"Found Object" Fence near TR Island

[rcannon100]

@Mark Blacknell 44929 wrote:

It’s one guy that lives there, and he’s been known to have the occasionally friendly conversation with folks. Yes, it’s private property*, but I hope folks will just let him be. Been there for years, and never – to my knowledge – has he been a problem to anyone.

*Possibly the most valuable piece of undeveloped private property in DC, depending on what the judge sez.

Who owns it? Is it being litigated?

[Subby]

For the longest time I just thought this was a community art project of some sort. I like knowing that it is actually a fort. Who doesn’t like building forts?

[dbb]

@rcannon100 44996 wrote:

Who owns it? Is it being litigated?

Spoken like a true lawyer!

The sliver of private property oft figures into plans for fixing the trail at the intersection of doom and was also an issue in the recent Potomac (Virginia side) Boathouse study from last summer. There were several posts on that issue, here is one http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2571-Arlington-Boathouse-EIS-Request-for-Comments&highlight=potomac+boathouse

Seems that area has land owned by a multitude of folks – DC, private, NPS, Arlington (possibly) and the state

[rcannon100]

No no no. Not the whole land mass – that little sliver. I know about the boat house and I know about how all of this is a pain in the ass about fixing Lynn St.

The question is – who owns the private piece of land?? Curious minds want to know (a) who is holding up all this and (b) who is going to lose their land in an adverse possession claim filed by the guy who has set up camp there?

Mark said “it depends on what the judge says” – what judge?

[dbb]

It is my pleasure to serve.

the property is owned by the 1101 LEE HIGHWAY ASSOC LLC represented by the Holladay Group in DC. It seems to be a bit over a half acre and the ArCo property records (on line under property id 16018009 it appears to have been returned from DOT (“RETURNED RT 66 LAND FROM DOT”)

Isnt particularly valuable, likely a result of the terrain and the difficult boundary conditions (if the only entrance is on Lynn, leaving the property would virtually force you to go into the district to turn around)

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dbb 45017 wrote:

It is my pleasure to serve.

the property is owned by the 1101 LEE HIGHWAY ASSOC LLC represented by the Holladay Group in DC. It seems to be a bit over a half acre and the ArCo property records (on line under property id 16018009 it appears to have been returned from DOT (“RETURNED RT 66 LAND FROM DOT”)

Isnt particularly valuable, likely a result of the terrain and the difficult boundary conditions (if the only entrance is on Lynn, leaving the property would virtually force you to go into the district to turn around)

I was hoping for a John of the Cabin type who refused to sell. When I was a teenager there was still a 5-10 acre strawberry farm across the street from Disneyland. I loved that guy.

[dbb]

I would expect the only way they are going to sell the property is to a govt agency wanting to do something that needs the half acre. A short list of reasons could be the boathouse, improvements to the Lynn-Lee intersection, a MTB course for the riders in the county , or some other worthy use. I’d doubt it would ever be developed commercially. In that respect owners are likely to keep the property until someone really needs the property more than 3/4 million dollars.

[rcannon100]

So what you are saying Dana is that our guy is setting up his own hotel there

Thanks for the info…..

The period of adverse possession in Virginia, I read, is 15 years. Guy will have to have his shack up there a long time before he owns it.

[baiskeli]

@dbb 45017 wrote:

It is my pleasure to serve.

the property is owned by the 1101 LEE HIGHWAY ASSOC LLC represented by the Holladay Group in DC. It seems to be a bit over a half acre and the ArCo property records (on line under property id 16018009 it appears to have been returned from DOT (“RETURNED RT 66 LAND FROM DOT”)

I had no idea. I assumed, like most of us I guess, that it was public land. Thanks!

[dbb]

It is not clear to me where the property lines are. I have been told that the curb cut on the sidewalk is the entrance to the private land.

[baiskeli]

@dbb 45040 wrote:

It is not clear to me where the property lines are. I have been told that the curb cut on the sidewalk is the entrance to the private land.

This map shows parcel boundaries. It looks like this was a lot on a street that was obliterated by I-66, perhaps with a house on it. Now the street is gone.

http://gis.arlingtonva.us/gallery/map.html?webmap=89e2a4b94a0e4d1cab23256e63b70d64

Lots of strange little things you learn from this map.

[dbb]

You are the man!

That is a real landlocked parcel. The map shows the access to the parcel from where the curb cut is likely. I think the lot drops fairly quickly to the elevation of the GWMP. I will have to look at the topo map.

[mstone]

I agree that the owner will eventually sell it back to the gov’t for a nice profit. Remember this in the current frenzy to sell off gov’t property…

[DismalScientist]

Why would anyone want to hold this land and pay taxes on it, particularly given its undevelopable nature? I would think the owners of this would like to challenge the assessment.

[baiskeli]

It would be a great place for a bike shop/restaurant/hotel/spa.

[Author]

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