Around Town

A Video Tour of Arlington’s “Essential” Historic Properties

For just over four years, county staff have been taking an inventory of Arlington’s historic buildings. The fruits of that labor are now paying off.

Of the nearly 400 properties that were surveyed, Arlington has now designated 23 as “essential historic properties.” Among them are the Colonial Village apartments and the buildings that house some of Clarendon’s most popular nightspots, including Clarendon Ballroom and Lyon Hall.

In the county-produced video above, Arlington County spokewoman Mary Curtius talks with Arlington Historic Preservation Program Coordinator Michael Leventhal about what makes those properties “essential” and why it’s important to preserve them. The actual properties are listed near the end of the video, as well as online.

The video notes that since the survey began, about 100 of the 400 historic properties have been demolished.