Charlottesville’s Board of Architectural Review has several powers under the city’s development code including the ability to decide whether to grant requests to demolish buildings in historic and design-control districts.
“On January 22, 2025, the BAR, by a vote of 6 to nothing, denied a [Certificate of Appropriateness] to allow demolition of an approximately 20 foot by 56 foot single story wood frame structure constructed circa 1905 as a schoolhouse,” said Jeff Werner, the city’s preservation and design planner.
The property is a contributing structure in the Corner Architectural Design Control District.
The Delta Zeta sorority purchased the property in 1979 and have used it for storage. Their argument was that the building is structurally unsound and at the end of its useful life.
The BAR’s scope is to consider the historic value of the house. Werner said the Corner District was recognized by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in 1983, the federal government in 1984, and City Council in 2003. However, the BAR does not have the final say and an appeal can be made to Council.
“In appealing the bar’s action, the appellant also asserts demolition is considered the most practical path forward,” Werner said. “Citing expert analyses showing the building is unsafe and would be costly to repair, the appellant asserts that despite maintenance, maintenance efforts, structural issues make rehabilitation unfeasible and even if feasible, the building has limited value as a usable structure.”
Kevin Blair represented the Delta Zeta National Housing Corporation. He took the opportunity to refute claims made by BAR members that the sorority intentionally allowed the building to fall into disrepair.
“This is patently untrue as evidence shows we have made efforts to maintain the exterior weather tight envelope of the building,” Blair said. “We have chosen not to invest assets internally in the building as it was a smaller structure on the property when purchased that has never had a specific use or purpose to us.”
Blair said there are no plans to build a structure but to instead provide green space for the residents of the 16-room sorority house next door.
David Timmerman chaired the BAR the night of their hearing and so he represented his body’s interest.
“The house does represent an unusual building type in the Corner District,” Timmerman said. “The simple design of the schoolhouse has been retained, has not been modified very much through the years. So that in and of itself I think has value. According to our evaluation and the school is the schoolhouse is linked or is linked historically and aesthetically to the other structures on the street.”
To support that point, Timmerman read from the ADC District guidelines.
“Historic buildings are irreplaceable community assets and once they are gone, they are gone forever,” Timmerman said. “With each successive demolition or removal, the integrity of a historic district is further eroded.”
There were only four Councilors present on May 5 and Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston expressed his opinion first.
“My own reaction is to let it be demolished,” Pinkston said. “I don’t really see the point of having this ugly brownish box on that road.”
Councilor Natalie Oschrin said she felt the structure did not fit in with the rest of the street pointing out that it’s a different size. She said historic preservation is important, but Council also has to think of the highest and best use of the land.
“In this area where maybe it will be a parklet for a little bit, maybe it will become additional housing in a couple of years, I think those are probably both better uses than a building that has served its purpose and is no longer being used for anything else,” Oschrin said.
City Councilor Michael Payne said he supported the BAR’s position.
“I do think that given, you know, it’s the last remaining structure of a one room schoolhouse in the city, I think given the history of the building, the fact that it’s intact, given the uniqueness of that specific area, I do support upholding the decision that the BAR made,” Payne said.
City Councilor Lloyd Snook was in favor of allowing the demolition to proceed.
This is the second time in three years that Council has overruled the BAR’s decision on a demolition. The appointed body in February 2023 declined to grant a certificate of appropriateness to remove a structure that was in the way of the Verve Charlottesville project. Council later overruled that decision.
On May 20, the BAR will take up a request to demolish a historic house at 1301 Wertland Street. I’m preparing to write that story by learning more about that area through research on cvillepedia.
Before you go: This story originally went out in the May 7, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. To learn how to support the work, please visit this section of this website.
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