Historic Store Front Demolished on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall

Updated: 11:21 PM Nov 18, 2009

The City of Charlottesville has ordered a halt to construction of a business at 219 West Main Street on the Downtown Mall after the owners demolished curved glass windows on the outside of the building that were considered historic. The property manager tells the Newsplex he didn't know he had to get permission first.

Posted: 7:01 PM Nov 16, 2009
Reporter: Liz Palka
Email Address: liz.palka@newsplex.com

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November 16, 2009

City officials and board members are upset to see that the store front to 219 West Main Street on the Downtown Mall has been demolished.

They have stopped construction on the frozen yogurt store planned for the location because they say the work was done without a permit. Officials say the building, which was built as Victory Shoe Store in 1921, is in an historic area. Any work done to a store front in this area needs to be approved by the Board of Architectural Review.

The property manager, Bill Rice, says he has changed the storefront to many downtown businesses in the last ten years and never had to get BAR approval. Rice says it was an innocent mistake. But city officials say it's a mistake that can't be undone.

"I think the most important thing about it is, it was built in 1921 and it was still intact," said Mary Joy Scala, who is the Preservation and Design Planner for the city. "So it was tangible evidence of what that building looked like years ago."

Scala says the owners will have to submit a request for demolition after the fact, which means the Board of Architectural Review will consider whether the glass could have been taken out in the first place. Their deadline to submit is November 24 if they would like to make the December BAR meeting. Owners tell the Newsplex they hope to be open by Christmas.

We welcome you to join the conversation about this story.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Jerome Location: Grady Avenue on Jan 17, 2010 at 10:35 AM

That glass could be reproduced, and they ought to make the people put it back. Someone, somewhere is still making that glass. It would be expensive, but not impossible, and that's a better way to spend the money than a faceless fine. People frequently use the "its easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission" route. Didn't they at least have a building permit which outlined what they were doing? Someone would have had to sign off on that.

Posted by: LD Location: Charlottesville on Nov 17, 2009 at 06:39 PM

Are they going to fine him? Just curious, because this makes it sound like they don't really care that much if they are giving him until the 24th to submit a document...after the fact. If they basically just let this slide, then in the future, people won't worry much about checking beforehand.

Posted by: Tee Location: Charlottesville on Nov 17, 2009 at 05:47 PM

Okay, the city knew that a business was to be opened in this location. When a building is a historical marking the buyers should be told. It can not be put back like it was the damage is done so we move on. For the contractor were you not educated that when you add or take down you have to have a permit. You made your self look and I do not use these words often but Stupid is as Stupid does.

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