Heather Curtis and Daniela Berson
WMAL.com
LEESBURG — (WMAL) The Leesburg Town Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday to expand the Loudoun County Courthouse and demolish four historic buildings in the process.
The courthouse expansion has led to a major debate over the rights of town versus county governments.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors threatened to move the courthouse to another location if Leesburg did not expand it.
Leesburg Vice Mayor Kelly Burk said that she regrets having to wipe away more of Leesburg’s history but that it must be done for the town’s best interests.
“Progress demands that we must move forward or we’re doomed to remained static,” Burk said at last night’s council meeting.
The only dissenter was Council Member Thomas Dunn, who said that tourism would suffer if Leesburg lost more of its historic buildings.
“Many people move to Leesburg because of its historic charm, the charm of downtown,” he said.
“I don’t hear very many people say ‘I moved to Leesburg because there’s a government center here.’”
The town is considering erecting a plaque to commemorate its history in the area where the buildings will be torn down.
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