,” Carinci says. And
“it won’t significantly impact neighboring houses.”
but “won’t dramatically change the hydrology of the creek,” Carinci says. And
“it won’t significantly impact neighboring houses.”
3 responses to “FXCO purchases and demolishes house on floodplain”
Leave a reply
Why in Gods name are we paying for someone elses stupid mistake? Its bad enough that the feds fell for it.
I will assume that it will become Park land. Now we can pay to mow it.
100 yr flood plains have been around for many years. Purchasing a property with an issue is buyer beware!!
very interesting property. wish I could have found it refurbished it, and started new chapter there.
I lived at 6613 Dearborn around 1980, and was surprised to find out what's happened. We never had problems with flooding then. Can't believe public money was spent on this though.