RECENT COMMENTS
support the Church Hill North Historic District
If you are a property owner in the proposed boundaries, you
recently received a mailing that contained a postage-paid postcard concerning the proposed Church Hill North Old & Historic District. If you have not already, please complete and return the postcard!
The postage-paid postcard serves as a survey tool for the City to make recommendations to the Commission of
Architectural Review and City Council concerning the proposed Church Hill
North Old & Historic District. WE NEED YOUR RESPONSE NOW!
PLEASE FILL OUT THE POSTAGE PAID SURVEY YOU RECEIVED AND DROP IN THE MAIL BY
MARCH 12, 2007
Map pf proposed Church Hill North Old and Historic District
The boundaries are Cedar, O and N Streets on the north; (alley between Broad
and Marshall) on the south; (alley between 29th and 30th) on the east; and
N. 21st Street/Jefferson Avenue on the west.
If you didn’t receive a survey or misplaced it, call the city’s Commission
of Architectural Review at 646-6344 and tell them you need a survey mailed
you.
Economic Benefits of Historic Districts
- Makes development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective.
- Protects the neighborhood from unmanaged change.
- Increases private investment in historic property rehabilitation.
- Job creation in rehabilitation trades, new business and business
expansion. - Enhances ability to attract business investment and promote
reinvestment. - Enhances economic diversity.
- Retention and recycling of affordable housing.
- Helps prevent unnecessary demolition. Renovations are generally less
expensive and more eco-friendly than new construction. - Increases heritage tourism generating a higher level of spending.
- Retains/stabilizes property values.
- Helps to revitalize downtowns.
Social Benefits of Historic Districts
- Encourages community stakeholder collaboration.
- Creates a range of housing opportunities and choices.
- Revitalizes and rejuvenates residential and business communities.
- Foster a sense of place, connection to the past and an enhanced quality
of life. - Expands the supply of affordable housing through reuse of existing
housing stock. - Creates stable neighborhoods thus reducing crime and other social
problems. - Promotes diversity and increases levels of homeownership.
- Allows more public funds to be channeled to other important programs.
- Creates a sense of community pride.
(via Laura Dabb)
Why is the giant patch of open fields in the northeast corner with the giant water tank part of the proposed historic district?
The task force discussed this at length and consulted the city concerning this. Our rationale for including the water tower and park was to protect an open green space that the city could sell to a developer. Ditto on the water tower parcel. If it is sold, the develpment will need to be compatible with the historic character of the neighborhood and go through a review process with the Commission of Architectural Review. The Commssion of Architectural Review recommended that we ammend the boundaries to include George Mason Elementary as there is the possibility of that school being closed by the city and being sold to developers. This is a historic building and also the school that L. Doug Wilder attended as a boy adding social/cultural historic significance in need of preserving.
To clarify further CAR’s request that we add George Mason Elementary to the proposed boundaries, concerning zoning issues, the city does not like to break up city parcels. By not including the school with the park and water tower, we would have been breaking up one big city parcel.
Where did you get the list of economic and social benefits (a citation would be helpful)?
I thought the purpose of a historic distict was to preserve history — not giant pieces of land that have nothing on them. The historic district should stick to its role of preserving the blocks that are actually historic — not everything within eyesight. That “green space” is a giant eyesore anyway.
I think it is wise to conserve greenspace that remains in the urban core. While there are benefits to historic districts, there are also complementary benefits that urban greenspaces provide. Greenspaces cool the city, they also clean the air and water, reducing polution. Greenspaces also reduce stormwater runoff and provide places for parks, trails and playgrounds. Parks add beauty and provide places for humans (and dogs) to play. The social, health, environmental, economic and spiritual benefits of open green space is well documented. While the greenspace currently is not in optimal condition, it can be enhanced to better meet the needs of the local citizens, and provide additional benefits to the community. Parks add value to the neighborhood and need to be protected. Once its gone, its gone.
Just ask the folks who live around Libby Hill Park or Jefferson Park– much of the value of that real estate is due to its close proximity to that greenspace. And they would march on City Hall if there was a threat to develop it.
The sources for the economic and social benefits of Historic Districts comes from three studies: 2005 study by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, 1998 study by The New Jersey Historic Trust and a Virginia study, date unknown. I have pages and pages of other studies that support these claims. If you need more info, contact me.
There’s plenty of reasons to support the Church Hill North Old And Historic District Local Designation:
Our neighborhood is at a turning point. We currently have 30+% absentee owners, unmanaged properties and yet our taxes have increased. A city designated historic district will help our neighborhood turn towards community.
Let’s move toward the neighborhood we’re already paying for but not getting maximum benefit of. Let’s protect existing owner and seniors.
You need to return your surveys with your support because:
Local Historic Designation:
• is the 3rd of 3 levels of designations: federal, state, local.
• has architectural review guidelines. This helps manage construction, demolition, and exterior changes.
• is an overlay to city building code. Building code manages basic construction, not character and fit for 1800s architecture.
• is an ideal we already enjoy – think of when we notice a house as “niceâ€. Many owners already embrace the historic charm and work towards it.
• helps the economy. Landmarks like Saint Johns Church and the Poe Museum remind us of the historic appeal preserved in Colonial Williamsburg and Charleston, SC.
• keeps Church Hill North from being PREY to investors who don’t contribute responsibly. Richmond already has 13 Local Historic Districts. So despite being one of the oldest neighborhoods, we have not been quick to take a unified stand.
This is a Win-Win:
• Tax Relief to elderly residents. This eases financial impact, yet helps stabilize property values and surroundings.
• Grandfathering of existing structures: current work does not have to change.
• Newer materials are often acceptable. Hardi-plank siding and pressure treated fencing are examples.
• Maintain urban freedoms, gain stability. This local overlay only covers new exterior work. It is a small commitment compared to the covenants in neighborhoods deemed safe and desirable.
• Let the designation be the safeguard, not the efforts of a few residents. What the neighborhood has benefited from has been the labors of a few working toward landlord upkeep, tasteful infill construction, streetscape, etc. The responsible next step is to organize this effort.
here’s your citation:
http://www.achp.gov/economic-designation.html
Hey, what about the rest of us north of Broad. Why not extend the eastern boundary to the edge of Church Hill, more or less along 36th street?
Brad:
Our original boundaries extended all the way to the end of Broad Street (36th Street). These boundaires were too large and unrealistic. It would have included over a 1,000 properties.
You can’t imagine the enormity of an intitiative like this. To get 527 property owners to actually participate in this process is a gargantuan task. And all of this happens with volunteers using their own resources. The politics of this kind of thing is also a daunting undertaking. So please understand and as much as I would like your area to be O&H also, it was unrealistic and out of our capablilities to take on that big of a chunk of the neighborhood.
You can contact Jason Creech at jceecher@comcast.net He is a member of my original task force and is carrying the torch for an extention of the Chimborazo O&H district.
I wish your portion of the Hill the best of luck with your efforts toward designation.