More RVPF in the News

February 23, 2015 by rpreserv Posted in Uncategorized Tagged alison blanton, historic preservation

RVPF’s President Alison Blanton has written another article for the Roanoke Times on the economic value of historic tax credits and their impact beyond just the obvious tax incentives. She writes “To date, more than 2,350 federal and/or state HTC projects have been completed in Virginia. These projects total more than $4 billion in private investment and have created more than 31,000 full or part-time jobs. These HTC projects, which have been completed in 85 out of 90 counties in Virginia, not only renovate historic buildings, they revitalize the local economy. Studies show that over 75 percent of the dollars invested in HTC projects stay in the local economy as labor and materials tend to be local.” Clearly, preservation is a wonderful economic tool and RVPF agrees with Alison that the tax credit program is an invaluable asset to the state.

You can read the full article here.

RVPF in the News

December 17, 2014 by rpreserv Posted in Uncategorized Tagged alison blanton, historic preservation, roanoke, roanoke times

RVPF’s President Alison Blanton has written an article for the Roanoke Times on why we should care about historic preservation. She writes ” that ‘sense of place’ maintained through the preservation of buildings, communities, and cultures…helps us feel that we are significant as well. We feel connected not only to our past, but to our surrounding community and environment. Whether it be historic buildings that clearly represent their purpose—in the case of City Hall or St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, with its soaring spires—or pedestrian-scaled streetscapes and small storefronts that encourage us to walk and interact with others, historic buildings continue to be useful and provide an improved quality of life.”

Bravo to Alison for writing such an articulate article. You can read it here.

Downton Abbey Premiere Party with the town of Blacksburg

December 1, 2014 by rpreserv Posted in Uncategorized

This year, the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation will not be hosting a Downtown Abbey Premiere Party. However, luckily for our supporters and fans of the show, the Alexander Black House and Cultural Center in Blacksburg will be airing a premiere party there at 8:00 pm on January 4th. There will be light refreshments, a costume contest and cash bar and, of course, the premiere of the fifth season. The cost is 20 dollars a person and 35 per couple. For more information, please call 540-558 -0746 email [email protected] or visit www.blacksburghistory.org. Hope to see you there!

Historical Trail Marker Program

October 27, 2014 by rpreserv Posted in Uncategorized

The RVPF celebrates National Preservation Month on Saturday, May 31 with the unveiling of two markers interpreting historic sites along the Roanoke River Greenway. A marker for the American Viscose Corporation, one of Roanoke’s largest industries, will be unveiled at 10:30 a.m. at mile marker 25.5 near the 9th Street Bridge. This will be followed by a 5.2-mile bike ride to the second marker at Norwich near Bridge Street. The Norwich neighborhood developed in the early 1900s with many of Roanoke’s earliest industries and worker housing. A third marker was installed earlier this year at Elmwood Park to tell the history of the Terry property that eventually became Roanoke’s first park.

These three markers were made possible by an Arts & Cultural Plan Implementation Grant from the Roanoke Arts Commission and partnerships with Roanoke Valley Greenways and the City of Roanoke Parks & Recreation Department. As part of this project, the RVPF worked with Clay Kerchoff, a student intern from the UVa School of Architecture, to develop a master plan for interpreting
historic sites along the Roanoke Valley Greenway system. The RVPF will continue to seek funding and partnerships to install additional markers along the greenway!