Remember the stone house surrounded by the muck of development at Hollymead that disappeared last week? Jeremy Borden explains what happened in today’s Progress. It turns out that Wendell Wood (who you know for his sweetheart deal with NGIC) has owned the 1920s house for 35 years now, and he’s rented it out to tenants over that time. Wood found that the house couldn’t be moved, so he simply tore it down last week. He expressed surprise that people were so interested in the house (moreso than in the development), but the rumors about the house show that Charlottesvillians root for preservation in the face of development. Wendell Wood, of all people, should know that.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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That’s a damned shame. However, moving a 2 story stone house is no modest prospect. I would not be surprised if the cost of moving something like that even as little as a quarter mile could wind up costing far more than the replacement cost of the house. This is sometimes worthwhile in the case of a historic home. But that’s not what this was.
I hope that someone was at least permitted to salvage the stone.
“Wood found that the house couldn’t be moved.” Is WW quoted somewhere as saying the house couldn’t be moved?
Any house can be moved. Expert House Movers moved the Hatteras Light. More likely, Mr. Wood didn’t move the house because he weighed the financial options and found destruction of the house to be the expedient course.
Speaking of removals. Thursday, at 4pm in the City basement conference room, there is a zoning appeal about a removal. The City Zoning Administrator contends that 75% of the historical zoning overlay of the Timberlake-Branham property at 1512 East Market was removed by “Clerical error.”
I am appealing the zoning administrator’s decision, I am asking the City to honor the process in City Code which lays out how historic properties are added and removed from the “Individually Protected Property” (IPP) list.
I makes me sad to have to petition the City to follow its own law.
Bill
P.S. Any Charlottesvillians that care to “root for preservation in the face of development” are invited to attend this public meeting.
Clarification! The Board of Zoning Appeals needed a name on the petition so technically I am the appealant. But truly the appealants are a multitude.
First and foremost, Pfc Thomas Eugene Branham (USMC) who died on Iwo Jima. James and Bannie Timberlake were able to purchase a safe harbor for their family (1512) with funds awarded to them for their son’s service to our country.
Second and third on the list, Tom Branham’s sisters Lucille and Mildred who were instrumental in having the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. When Lucille died she requested that her ashes be spread in the pasture behind the house.
Fourth and fifth on the list, Woolen Mills neighbors Tom and Laura Parmenter who, at great personal expense, advocated for the establishment of and adherence to BAR oversight for the property.
Many have stood up and contributed to the listing of this historic site, they include:
Jeff O’Dell, Chairman of the Charlottesville Historic Landmarks Commission, 1989.
Satyendra Singh Huja
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Charlottesville Planning Commission
Charlottesville City Council
The Woolen Mills Neighborhood Association 1988-2007
Woolen Mills Road
The list is hundreds of people long…
Why does anyone care? It was his house to tear down.