Union Hill, Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.

Union Hill is Richmond Virginia's Newest "City Old & Historic District"

2010-01-03T09:55:00.002-05:00

It's official. City Council voted 7-1 to add Union Hill to the City's Old & Historic Districts. The ordinance took effect on 11-23-09.

Richmond City Council Public Hearing & Vote Monday Nov 23, 2009

2009-11-22T23:24:00.000-05:00

On Monday, November 23, 2009, at 6pm, Richmond City Council will vote on the future of Union Hill. Please come out and support the designation as a City Old and Historic District. City Council Chambers, 900 E. Broad Street, City Hall, 2nd floor Council Chambers.

City of Richmond Planning Commission Public Hearing set for Monday November 16, 2009

2009-10-29T14:20:00.004-04:00

On Monday November 16, 2009, City Planners from the Department of Historic Preservation will make a presentation to the Planning Commission about Union Hill and it's significance as a National Historic District.

At that time, it is expected that planners will recommend that Union Hill be designated a City Old and Historic District in order to protect its existing 19th century building stock and insure that new construction on vacant lots be respectful of the neighborhood's historic character and be in keeping with the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Preservation and New Construction.

Members of the community and interested parties are invited to attend this public hearing. At the close of speakers' remarks, The Planning Commission will discuss the proposed district and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the designation of Union Hill as the City of Richmond's 15th City Old and Historic District.

Planning Commission hearings are held in the 5th Floor conference room of City Hall, beginning at 1:30pm.

C.A.R. Task Force Public Hearing Set for Thursday October 1, 2009

2009-09-29T22:57:00.003-04:00

The Richmond City Council C.A.R. Task Force will facilitate a public discussion on the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) on Thursday, October 1 from 6:30-8PM at the Richmond City Council Chambers. Issues that were raised by attendees at the first public hearing in June, hosted by the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, the Historic Richmond Foundation, and local community activist and historic preservationist, Laura Daab, have been noted by City of Richmond staff and provided to the City Council C.A.R. Task Force.

The upcoming meeting will be a continuation of the public hearing series initiated in June. The purpose of the Task Force is to review the process and guidelines of the Commission of Architectural Review, which is charged with providing oversight and review regarding the erection, reconstruction, alteration or restoration of buildings or structures within designated Richmond Historic Districts as to their architectural compatibility with existing historic landmarks, buildings or structures in that district.

Residents of City Old & Historic Districts and others who have worked with C.A.R. and the Department of Community Development staff on C.A.R. applications are asked to comment on the application process and the role of C.A.R. in protecting Richmond’s historic neighborhoods.

Your comments are valuable to the committee and will be taken into consideration by the Task Force in their review of C.A.R. guidelines.

CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER PRIOR TO NOON ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009 BY CONTACTING THE COUNCIL CLERK’S OFFICE AT (804) 646-7955.

Written comments may be submitted to:
Steven A Taylor, Council Policy Analyst
Suite 305, City Hall
900 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (804) 646-2780

Public Meeting: City Council Task Force on the Commission of Architectural Review

2009-09-02T15:16:00.000-04:00

The first meeting of the newly formed City Council Task Force to study the rules and guidelines of the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) will take place this Thursday from 4 until 6 pm at the Richmond Fire Department Headquarters, located at 201 E. Franklin Street.

Richmond residents and those involved in City Old & Historic Districts (including proposed districts, such as Union Hill) are encouraged to attend. The discussion of how the CAR can best serve City Old & Historic Districts is ongoing. In order for the Task Force to be informed about CAR processes and guidelines, input from residents will be valuable. Subsequent meetings will be held in the same location on the first Thursday of each month until February of next year.

DELAYED: Planning Commission Hearing

2009-06-24T23:57:00.002-04:00

DELAYED: The Union Hill City Old and Historic District designation tentatively scheduled for the Planning Commission’s July 20, 2009 meeting at 1:30 pm in the 5th floor conference room of City Hall will not occur as anticipated.

Our resolution was not introduced at the 6-21-09, City Council meeting, and will not proceed to the Planning Commission Phase until it is introduced at a City Council meeting.

A Public Conversation Regarding City Old & Historic Districts

2009-06-14T22:29:00.004-04:00

The Commission of Architectural Review wants to hear from the citizens of Richmond. Wednesday, June 24th, 2009, from 6:30pm-8:30pm at the Fire House Theatre, 1609 W. Broad Street (ample, free parking across the street at Lowe's).

