The old Banks house dates back to the 1950s.
Olander Banks Sr. working in the office.On the eastern edge of Kingstowne, a piece of property once owned by the Banks family is the center of local attention recently. A Fairfax County Park Authority plan is emerging to demolish the home and push forward, turning the site into a county park.
Some people are concerned that the park authority might plan to include a dog park on the property. The large Banks home has been vacant for many years and some think that a dog park might go where the house is located once it’s demolished.
The Franconia Museum posted information about the property, urging supporters to contact local elected officials to save the property but it's unclear what the immediate plans entail. "The FCPA is planning to turn the house lot into an off leash dog park," said the Museum. Many on social media aren't happy with that concept.
"So they want to tear down a historic house to build a pooping lot?" asked one.
"So why is the house important?" asked another.
Former Hayfield Farm resident Jean Mulroy Martelli chimed in and said she's read up about the property and it doesn't meet the guidelines or requirements for the historic structure designation to possibly save the house.
According to a FCPA slideshow, dating back to May 2011, the 10-acre site was purchased by the Park Authority in 2001 from Mr. Banks who survived his wife. In 2005 the park was dedicated and a monument sign was installed by the family. There is a map with the park divided into an open zone, a managed natural area with a stream restoration zone, a leisure zone and an activity zone which is where the current house is now. The park plan includes a playground, picnic facilities, a meadow with the stream running through it and courts, parking and the off-leash dog area.
According to FCPA spokesperson Ben Boxer, the Park Authority has been working to develop the project plan to proceed with implementation of the Master Plan.
“We have also been communicating with members of the family along the way on how to share the Banks’ family story on the homestead and will keep the lines of communication open,” Boxer added. Those details are not yet finalized, but the FCPA will be sharing that information with the community as it becomes available, Boxer said.
Banks Auto Parts
It all started in about 1940 when Olander Banks Sr. started emerging as a business entrepreneur in Alexandria, selling ice at 4 a.m., dabbling in real estate, and opening the Zero Cab taxi service in Alexandria. Then he opened Banks Auto Parts at 718 North Henry Street in Old Town, and a bigger auto parts place out in Woodbridge.
In 1957, Olander Banks and his wife Margaret bought the property off Old Telegraph Road and built the home shortly after where they raised nine children.
"In August 2001, the Fairfax County Park Authority was given the land for recreation," their website read. The only access to the land is off Old Telegraph Road and it’s bordered by a line of trees so it’s easily overlooked by passing traffic.