Holland Court
Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA)
Holland Court is clearly in Gum Springs. In fact, it is a cul-de-sac off Holland Road, which is a major road in Gum Springs...AND GUESS WHAT...Holland Court needs Holland Road to access their home!!!
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The 11-homeowners on Holland Court, represented by the Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA), has taken certain actions in the Gum Springs community to exercise white privilege to become a separate community through residential segregation and racism.
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Because of the serious threat posed by Holland Court and HCPOA that could erase and/or change the history of Gum Springs, the Civic Association strongly felt that it should have a separate page on the community website to address and keep the community informed about the actions of HCPOA.
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Gum Springs is one community and speaks with one voice and that voice is the Civic Association. Gum Springs is also not separated by race.
The following email was sent to the Gum Springs community is a summary of how the President, NGSCA was treated during the MVCCA secret vote meeting held on June 23, 2021. Prior to the MVCCA meeting that included the secret vote, the President, NGSCA reached out to the MVCCA Co-Chairs to continue the advocacy about how MVCCA actions that condones the actions of Bill Kane and Holland Court Property Owners Association has an adverse and detrimental affect on the Gum Springs community particularly during the time Gum Springs is seeking a historic designation from the Commonwealth of Virginia and Fairfax County. As you read on, you can clearly see that the MVCCA could less about preserving the history of a black community. The Gum Springs community will continue its fight against MVCCA, Bill Kane and the Holland Court Property Owners Association in its quest to be one community as it has been for 188 years without the intervention of white folks. White Folks are now recognizing Gum Springs is a gem and now wants to claim that gem but not the gem's history.
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UPDATE as of May 3rd: Because Holland Court/HCPOA declined to attend the Gum Springs community meeting on April 29th with Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck, the meeting focused on how Holland Court/HCPOA action is impacting the Gum Springs community. Holland Court/HCPOA action shows how black communities are being "erased" by whites moving into a black community and changing the community's history and identity. Just look no further than Springbank.
Although Springbank Civic Association was created by a black family (the Barbers) that lived on Emmett Drive, whose son was the first black to enter then-Groveton High School, long before a group of whites moved into the area about 30 years ago.
The whites changed the boundaries for Springbank, "created" the Springbank Civic Association by excluding the founders and original streets that comprised of Springbank--mainly the streets that blacks lived. The exclusion included the streets that members of the Quander family lived.
How ironic that Fairfax County praises the oldest black family that can trace its ancestors hundreds of years ago but certain whites ignore the Quander family history and its roots in Springbank. Bet the Springbank Civic Association is unaware of the grave of a Quander member buried on the grounds of West Potomac High School.
Holland Court/HCPOA continuance to exercise residential segregation in a community founded by a freed slave is on that same path implemented by the whites in Springbank to eliminate Gum Springs, a black community founded by a freed slave. Supervisor Storck stated that he would reach out to Holland Court/HCPOA one more time.
UPDATE as of April 29th: Click here or visit the Meeting Documents for 4/29/21 Tab under Meeting Info Menu to read 1) NGSCA email notice to HCPOA about the April 29th; 2) HCPOA response and reasons for declining to attend the April 29th meeting; 3) NGSCA response; and 4) NGSCA clarification email to HCPOA declining to attend the meeting.
Although Springbank Civic Association was created by a black family (the Barbers) that lived on Emmett Drive, whose son was the first black to enter then-Groveton High School, long before a group of whites moved into the area about 30 years ago.
The whites changed the boundaries for Springbank, "created" the Springbank Civic Association by excluding the founders and original streets that comprised of Springbank--mainly the streets that blacks lived. The exclusion included the streets that members of the Quander family lived.
How ironic that Fairfax County praises the oldest black family that can trace its ancestors hundreds of years ago but certain whites ignore the Quander family history and its roots in Springbank. Bet the Springbank Civic Association is unaware of the grave of a Quander member buried on the grounds of West Potomac High School.
