Virginia Beach Awarded Certified Local Government Grant from Virginia Department of Historic Resources

October 5, 2020

The City of Virginia Beach has been awarded a 2020-2021 Certified Local Government (CLG) grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). The $22,500 grant will partially fund a project to revise and develop design standards and review guidelines for the City's historic and cultural districts. The source of this funding is the federal Historic Preservation Fund, which provides an annual allotment to each State Historic Preservation Office, which in Virginia is DHR. Ten percent of these funds are earmarked for CLG communities. Virginia Beach was one of 10 Virginia CLG localities to receive this funding through DHR during the current cycle. Protection and preservation of a community's historic resources is accomplished through designated local historic districts. Virginia Beach has 16 historic and cultural districts, which were established by City Council through implementation of a zoning overlay. Property owners in these districts must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historical Review Board for proposed new construction, additions, exterior alterations, extensive exterior maintenance projects, signs and demolition in order to receive permits for the projects. The updated design standards and review guidelines will assist property owners in planning their projects and will provide necessary guidance to the Review Board for project proposal evaluation and preservation of the historical character of each district.The City of Virginia Beach was designated as a Certified Local Government in 2016. The program establishes partnerships between local governments, the federal historic preservation program and each state's State Historic Preservation Office. Each CLG community assumes a formal role in the identification, evaluation and protection of its heritage resources. In Virginia Beach, the Department of Planning manages the preservation program and provides staff support to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Review Board. Being a CLG community provided Virginia Beach the necessary criteria for eligibility to apply for this grant award.# # #