The Preservation Partnership

The Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society worked with city officials and local realtors in order to establish a Preservation Partnership. On Tuesday, November 23, 1999, Virginia Beach City Council approved two ordinances to make the Partnership a reality. The ordinances created a local register to identify historic properties within the city and provides real estate tax exemptions for their restoration.

The Preservation Partnership has the responsibility to purchase historic properties, protect their historical integrity through deed restrictions, and then market the properties to potential buyers. As one of the Preservation partners, the Society plays a major role in approving acquisition of historic properties. The Tidewater Association of Realtors, as the second partner, negotiates the sale of these properties. The City of Virginia Beach, the third partner, maintains the register through the Historic Review Board and interpret applicable City codes.

Property owners interested in listing their properties on the register can contact The Preservation Partnership c/o The Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society or Mark Reed with the Virginia Beach Department of Museums and Cultural Arts at 757-431-4000. An Application form for the Local Registry is available online. Inclusion on the register is voluntary; but only properties submitting applications will be considered for inclusion.

Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee

Mission Statement

The mission of the Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee is the preservation of historically significant properties* within the City of Virginia Beach. The Committee will seek to acquire properties that need protection. The Committee will attach legal, protective covenants on properties received that will be attached to the deed when the property is sold.

*Historically significant properties: property (structure and/or land) that is a minimum of 50 years of age with historical integrity. Historical integrity may include any of these examples: Property of significant families of Virginia Beach; sites of significant historical events; and property with architectural (exterior and/or interior) and/or archaeological significance.

The Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee shall have as its purposes:

To create a general fund/revolving fund which will be established in a non-profit corporation. This fund will help achieve the purpose of the Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee that will include the purchase for resale of real property.

To receive by gift, charitable gift, or purchase buildings, sites, and properties having historical, architectural, or archaeological importance to the citizens of Virginia Beach and the State of Virginia.

To place on these same properties as in 2. above, legal, protective, and restrictive covenants that will insure that the historical integrity of these properties will not be destroyed but will be maintained for the benefit of future generations.

To sell or resell these properties as described in 2. above, to persons interested in rehabilitating them and abiding by the legal restrictive covenant which will be attached to the deed to the property.

To work with the City of Virginia Beach Planning Department or Department of Virginia Historic Resources (DHR) to write the protective easements (covenants) pertaining to each property acquired.

To have those protective covenants approved by the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society's Board of Governors.

To donate these same easements (covenants) to the Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee who will hold, monitor, and enforce them in perpetuity. (Being attached to the deed as a permanent covenant, the easement restrictions pass from owner to owner and cannot be revoked.)

To set up an inspection schedule to monitor properties with protective covenants. Inspection forms will be filled out with each visit. Regular contact and inspection appointments will be established with the owners.

To include with the deeds of properties sold, an addendum requiring that the Virginia Beach Historical Preservation Committee be given the right of first refusal when the property is sold.

To encourage current owners of historical properties to voluntarily add protective covenants to the deeds of their properties
To create awareness among the citizens of Virginia Beach of the immediate need to become watchdogs and preservationists of our fast-disappearing historical properties.

Preservation Fund Mission Statement and Purpose (Revised 3/28/01)

Some Properties listed on the Virginia Beach Historical Register.

For an up-to-date list, check the City of Virginia Beach Website at www.vbgov.com

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Upper Wolfsnare, circa 1759. Owned by the Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society
Ferry Plantation House, circa 1830. A Federal style home built on the site of the county's first brick courthouse.
The Little Island Life Saving Station, circa 1925 one of several lifesaving stations that were positioned along the Atlantic Coastline.

Old Donation Episcopal Church

Pembroke Manor House

Pleasant Hall

Thomas Murray House

Richard Murray House

Chaplain House

Tabernacle United Methodist Church

St. John's Baptist Church

The English Cottage/Women's Club Princess Ann County Clubhouse

The Ford Property

Pine Hill

The Enoch Capps House

Howell residence

Lynnhaven House

The Gettle Home (Arrowhead)

Old Comfort - The Henry Robert Woodhouse home

The Cayce Hospital for Research and Enlightement

Add Your Historic Home or Property to the Local Register
Click Here
for an application form for listing a property on the Virginia Beach Register

For more information on the Virginia Beach Historical Register contact The Preservation Partnership c/o The Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society or Mark Reed with the Virginia Beach Department of Museums and Cultural Arts at 757-431-4000.

Where Do I Find Out About Qualifying for the National Register?

If your home or neighborhood is 50 years old or older and you think it has historical or architectural significance and are interested in seeing if it might qualify for the Virginia Landmarks Register or National Register of Historic Resources, call the Portsmouth Regional Office for a Preliminary Information Form. Completion of this form initiates the evaluation process for eligibility and subsequent listing for historic purposes

For additional details, contact the Portsmouth Regional Office (757) 396-6707, or Marc Wagner, National Register Coordinator, at VDHR in Richmond (804-367-2323, ext.115).

Virginia Beach Properties listed on the National Register

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Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach Historical Society

2040 Potters Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454

http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org