The parking garage at 1901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, parking space 32D.
You're probably thinking ‘What should I remember about that particular parking space?’ and I wouldn’t blame you if you have no idea what I’m talking about.
To be honest, it didn’t ring a bell to me either.
For the real history fanatics out there, it might sound a bit more familiar. What if I told you that this historic place will soon be demolished?
Does the name Bob Woodward ring any bells? No? Than the name Deep Throat probably will. Theeeere you go!
Parking spot 32D is the exact spot where reporter Bob Woodward and William Mark Felt, a.k.a. Deep Throat, met up in the 1970’s. These meetings, where W. Mark Felt leaked more and more information about the Watergate Scandal, eventually led to the resignation of Nixon.
So if you think of it, it’s actually an important place in history. The Watergate Scandal shook up the entire US Nation. You could even call it a historic landmark.
Above the parking garage there’s an office building, which has been there for the past 50 years. The developer wants to replace the office building with condos, which I can understand. The garage also has to go. It’s old, it has to change. But what about the historic and political value of the place? Isn’t that worth anything?
The developer said that he recognises the historic value of the spot, but the parking garage will be demolished anyway. They plan to put up a plaque or something, in honour of parking space 32D. Isn’t that great..
Maybe if Deep Throat and Woodward have met up in a nice and open park, people would preserve the spot. Unfortunately, there’s nothing nice about the Watergate landmark. For most people it’s just a dark and dirty corner in an old parking garage. Plus there's allready a mark outside of the building; a sign that explains what happened there in history. Arlington County placed this mark about the Watergate investigation in 2011. Maybe, they won't mess with the sign when the demolition of the building and construction of the new condos begins. Maybe the mark outside will stay, but the question rises: Isn't parking space 32D worth saving?
