Planning Division

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-1380 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 730
Fairfax, VA 22035
Kelly Atkinson
Director

Department Resources

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Gum Springs Heritage Resources Study

Fairfax County is partnering with the community to conduct a Heritage Resources Study for Gum Springs, in order to recognize the history of Gum Springs and identify resources with historical, cultural, architectural, or archaeological significance within the study area. The study is a first step toward the planning process which will engage the full community. The study will assess the feasibility of potential preservation tools that the community can choose from as they set goals and develop their vision for the future of Gum Springs.

No decisions have been made as to the final recommendations of the study. The community will decide what preservation tool(s) will best meet their goals and vision for the future. 

Study Area

The study will focus on the Gum Springs area as outlined in the maps below (click to enlarge). The study area also includes three cemeteries - Bethlehem Baptist, Coleman/Snowden, and Woodlawn Methodist Church Cemeteries.

gum springs woodlawn cemetary

Project Information

On October 16, the Gum Springs Civic Association, the Gum Springs Historical Society, and Commonwealth Preservation Group (CPG) in coordination with Fairfax County, hosted a second community meeting for the Gum Springs Heritage Resources Study. CPG led approximately 35 community members through a facilitated discussion about the past, present, and future of the Gum Springs Community. The participants included several community members with decades or life-long affiliations with Gum Springs, who were able to share their personal recollections to enhance the larger study. The meeting culminated with several stations provided by CPG to capture stories and memories, which included a scanning station for personal photographs, diaries, family correspondence, etc., and a mapping station where participants marked significant places, both personally and for the larger community. 

On October 16-17, 10 long-time residents of Gum Springs met with historians from CPG to conduct oral history interviews, which will be used to inform the development of the historic context of the study.  

To date, the Gum Springs Heritage Resources Study has successfully completed two community meetings, archival research, and an architectural survey of buildings in the study area. The next steps include a draft historic context and survey report to be published in early 2025, and a final management document which will be presented to the community by the consultants in October 2025 at a final community meeting. 

View Public Comments Received & Responses 

About the Consultant

Commonwealth Preservation Group (CPG) has a robust resume working with African American communities in Virginia and nationwide. You can learn more about their past projects below: 

•  Seatack Historic District, Virginia Beach
•  Saint Paul's College Historic District Update and History Day, Lawrenceville, VA
•  The African American Watermen Project
•  Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority "Big 6" Survey and Historic Context

Through collaboration with the Gum Springs community, the heritage resources study will:

  • Identify the historical themes and cultural narratives of the community from its founding through the early 1970s
  • Identify buildings and sites that contribute to significant historic themes of the Gum Springs community
  • Compile existing oral histories, and
  • Conduct new oral histories.

The information collected from the study will be used to assess the feasibility of potential preservation planning tools that the community can choose to pursue as they set goals and develop their vision for the future of Gum Springs. Potential tools may include, but will not be limited to:

  • National Register and Virginia Landmarks Register eligibility, to include Traditional Cultural Property designation,
  • Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites designation
  • Heritage Conservation Overlay District designation, and 
  • Historic Overlay District designation
  • Other planning tools may be identified for consideration

Each tool will be individually assessed for feasibility and implementation.

Study Timeline

timeline

Throughout almost 200 years of history and existence, the Gum Springs community tells the story of the oldest free sustained African American community in Fairfax County. Although the history of Gum Springs is recognized by the county, and two publications, The Corbin Report (unpublished), and a History Now Report (1984), both commissioned by Fairfax County, outlining the historic significance of the community, there is no comprehensive heritage resource study for this area. In 2018, during the Embark Richmond Highway project, the Gum Springs community was identified as an important historic and cultural community needing further study.