Holland Court/HCPOA continuance to exercise residential segregation in a community founded by a freed slave is on that same path implemented by the whites in Springbank to eliminate Gum Springs, a black community founded by a freed slave. Supervisor Storck stated that he would reach out to Holland Court/HCPOA one more time.
UPDATE as of April 29th: Click here or visit the Meeting Documents for 4/29/21 Tab under Meeting Info Menu to read 1) NGSCA email notice to HCPOA about the April 29th; 2) HCPOA response and reasons for declining to attend the April 29th meeting; 3) NGSCA response; and 4) NGSCA clarification email to HCPOA declining to attend the meeting.
UPDATE as of April 14th: A meeting will be held on April 29th, hosted by Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck, to discuss the racial tensions and divide created by the 11-homeowners on Holland Court. Gum Springs was not satisfied with the MVCCA decision to not take action but to accept HCPOA membership application which divides a historic community founded by a freed slave. Click here to view Civic Association letter sent to Supervisor Storck.
UPDATED as of April 5th: On March 9th, the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Association (MVCCA) voted to not take action in response to the February 15th Civic Association letter about Gum Springs representation. Click here to view the Civic Association letter. Click here to view the MVCCA Board written March 19th response. The Civic Association plan to take further action to prevent the blatant system racism being displayed by the 11-homeowners on Holland Court aka Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA) that could result in the diminishing and elimination of a black community that was founded by a freed slave. So this page will be updated periodically. There is no other black community in the Mount Vernon Magisterial District that has a community within a community. Only the 11-homeowners on Holland Court are authorized members of HCPOA. All residents, regardless whether or not they pay community dues are members of the Civic Association. There is only one Gum Springs community!
UPDATED as of April 5th: On March 9th, the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Association (MVCCA) voted to not take action in response to the February 15th Civic Association letter about Gum Springs representation. Click here to view the Civic Association letter. Click here to view the MVCCA Board written March 19th response. The Civic Association plan to take further action to prevent the blatant system racism being displayed by the 11-homeowners on Holland Court aka Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA) that could result in the diminishing and elimination of a black community that was founded by a freed slave. So this page will be updated periodically. There is no other black community in the Mount Vernon Magisterial District that has a community within a community. Only the 11-homeowners on Holland Court are authorized members of HCPOA. All residents, regardless whether or not they pay community dues are members of the Civic Association. There is only one Gum Springs community!
Here we will post the most notable communications/information about HCPOA whose 11-homeowners reside in Gum Springs, an African American community that was founded by a freed slave in which they now live.
The following is a sample of actions by Holland Court and HCPOA that demonstrates their openness and willingness to engage in residential segregation in order to exercise white privilege:
- Changing its Articles of Incorporation in order to become members of the MVCCA
- HCPOA reason for amending its Articles of Incorporation while ignoring its black community organization;
- History lesson to Holland Court and HCPOA about the property lines in Gum Springs; and
- History lesson to Holland Court and HCPOA on the importance of their street and area in history that eliminated the poll tax for not only Gum Springs residents; but also for the entire U.S.A. and the beginning of Gum Springs basic public services such as paved roads and sewer service by suing Fairfax County.
1. Notable changes to the HCPOA Articles of Incorporation that further reflects and solidifies HCPOA position to disengage as being a part of the Gum Springs community and continuing to exercise its white privilege.
Article II – PURPOSES; POWER AND DUTIES:
Section 2.1. Purposes
Original: c. to promote the health, safety and welfare of the Members of the Association within the Property.
CHANGED TO REMOVE “within the Property.” NOW READS: c. to promote the health, safety and well-being of the Members of the Association.
CHANGED TO ADD: d. to seek, from time to time, as determined by the Directors, opportunities for joining and collaborating with other non-partisan, not-for-profit civic organizations that promote the health, safety and well-being of all residents of the surrounding Mount Vernon Magisterial District.
