Century Farms and Historic Districts, information and forms.

Hello Everybody:
I've discussed this area with lots of different people and have offered to come speak to a group about the possibilities for this district, what the National Register means, what it doesnt mean, tax credits available to property owners, etc. That might get the same information to all people at one time. Essentially, the National Register would control no one -- you can tear down and paint your houses purple if you want. You can do with your property what you want. But the Federal Government would have to "take into account" the effect of their undertakings on national Register or National Register-eligible properties. So, this listing could only be beneficial to you all. (The Federal review is Section 106 of the national Historic Preservation Act of 1966, that which set up State Historic Preservation Offices or, in VA, the Dept of Historic Resources, and the National Register of Historic Places.)
There is much information on the National Register on our website at www.dhr.virginia.gov. The first step would be a Preliminary Information Form which would be basic information about the proposed district, what makes it significant, pictures of the properties/houses, and maps of the proposed district. That PIF form is on our website at www.dhr.virginia.gov, historic registers, at the end of that is "Download Preliminary Evaluation Forms." Get me the form -- digitally -- with digital photographs and I can take it to the Evaluation Team which meets every other Thursday and then on to the Board -- the next board meeting is June 19. Each of those groups will recommend moving forward to the National Register or not.
If you move forward to the NR, it will cost money to hire a consultant to write that nomination. I'm attaching a consultants list for your perusal. Lynda Updike can testify to the difficulty of writing a nomination for one property; you probably would wish to hire somebody to do a district nomination for you. Meanwhile, I think that the county might be willing to apply for a Cost Share grant where we split the cost for such a survey and nomination. . . we pay 50% and the county pays 50% for that work. I recommend you look into that possibility as the Cost Share grant applications will be taken in about April. See more about that program on our website under Cost Share Program or Grants and Incentives.
Meanwhile, I'll be happy to try to work out a visit to talk to each of you in a group so that you all are hearing the same thing -- if you'd like. It would be easier on me to do that than to explain all of this several times! So let me know when you want to get together and I'll be happy to meet with you all.
Best wishes to each of you, and I'll look forward to meeting you in person. I believe that this is a very good route for you to pursue in order to recognize the significance of your historic district, to get some incentives for you that want financial assistance, and to get these properties into the Federal review process.
Camille A. Bowman
Architectural Historian
Tidewater Region Preservation Office
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
14415 Old Courthouse Way
Newport News, VA 23608
757-886-2818
In my absence, Pam Schenian, our research assistant, can help you, too. She's at 757-886-2807.