December 15, 2008

City of Hampton to Host a Panel Discussion on Fort Monroe
Program to Air Live on January 9 at 4:00 p.m. on City Channel 47

Hampton, VA - The City of Hampton will host a panel discussion on January 9 at 4:00 p.m. regarding the closure of Fort Monroe and its potential reuse upon the Army’s departure in September 2011.  The program will be broadcast on the city’s government channel, TV-47.

Panel participants include Virginia Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Nikki Rovner, Executive Director of the Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority Bill Armbruster, Hampton City Council-member George Wallace, and Hampton City Manager Jesse Wallace.  The Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority is the governing board responsible for creating the reuse plan for Fort Monroe.

Kathy Barnstorff from NASA will moderate the panel discussion.  Panel discussion topics will include the economic impact to the city once the Army leaves Fort Monroe, the proposed reuse of the property, and the environmental cleanup of the fort.  In addition, citizens are invited to participate in the panel discussion by emailing their questions about Fort Monroe to Elizabeth Kersey at ekersey@hampton.gov by January 5.

About Fort Monroe:
Spanning 570 acres, Fort Monroe is located in Hampton on Old Point Comfort where the Hampton Roads Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay meet.  Established as a U.S. Army Installation in 1819, this National Historic Landmark District contains a diverse collection of buildings, structures, and landscapes rich in military and American history. Fort Monroe will be closed as a military facility in September 2011 pursuant to the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), and much of the land will revert back to the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Fort Monroe Reuse Plan signed by Governor Kaine in August is an important first step to promoting the reuse, proper preservation and future evolution of this historic property. 

###