CHANGED TO ADD: o. The corporation will own or have under its care, custody or control a common area that is subject to a recorded declaration of covenants, and the declaration of covenants obligates a person, by virtue of ownership of a lot of the subdivision, to be a member of the corporation. See Section 13.1-814.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Article IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Original: The affairs of the Association shall be administered by a Board of Directors who, if elected, shall be Class A Members. The number, method of election or appointment, and term of office of directors shall be in accordance with the provisions therefor in the Bylaws.
CHANGED TO REMOVE “who, if elected.” NOW READS: The affairs of the Association shall be administered by a Board of Directors who shall be Class A Members.
CHANGED TO REMOVE: “The number, method of election or appointment, and term of office of directors shall be in accordance with the provisions therefor in the Bylaws.”
NOTE FROM NGSCA: HCPOA is a property owners’ association with no covenants, no elections, and no bylaws. It also appears it does not have IRS tax exempt status. So, what exactly is HCPOA other than representing the 11-homeowners on Holland Court and what is it they are trying to portray other than residential segregation and racism? Not only are HCPOA actions viewed as a hostile takeover of an African American community founded by a freed slave that is rich in history--Gum Springs—but also to erase the history of this black community and replace it with its white history.
Section 2.1. Purposes
Original: c. to promote the health, safety and welfare of the Members of the Association within the Property.
CHANGED TO REMOVE “within the Property.” NOW READS: c. to promote the health, safety and well-being of the Members of the Association.
CHANGED TO ADD: d. to seek, from time to time, as determined by the Directors, opportunities for joining and collaborating with other non-partisan, not-for-profit civic organizations that promote the health, safety and well-being of all residents of the surrounding Mount Vernon Magisterial District.
CHANGED TO ADD: o. The corporation will own or have under its care, custody or control a common area that is subject to a recorded declaration of covenants, and the declaration of covenants obligates a person, by virtue of ownership of a lot of the subdivision, to be a member of the corporation. See Section 13.1-814.1 of the Code of Virginia.
Article IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Original: The affairs of the Association shall be administered by a Board of Directors who, if elected, shall be Class A Members. The number, method of election or appointment, and term of office of directors shall be in accordance with the provisions therefor in the Bylaws.
CHANGED TO REMOVE “who, if elected.” NOW READS: The affairs of the Association shall be administered by a Board of Directors who shall be Class A Members.
CHANGED TO REMOVE: “The number, method of election or appointment, and term of office of directors shall be in accordance with the provisions therefor in the Bylaws.”
NOTE FROM NGSCA: HCPOA is a property owners’ association with no covenants, no elections, and no bylaws. It also appears it does not have IRS tax exempt status. So, what exactly is HCPOA other than representing the 11-homeowners on Holland Court and what is it they are trying to portray other than residential segregation and racism? Not only are HCPOA actions viewed as a hostile takeover of an African American community founded by a freed slave that is rich in history--Gum Springs—but also to erase the history of this black community and replace it with its white history.
2. The following are excerpts between the President, HCPOA and President, NGSCA on February 17, 2021 about the amended articles
HCPOA reason for the amendment: “Ever since you identified your interpretation of the text in the original Articles, we have been studying that document to be considerate of and responsive to your concerns. We decided to update the whole document to include removal of the language that was only relevant to the startup of the corporation like the incorporator, original Director and class of members, and the initial Registered Agent. While we thought the original purpose statement was adequate to allow our participation in the MVCCA, we also made changes to the purpose statement to make that ability to participate more explicit. For the near future, we plan to continue our membership in the MVCCA, as long as we remain eligible, and to participate in all their activities on all matters that come before them.”
NGSCA response: “Now that HCPOA is changing its articles, this action merely solidifies the fact that HCPOA will continue to identify itself via residential segregation in order to exercise white privilege. Wow! What a way to resolve racial tensions in a community than to change a document to make residential segregation and racism legal.
If HCPOA can seek out a predominantly white organization to join such as the MVCCA, why did it not seek out joining the organization that represents its community?