In September 2020, the Board of Supervisors authorized and allocated funding for Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to complete a heritage resources study for the Gum Springs community. In 2021, staff worked collaboratively with a small group of community members, made up of representatives from the New Gum Springs Civic Association and the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum. Together they worked for 7 months to prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP), which included drafting of a scope of work, identifying the professional qualifications, and formulating the selection criteria to evaluate the responses received.

The resulting RFP was released in January of 2023, and a Selection Advisory Committee was formed. The committee, made up of county staff and representatives from the New Gum Springs Civic Association, evaluated the proposals received through the interview and selection process, and identified the consulting group to document the buildings and associated history of the Gum Springs community. In January of 2024, the Commonwealth Preservation Group (CPG) of Norfolk, Virginia, was chosen to complete the study. CPG will be working with the anthropological consulting firm of Kenah Consulting, architectural historians with RK&K consulting firm, and the urban sociologist Dr. Derek Hyra, to complete the project team, as requested by the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum.

Related Resources

Board Matter (September 15, 2020)

History of Gum Springs

About the Gum Springs Study

The community members listed below include those who have worked with staff during the study preparation or are currently working with staff and the consultant on the study.

  • Vincent Carter - President of the New Gum Springs Civic Association
  • Ron L. Chase - Founder and Director of the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum
  • Pam King - New Gum Springs Civic Association, Gum Springs Historical Society member, currently the Senior Representative of the Gum Springs Senior Program
  • Dan Moon - Former President of the Gum Springs Civic Association, current Treasurer and Equipment Manager for the Gum Springs Youth Athletic Association
  • Mattie Palmore - Mount Vernon District Representative for the Community Services Board, New Gum Springs Community Association Executive Committee Member

As part of the study, Fairfax County is partnering with the following community organizations. Visit the links below to learn more about community partners and their organizational missions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The project team has complied a list of frequently asked questions regarding the Gum Springs study.

View FAQs

Glossary of Terms

A glossary of common historic preservation terms is available for reference.

View Glossary

About Heritage Resource Architectural Surveys

The project team has put together an informational flyer with everything you need to know about Heritage Resource Architectural Surveys. Take a few minutes to give it a look, so you can better understand what this type of survey entails and why it’s being conducted for the Gum Springs community.

Learn More

Historic Contexts

Historic contexts provide the larger story for how buildings, sites, and other resources are evaluated for importance at a national, state, or local level. Follow the link below to learn more about historic contexts, and their role in historic preservation planning.

Learn More

Oral History

Oral history is the oldest form of historical recordation and is used in conjunction with written records to develop historic contexts and narratives. Oral histories are important historical tools, because they provide first-person accounts and recollections of significant events.

Learn More

National Register of Historic Places & Virginia Landmarks Register

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR), are two preservation tools which are often used to celebrate and promote historic resources. Both Registers are lists of historically and culturally significant properties, including buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects, that have been recognized for their significance in history, architecture, archaeology, and culture. 

Learn More

Community Engagement

Community Meeting #2
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Gum Springs Community Center- 8100 Fordson Rd, Alexandria, VA 22306

Virtual meeting option available: https://bit.ly/3Bp1Oht 

The second community meeting include a brief project update, facilitated conversation with community members, and stations to collect stories and scan memorabilia. Residents are asked to bring photographs, documents, books, and memorabilia if they would like them to be scanned, returned, and used as part of the study. All materials will be returned, and a digital copy may be donated to the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum to add to their collections.

View Meeting Flyer

Gum Springs Community Kick-Off Meeting
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
This meeting was hosted in partnership with the New Gum Springs Civic Association and the Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum.

Meeting Video  |  Meeting Flyer

Provide Feedback

To submit questions, comments, or concerns or to sign-up to receive periodic updates about the Gum Springs Heritage Resources Study, please visit the webpage below.

Get Involved

Contact Us

Laura Kviklys, Senior Preservation Planner, Department of Planning and Development, Heritage Resources Branch, by email or call 703-324-6231. 

To contact CPG, please email Admin@commonwealthpreservationgroup.com.

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