HALIFAX — The Town of Halifax, consulting architectural historian
Alison Blanton with Hill Studio, P.C. of Roanoke and members of the
Halifax County Historical Society will hold an "open house" to help
gather survey information of more than 170 properties located in the
proposed Halifax Courthouse Historic District (see map).
The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18th in
Halifax Town Hall, 70 South Main Street and last until 12:00 noon.
Halifax Town Manager says, "Please stop by to share information,
historic photographs or maps and any other memorabilia you may have
that relates to the courthouse district. Hill Studio, the consultant
hired to conduct the survey and nomination, will be present to visit
with you. A scanner and digital camera will be available to help make
copies of information you may bring. Your information will be
invaluable to the survey project and this is a wonderful opportunity to
archive information about the Town of Halifax! "Historical Society
members who will be available to help include Betty Bane, Flora
Osborne, Ginger Gentry, and Mike Geisinger.
In addition to assisting with town planning and development, a survey
of the proposed district's historic resources is the first step to
creating an accurate and comprehensive document for nominating the
Halifax Courthouse Historic District to the Virginia Landmarks Register
and the National Register of Historic Places.
Designation on the state or national registers places no restrictions
on owners of property within the proposed district. However listing
properties as "contributing" to a district's historic character does
enable its owners to seek federal and state tax credits for historic
rehabilitations which must conform to specified standards for restoring
historic properties.
   In addition to the grants, the Department of Historic Resources also
provides administrative support for the cost-share projects. In 1991
the Department of Historic Resources created the cost share program,
which requires matching local funds, to assist localities in meeting a
state mandate that they update their comprehensive planning every five
years.  The funding for the program is determined by the General
Assembly each year. Cost-share awards are highly competitive. Last year
the Department of Historic Resources received 18 applications and
funded 15 grants, totaling $205,700, including the three to Halifax,
South Boston, and Halifax County. Since its inception, the cost-share
program has partnered with more than 90 localities.
Additional details about the Cost Share Program are provided on the
website of the Department of Historic Resources at  HYPERLINK
"http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/survey/Survey1.htm"
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/survey/Survey1.htm.
For further information, contact Carl Espy, Halifax Town Manager
(434-476-2343) or Alison Blanton, Hill Studio (540-342-5263).