Let me be clear...we have no objection to your being a member of the MVCCA and participate in its activities or any other organization’s activities. What’s rubbing Gum Spring the wrong way is the manner that HCPOA has gone about it. We offered HCPOA to join forces the right way so that Gum Springs would have adequate representation in not only the MVCCA but any organization we sought to be members. You and HCPOA declined."
HCPOA reason for the amendment: “Ever since you identified your interpretation of the text in the original Articles, we have been studying that document to be considerate of and responsive to your concerns. We decided to update the whole document to include removal of the language that was only relevant to the startup of the corporation like the incorporator, original Director and class of members, and the initial Registered Agent. While we thought the original purpose statement was adequate to allow our participation in the MVCCA, we also made changes to the purpose statement to make that ability to participate more explicit. For the near future, we plan to continue our membership in the MVCCA, as long as we remain eligible, and to participate in all their activities on all matters that come before them.”
NGSCA response: “Now that HCPOA is changing its articles, this action merely solidifies the fact that HCPOA will continue to identify itself via residential segregation in order to exercise white privilege. Wow! What a way to resolve racial tensions in a community than to change a document to make residential segregation and racism legal.
If HCPOA can seek out a predominantly white organization to join such as the MVCCA, why did it not seek out joining the organization that represents its community?
Let me be clear...we have no objection to your being a member of the MVCCA and participate in its activities or any other organization’s activities. What’s rubbing Gum Spring the wrong way is the manner that HCPOA has gone about it. We offered HCPOA to join forces the right way so that Gum Springs would have adequate representation in not only the MVCCA but any organization we sought to be members. You and HCPOA declined."
3. Holland Court Needs a Lesson in Gum Springs Black History
email sent thru the community email system on February 20, 2021
So, where is Holland Court? A short cul-de-sac off Holland Road that was redeveloped in Gum Springs to increase the housing stock approximately 25 years ago.
The property lines in Gum Springs are exactly as West Ford, a freed slave who founded Gum Springs, deeded the land to his four children in 1857, which also coincides with the main north-south roads in Gum Springs—Holland, Andrus and Fordson.
Approximately 2-years ago, these 11-homeowners embarked on a journey to separate themselves from the Gum Springs community without knowing the history of not only the Gum Springs community but also how their street became into being.
With Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA) taking such aggressive and hostile actions to be a separate community, the question was raised--How can you become a community within a community? Answer: By using residential segregation.
Shame on Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association using residential segregation to exercise their white privilege and racism to separate an African American community founded by a freed slave in which they now live!
During Black History Month, we may provide Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association at least one more black history lesson about Gum Springs so they fully understand why Gum Springs is challenging their action to separate the Gum Springs community.
email sent thru the community email system on February 20, 2021
So, where is Holland Court? A short cul-de-sac off Holland Road that was redeveloped in Gum Springs to increase the housing stock approximately 25 years ago.
The property lines in Gum Springs are exactly as West Ford, a freed slave who founded Gum Springs, deeded the land to his four children in 1857, which also coincides with the main north-south roads in Gum Springs—Holland, Andrus and Fordson.
Approximately 2-years ago, these 11-homeowners embarked on a journey to separate themselves from the Gum Springs community without knowing the history of not only the Gum Springs community but also how their street became into being.
With Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA) taking such aggressive and hostile actions to be a separate community, the question was raised--How can you become a community within a community? Answer: By using residential segregation.
Shame on Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association using residential segregation to exercise their white privilege and racism to separate an African American community founded by a freed slave in which they now live!
During Black History Month, we may provide Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association at least one more black history lesson about Gum Springs so they fully understand why Gum Springs is challenging their action to separate the Gum Springs community.
4. History Lesson #2 for Holland Court and Holland Court Property Owners Association
email sent thru the community email system on February 22, 2021
Reminder on where Holland Court is located in Gum Springs--a short cul-de-sac off Holland Holland Road that was redeveloped in Gum Springs to increase the housing stock approximately 25 years ago.
