The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review will not give its assent to a plan to demolish 1301 Wertland Street, a two-story house built in 1843 and a key component of one of the city’s architectural design control (ADC) review districts.
William Wertenbaker was the first person to live in the house. He was the second librarian at the University of Virginia, a position he held until 1880.
Jeff Werner, the city’s preservation planner, said the structure has a long history of being recognized by historic preservationists.
“In 1974, the Charlottesville Landmarks Commission, in response to requests from Council, identified the Wertenbacher as one of the city’s historical, historically and architecturally significant structures,” Werner said. “In 1984, the Wetland Street Historic District was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the following year it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”
Neither of those give any protection to the structure. In 1999, Council established the Wertland ADC which did give the BAR the authority to approve demolitions of buildings considered to be contributing structures.
A limited liability company tied to Seven Development bought the 0.4-acre Wertland Street property in May 2024 for $1 million. The property is zoned Residential Mixed-Use, which would mean unlimited residential density and a maximum of seven stories if the project meets the affordability levels necessary to achieve bonus height.
No one representing Seven Development appeared before the BAR to explain the reasons for demolition. Members of the public were invited to offer their comments.
“We’re very concerned, shocked, actually, that anyone would seriously consider removing the Wertenbaker House from Wertland Street,” said Genevieve Keller, president of the group Preservation Piedmont. “At this moment, the Wertenbaker House is Charlottesville’s most significant endangered historic place. Its demolition would not only erase a piece of local history, but also disrupt a place tied to our communities and the University of Virginia’s historic urban development.”
Keller noted that the Board of Architectural Review has granted a Certificate of Appropriateness for a project that would build apartment units on the property around the structure. She said that should be the way forward so the house can continue to serve as a cross-section of UVA and community history.
“The house spans our history as a residence established by one of the university’s first students, its longtime librarian, the enforced workplace of at least three enslaved individuals, and later home to generations of students who have lived, studied, partied, and perhaps once played music with Bob Dylan during his residency,” Keller said. “It has witnessed both desegregation and co education, been home to Confederates, Vietnam War protesters, musicians, frat boys. And it has seen the university transform from coats and ties to T-shirts, leggings and running shoes.”
Another speaker recently represented the Delta Zeta sorority in their request to demolish a structure from 1905 that is in the Corner ADC. In January, the BAR denied a request and Kevin Blair made a successful appeal to Council earlier this month. Now he asked the BAR to preserve 1301 Wertland Street.
“I just want to say that this building, unlike 144 Chancellor Street, is a beautiful example of its history and it’s a wonderful structure that should be preserved,” Blair said.
There was no argument from anyone on the BAR.
BAR Member Cheri Lewis said she was disappointed the applicant did not make an appearance.
“For such an important application, you know, taking down a building this old in the city, I think they bear the burden of addressing our guidelines,” Lewis said. “That’s what we’re driven by. We’re not just people that are randomly making a decision here.”
BAR Member Katherine Snider Tabony could not support demolition.
“There is something special about Charlottesville in that new developments can sit adjacent to old, very unique properties that are very much contributing to the history of this place and the story of this place,” Tabony said.
The BAR voted unanimously to deny the Certificate of Appropriateness. Werner said Seven Development has until June 4 to request an appeal to the City Council.
Before you go: This story was first published in the May 22, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and was posted here a day later. This will also be in the next podcast if that sort of thing is of interest to you. If you’re interested in supporting this work, check out the top of the website!
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