Survey of Buildings and Properties within the National Register Winchester Historic District: Final Report

EHT Traceries, Inc.; Maral S. Kalbian, LLC

From abstract: "In 1967, [Winchester] created its first local historic district, which was expanded in 1976. This locally designated historic district contains 1,242 properties. The Winchester Historic District (DHR File Number 138-0042), encompassing approximately 1,058 properties, was listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1979 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The boundaries were expanded in 2003 and 2008, adding 17 additional properties to the historic district. The commercial core of the historic district was designated a Virginia Main Street City in 1985, and the Old Town Development Board has played an important role in encouraging the reuse and rehabilitation of many of Winchester’s historic commercial buildings. The original survey completed in 1976 has proven to be an invaluable resource to the City of Winchester as a planning guide. The survey also provides the baseline information used by the Winchester Board of Architectural Review (BAR) as it makes determinations concerning the appropriateness of proposed alterations to structures and buildings, and occasionally their demolition. As such, it has been an invaluable tool for residents, business owners, and city agencies – the BAR specifically – and for PHW as it advocates for the continued preservation of the city’s architectural resources. However, the usefulness of the 1976 survey is compromised by outdated information. Many smaller or secondary buildings and structures were not included in the original survey, as is the case on the outlying areas of the historic district, both local and National Register. This more current comprehensive survey is intended to update, re-assess, and better describe the city's inventory of historic buildings and structures, noting the array of architectural styles, influences, and phases of development. With a more accurate base of information, the City of Winchester can better undertake projects relating to the economic viability of the Winchester Historic District and decisions relating to applications placed before the BAR. This updated survey will also add to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources’ Data Sharing System (DSS) database for researchers and public agencies and can be used as a foundation for future surveying initiatives." Project funding was provided in part by a 2010 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Winchester (project number VA-10-007A) administered by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 51-10-21953) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Winchester, Virginia is a Certified Local Government.

Survey of Buildings and Properties within the National Register Winchester Historic District: Final Report

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