RD128 - Biennial Report on the Stewardship of State-owned Properties -- May 1, 2009


Executive Summary:
As the following report demonstrates, there are several excellent examples of state agencies embracing their responsibilities as stewards of historic properties, along with considerable progress in placing eligible state-owned property on the Virginia Landmarks Register. Exemplary leaders, in particular, are the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Transportation.

For some agencies, however, preservation stewardship is not part of the planning process. Unless considered early, among alternatives, preservation approaches are all too often seen as too late for incorporation into an agency’s plans. Stewardship is also hampered by the perception that preservation is a more expensive or cumbersome alternative, which is simply untrue. For these reasons, it is imperative that DHR continues to educate state agencies regarding the realities of cost and environmental benefits of preservation, both to the individual agencies and to the Commonwealth as a whole.

The vast majority of state agencies lack in-house professional preservation staff and are unaware that DHR is available to assist them. Too rarely is the Department consulted outside of a required review process, yet the architectural historians, archaeologists, and other preservation professionals at DHR welcome the opportunity to work with sister agencies. Early consultation is always best, as agencies make decisions that impact the historic properties in their control. DHR is committed to more effective communication with agencies so that these preservation opportunities are better understood and more frequently utilized.

It should come as no surprise that state agencies with responsibilities for historic properties see funding as the primary obstacle to preservation. With agency budgets reduced, even basic building maintenance can be a challenge. It is important to understand, however, that most historic buildings were very well built and still retain many years of useful service. Thus, at a time when funds for new construction are limited, the preservation of existing solidly built structures is not only environmentally sensitive, but also financially prudent. As Governor Timothy M. Kaine recently explained, “By properly maintaining and making more efficient use of existing infrastructure, Virginia can save money and conserve resources.”

Stewardship of public property is very much at the heart of future plans for Fort Monroe, which will be returned to the Commonwealth in 2011 by the U.S. Army through Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). DHR has been hard at work in the BRAC process, engaged with various local, state, and federal agencies. This process serves as an excellent example of all the elements of historic preservation brought together at a site with ties to Native Americans, John Smith and the Jamestown settlement, the Civil War, the struggle for freedom and equality, and the role of the military throughout four centuries of Virginia history. It also demonstrates the stake that communities have in historic preservation and the importance of public participation. Fort Monroe presents a rich venue for education, and natural and historic resource conservation, as well as economic development; as such, it will remain a primary focus of DHR over the next several years.

This second biennial report concludes that:

• The Commonwealth’s real estate holdings include a rich and diverse collection of historically significant properties, some of national importance.

• Tools put in place over the years, such as the easement and the rehabilitation tax credit programs, have placed Virginia at the forefront of preservation, thus establishing its reputation as one of America’s preservation leaders.

• The Commonwealth benefits when leaders understand that preservation makes good environmental sense as well as good economic sense and is integral to conserving energy and reducing carbon in the atmosphere. This understanding on the part of leaders promotes an ethic of stewardship.

• Certain types of state-owned historic properties are under-represented on the Virginia Landmarks Register, especially those related to institutions of higher education, the Civil War, and the history of African Americans, Virginia Indians, and women.

• The seat of state government—the area surrounding the State Capitol — includes buildings that make valuable visual and historical contributions to the Capitol assemblage. It is appropriate that, as a collection, they be placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register.

• DHR’s existing inventory of historic state-owned properties is inadequate and in need of updating, hampering DHR’s ability to assist other state agencies.

• DHR must increase its assistance to state agencies in meeting their stewardship responsibilities.

• Preparation for the transfer in 2011 of Fort Monroe to the Commonwealth must remain a high priority for the Commonwealth; given the importance and scope of the undertaking, it will utilize a significant portion of DHR’s staff time and resources.