Holland Court is not just a road that 11-homeowners are claiming as "theirs" so they can exercise white privilege through residential segregation. Holland Court is a part of the Gum Springs community and its history.
The area of Holland Court is important to the Gum Springs community because of the Gum Springs residents who owned property and lived in that area which is also not far from where Annie E. Harper lived. Ms. Harper fought to get rid of the poll tax for not only Fairfax County residents but for the entire U.S.A.--Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections.
Ms. Harper and her group of Gum Springs residents, that included Curtis and Mrytle L. Burr and Gladys A. Berry, fought hard for people of all color to vote without having to pay to vote. The Burrs later moved to Springbank to continue the fight for civil rights.
Now Holland Court and HCPOA are seeking to erase Gum Springs place in history and the beginning of the civil rights movement in Gum Springs through residential segregation. This beginning included Gum Springs fighting for its fair share for County services such as paved roads, installation of sewer lines and children being sent to desegregated schools.
Without that fight by Ms. Harper and Gum Springs suing Fairfax County, there would be no Holland Court.
Without knowing the history of Gum Springs, Holland Court and HCPOA are taking aggressive and hostile actions through residential segregation to replace Gum Springs history with their history as though there never was a Gum Springs. Gum Springs will continue to challenge Holland Court and HCPOA should it continue on its journey to create a racial and community divide in Gum Springs.
Gum Springs is one community and speaks with one voice and that voice is the Civic Association. Gum Springs is also not separated by race.
New residential segregation action by Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA): On behalf of the 11-homeowners on Holland Court, HCPOA amended its Articles of Incorporation to solidify its action to identify itself with white privilege via residential segregation. Note: The amendment will be discussed later to show HCPOA deliberate actions to be a separate community in Gum Springs.
IRONY: HCPOA revised articles were approved during Black History Month on February 12, 2021.
email sent thru the community email system on February 22, 2021
Reminder on where Holland Court is located in Gum Springs--a short cul-de-sac off Holland Holland Road that was redeveloped in Gum Springs to increase the housing stock approximately 25 years ago.
Holland Court is not just a road that 11-homeowners are claiming as "theirs" so they can exercise white privilege through residential segregation. Holland Court is a part of the Gum Springs community and its history.
The area of Holland Court is important to the Gum Springs community because of the Gum Springs residents who owned property and lived in that area which is also not far from where Annie E. Harper lived. Ms. Harper fought to get rid of the poll tax for not only Fairfax County residents but for the entire U.S.A.--Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections.
Ms. Harper and her group of Gum Springs residents, that included Curtis and Mrytle L. Burr and Gladys A. Berry, fought hard for people of all color to vote without having to pay to vote. The Burrs later moved to Springbank to continue the fight for civil rights.
Now Holland Court and HCPOA are seeking to erase Gum Springs place in history and the beginning of the civil rights movement in Gum Springs through residential segregation. This beginning included Gum Springs fighting for its fair share for County services such as paved roads, installation of sewer lines and children being sent to desegregated schools.
Without that fight by Ms. Harper and Gum Springs suing Fairfax County, there would be no Holland Court.
Without knowing the history of Gum Springs, Holland Court and HCPOA are taking aggressive and hostile actions through residential segregation to replace Gum Springs history with their history as though there never was a Gum Springs. Gum Springs will continue to challenge Holland Court and HCPOA should it continue on its journey to create a racial and community divide in Gum Springs.
Gum Springs is one community and speaks with one voice and that voice is the Civic Association. Gum Springs is also not separated by race.
New residential segregation action by Holland Court Property Owners Association (HCPOA): On behalf of the 11-homeowners on Holland Court, HCPOA amended its Articles of Incorporation to solidify its action to identify itself with white privilege via residential segregation. Note: The amendment will be discussed later to show HCPOA deliberate actions to be a separate community in Gum Springs.
IRONY: HCPOA revised articles were approved during Black History Month on February 12, 2021.