With over 500 residents, The Fairfax is a thriving community that offers retired military officers and their spouses gracious living arrangements. But in 1982, it was just an idea in the minds of a small band of men and women who envisioned a need for such a community. History of The Fairfax details the story of how this multi-million dollar facility came to fruition-through conception, construction, and conscription-all in just ten years. Lieutenant General Frank Camm had already enjoyed a distinguished career in the United States Army when he was appointed Chairman of a group that would develop an Army Officer Retirement Residence. In Part I, he relies heavily on the minutes of some 200 Foundation meetings to share the trials and errors, disappointments, and successes endemic to such an enterprise. In Part II, Colonel John Schlight, a retired Air Force navigator and former Air Force Academy history professor, details how The Fairfax grew into maturity and how its residents learned to govern themselves and transform The Fairfax into a fun-filled community. History of The Fairfax shares a captivating behind-the-scenes glimpse into how one idea created a community with traditions and an atmosphere ideal for military retirees.

History of The Fairfax

A Military Retirement CommunityBy Frank Camm John Schlight

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Frank Camm and John Schlight
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-6316-6

Contents

Dedication.....................................................3Chapter 1 First Ten Years at a Glance..........................5Chapter 2 The Germ of an Idea..................................11Chapter 3 The Founding Fathers and Mothers.....................15Chapter 4 Laying the Foundation................................19Chapter 5 The Long Road Home...................................36Chapter 6 A Site for Sore Eyes.................................46Chapter 7 Rules of the Road....................................50Chapter 8 Building The Fairfax.................................62Chapter 9 Organizing The Fairfax...............................85Chapter 10 Clipped Wings.......................................89Chapter 11 Changing the Guard..................................99Chapter 12 A Time of Mud and Dust..............................185Chapter 13 New Neighbors.......................................204Chapter 14 Organizational Changes..............................208Chapter 15 The Sun Also Rises..................................211Chapter 16 Expansion and Repair................................220Chapter 17 The Lake Campaigns..................................228Chapter 18 "The Fairfax Wants You".............................234

Chapter One

First Ten Years at a Glance

With over 500 residents, The Fairfax is now a thriving community that offers retired military officers and their spouses gracious living arrangements and health care on site. In 1982, it was just an idea in the minds of a small band of men and women who saw the need for such a community. This first section tells the story of how The Fairfax came into being-how it was conceived, built, and filled with residents-over the period from 1982 to 1992. Chapter 1 summarizes that entire story.

In 1962, the non-profit Army Distaff Foundation (ADF) opened a 276-unit retirement home in Washington, D.C., now known as Knollwood, for elderly widows and other female relatives of Army officers. By 1981, the foundation's membership was burgeoning. In response, ADF president Lt. Gen. Dave Ott hired Van Scoyoc Associates to analyze the market for retirement facilities for Army officers and their families near Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, Texas. After surveying the desires of thousands of Army officer families, Van Scoyoc Associates reported in March 1982 that the surveys "demonstrated a demand among retired Army officers, their wives and widows ... for a retirement housing program in each of the targeted locations." Because a moratorium was then in place on building new nursing beds in northern Virginia, Van Scoyoc recommended building the first new facility in San Antonio. Comparing the stated desires of survey respondents with the characteristics of 15 existing retirement facilities in the Washington area, Van Scoyoc recommended that, when the opportunity opened for a new Virginia facility, its first phase should consist of 240 residential units in several three- to five-story buildings, 40 personal care beds, 40 nursing care beds, and a central services building linked together on the retirement campus. A second phase of 80 residential units and 80 nursing beds could be added. Chapter 2 describes ADF's early efforts, the Van Scoyoc Report, and its initial implications for what has since become The Fairfax.

In September 1982, ADF distributed the Van Scoyoc Report at an orientation luncheon at Fort Myer, Virginia, for approximately 40 retired officers and wives. ADF then hosted a November 1982 meeting where Van Scoyoc described land acquisition, financing, and marketing concerns. Ten days later, 15 men and women met to form an organization that would develop an Army Officer Retirement Residence in northern Virginia. Most agreed to serve on the board of this organization and they elected Lt. Gen. Frank Camm as chairman and Lt. Gen. Dave Ott as vice chairman. Meeting weekly, they gained the pro-bono legal services of John Hagner, drafted bylaws, and became incorporated as The Army Retirement Residence Foundation-Potomac (ARRF-P) in Virginia on August 4, 1983, with the following 12 initial board members: Lt. Gen. Frank Camm, chairman; Col. Bob Cowherd, secretary; Lt. Gen. Dave Ott, vice chairman; Jeanne Moody, treasurer; Maj. Gen. Darrie Richards, finance; Anne Brinkerhoff, real estate; Gloria Hamilton, operations; Col. Joe Bellino; Maj. Gen. Dan Raymond, construction; Col. Bill Hamilton; Lt. Col. Bob Loe, marketing; Lt. Col. Forrest Pauli. Chapter Three describes how ADF's initial efforts led to the formation of ARRF-P.

The next year brought a high level of activity on many fronts. During this period, the ARRF-P board decided what kind of facilities to develop; picked an architect-engineer to design these; began to raise funds and build support from the Army, retired military, and local leaders; found a desirable building site; and initiated a partnership with the Marriott Corporation that would shape the whole effort from that point forward. After careful study of the Van Scoyoc Report, numerous visits to retirement communities, and many offers to develop their retirement community, Gloria Hamilton's Operations Committee produced an initial statement of operational needs and compiled architectural guidelines. Dan Raymond's Construction Committee selected VVKR as architect-engineer. While the foundation leaders gained the support of the Army and retired military, Bob Loe got the support of Fairfax County leaders. Meanwhile, ADF helped form an Army Retirement Residence Association that solicited necessary startup funds for the San Antonio and Virginia projects, and Darrie Richard's Finance Committee garnered favorable financial offers. After Ann Brinkerhoff's Real Estate Committee considered numerous possible sites, ARRF-P decided to take advantage of Fairfax County's support for its purchase of 107 surplus acres of federal property on the western edge of Fort Belvoir, where The Fairfax stands today. And in June 1984, the Marriott Corporation signed an agreement to develop and operate ARRF-P's first retirement residence as Marriott's prototype retirement community. Bill Eggbeer led Marriott's side of this partnership for the next five years. Chapter 4 describes these activities during 1983 and 1984.

Acquiring the Belvoir site where The Fairfax stands today turned out to be much harder than anyone could have anticipated. In March 1984, the ARRF-P Board proposed to buy the Belvoir site in a "pass through" sale, via Fairfax County, from the General Services Administration (GSA). Almost immediate endorsement by the Fairfax County of Supervisors raised the board's hopes, but challenges quickly followed. GSA's appraised value for the property exceeded the independent appraisal that the board commissioned by a third. The foundation had to hire an acoustic engineer to overcome allegations that noise from nearby demolition and rifle ranges on Fort Belvoir and aircraft on Davison Army Airfield exceeded those suitable for residential housing. After GSA finally agreed to the pass through sale, the responsible congressional oversight committee queried the foundation for months before finally ruling against it. At the time, the foundation board was mystified by this outcome. In hindsight, it now appears that partisan politics drove it. The practical result was that, in March 1986, GSA sold the Belvoir site at public auction to Cook Inlet Region,...