Community Input Needed for Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Strategic Plan

The community is invited to provide input at a virtual public meeting introducing the initial draft of the City's historic preservation program strategic plan. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29 at 6:30 p.m. Citizen responses to an online survey and discussion at February's public meeting helped shape the initial draft. Anyone wishing to attend the virtual meeting may register here.

"The City has recently updated its city-wide architectural survey and archaeological assessment, which documents and identifies historic places," said Mark Reed, Historic Preservation Planner. "It has also sponsored successful nominations of historic neighborhoods and properties to the National Register of Historic Places and has several similar projects underway."

The strategic plan will provide guidance for the Historic Preservation Commission, Department of Planning and Community Development, and the community in the management of its collective historic assets through identification and documentation, honorary recognition, education/public awareness initiatives, disaster recovery planning, and economic incentives.

The public is encouraged to review the draft of the plan and have comments and questions prepared in advance of Tuesday's virtual meeting. The document is available to view and download at www.vbgov.com/historicpreservation — listed under Related Documents.

A partnership between the City and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, through the state Cost Share grant program, is providing the funding for the update to the Virginia Beach's historic preservation program strategic plan. The final plan will meet state and Federal standards for community preservation planning. The Commonwealth Preservation Group is the cultural resource management firm responsible for facilitating public discussion and compiling the strategic plan document. For more information, please contact Mark Reed at 757-385-8573 or mreed@vbgov.com.