Battle brewing over developer's plan to build on land where African American cemetery resides

LEESBURG, Va. - Civil rights leaders are preparing for battle against a developer planning to build on a historic African American cemetery in Loudoun County.

Several bodies are buried at the cemetery, but the gravesites are unmarked. The land is owned by Peterson Companies, which is preparing to move forward with development on this land in Leesburg.

However, it is a concerning move for those pushing to preserve the final resting place for many African Americans that include slaves during the Civil War.

"The tangible outcome is we do not disinter graves, we don't move the remains of our ancestors that have been buried and they are resting in peace," Pastor Michelle Thomas of the Loudoun Freedom Center. "These people have given the majority of their lives for economic purposes. If they have an opportunity to rest, we should leave them in place until eternity."

Thomas said there are eight gravesites in this area. She fears Peterson Companies will argue their right to build on the cemetery despite its historical significance dating back to the 1800s.

The developer purchased the land nearly 20 years ago, but plans to start building on the land. The acres are approved for mixed use, which could include retail and residential properties. Peterson Companies said they are considering all options.

A notice posted at the gravesite said the developer plans to relocate the remains to another cemetery in Loudoun County and urges any descendants to come forward.

"We are those descendants and so we are inserting our descendent rights, which is to say we want our ancestors left in place," said Thomas.

"There are communities where you keep the gravesite, you usually have it fenced in, you maintain it and then you have the houses that are around it so to speak," said historian Dr. Donald Cooper. "And that to me would be a great thing to do."

Peterson Companies assistant vice president of retail development Stephen Green said in a statement:

"Our Company has conducted and continues to conduct extensive research with our archeologists and historians as well as respected independent historians and genealogists. We are in the final stages of analysis that will provide a better understanding of who may be interred in what we believe to be a small family cemetery."

Peterson Companies is based in Fairfax and is best known for developing National Harbor in Maryland.

Representatives from the company will be in court on May 4 to address concerns about their project in Leesburg.