Topics of discussion • Why do we have Old & Historic Districts? • Why do we think they are important?• Why have we chosen to live in them? • What does the public want from them? • How can the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), City and the residents be better custodians to O&HD’s. • How can we strengthen the alliance between the CAR, City and residents?

Free and open to all residents and interested parties of City Old and Historic Districts. For more info contact city staff at 646-6313 or james.hill@richmondgov.com

Planning Commission Public Hearing slated for Monday July 20, 2009

2009-06-02T22:30:00.002-04:00

The Union Hill City Old and Historic District designation is tentatively scheduled for the Planning Commission’s July 20, 2009 meeting at 1:30 pm in the 5th floor conference room of City Hall.

As of this writing, the agenda has yet to be finalized, and when we get it, we'll post it here.

A public comment period will be part of the Commission's review of the proposed district. Citizen comments are limited to 3 minutes.

Commission of Architectural Review: Unanimous Vote

2009-05-26T09:14:00.003-04:00

On May 12, the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) held a public hearing in City Council Chambers. Members of the Union Hill community gave their remarks regarding the proposed Union Hill City Old & Historic District Initiative.

The public comment period was followed by a discussion among the CAR members about the merits of a proposed district. The commissioners then voted unanimously to support the district and authorized city staff to draft a proposed ordinance creating the zoning overlay district for Union Hill.

City Planners support Union Hill for Old & Historic District status.

2008-11-15T14:50:00.005-05:00

City of Richmond planners, Tyler Potterfield and Catherine Easterling, have drafted a report to the Commission of Architectural Review, which recommends that Union Hill become a City Old and Historic District.

Download the 12-page pdf by clicking here. Staff from the Deptartment of Community Development, Historic Preservation Division will present this report to the Commission of Architectural Review on Tuesday November 25, 2008, at their regular monthly meeting. The meeting begins at 3:30pm and is open to the public (5th floor conference room, City Hall.)

Should the Commission of Architectural Review accept the planner's findings, the nomination process for the district will proceed to the "Public Information Phase" of the nomination process.

This step will begin with a mailing to every property owner in the proposed district. The mailing will include a survey that will allow property owners to indicate their support for the district, and invite them to a public information meeting to be held Thursday, February 12, 2009.

Historic Richmond Foundation Endorses Union Hill Historic District Initiative

2008-08-25T14:26:00.005-04:00

In a letter to Richmond's Commission of Architectural Review, the Historic Richmond Foundation (HRF) has expressed its support of a Union Hill City Old & Historic District.

"Historic Richmond Foundation supports the collaborative and positive approach to preservation. There is no local action more cooperative than the creation of a local Old & Historic District as it comes straight from the desires of the citizens of the proposed district," according to Mary Jane Houge, HRF Executive Director and Katie Kelly, HRF Preservation & Marketing Manager.

To download a PDF of the complete letter, click here.

UUHDI Requests the Commission of Architectural Review to initiate City Old and Historic District Designation

2008-08-20T18:28:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, August 19, 2008, we delivered our "request for nomination letter" to the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR). Click here to download the complete PDF of the letter.

This letter asks the CAR to officially start the process of creating a City Old and Historic District for Union Hill. If CAR grants our request, the Department of Community Development/Division of Historic Preservation staff will undertake it's own research on the proposed district. Staff will prepare a report and make a recommendation to CAR as to whether the designation process should continue to the property owner survey and public hearing stage.

Check back here for progress reports on Union Hill's pursuit of City Old and Historic District Status.

Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods Supports Union Hill

2008-08-18T15:44:00.002-04:00

In a recent letter to the Secretary of the Commission of Architectural Review, David Herring of A.C.O.R.N., said that, "Historic zoning overlay districts bring long-term stability, encourage responsible development and protect existing historic buildings." Click here to download a PDF of the complete letter.

We thank The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neigborboods for it's continued support of the Union Hill Neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia.

Community Presentation Thursday, July 24, 2008

2008-07-14T21:12:00.004-04:00

Join your neighbors at the East District Initiative Center, (701 N. 25th Street) on Thursday, July 24th, 2008, at 7pm.

This is front of our mailing that was sent to every property owner in Union Hill, Richmond, VA. If you would like to download a copy, please click here for page 1 and here for page 2.