Virginia City Finds New Owner for Fixer-Upper
By Gwendolyn Purdom | Online Only | May 25, 2010
In a historic but fading African American neighborhood in Danville, Va., a prominent local landmark will be transformed later this year, thanks to a new city program.
When Danville resident Steven Howard offered to donate his 1890 Italianate house for restoration, the city and the Danville Preservation League agreed to take on the project.
"We've been trying to somehow get somebody to undertake this house," says Dianne Morris, Danville's housing and development director. "The city's efforts alone weren't enough, so we went to the Preservation League saying, 'Can you help? What can we do to save this house?'"
Located in Danville's Holbrook-Ross Street Historic District, the wood-sided frame house—like many buildings in the district that once housed a large number of the city's affluent African Americans—is in significant disrepair. Howard, a descendant of the prominent Danville meat cutter who first occupied the home in the 1890s, could no longer afford to maintain the property. The Preservation League and Danville's Housing and Development office found a North Carolina builder, Michael Bagley, who plans to purchase the house for $1, and restore it with the groups' funding. The restoration process will likely start once the donation process and sale are completed next month.
"We wanted someone who knew what they were getting into," says Sonja Ingram says, field representative of Preservation Virginia and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "The first thing … is for him to stabilize the house and make the exterior look good and presentable," Ingram says. "Because once we get the facade to look nice, it will hopefully set the tone for the neighborhood to start to improve."
The house needs wood siding, a new metal roof, window repair, and new kitchen and bathroom fixtures. The renovation is likely to cost between $70,000 and $100,000 and will take at least a year and a half to complete.
Bagley, who could not be reached for comment, must abide by a number of protective covenants and guidelines throughout the restoration process such as meeting certain progress timelines, living in the house for at least five years, and getting approval before altering features like exterior wood siding, interior doors, light fixtures, and trim.
Around the turn of the 20th century, the five-block Holbrook-Ross Street Historic District was home to Danville's African American doctors, lawyers, and educators. The area thrived through the 1960s, when desegregation and other factors led many of the older families in the area to move away, according to Danville resident Gary Grant, a member of local historic societies. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, the district includes houses from the 1880s through the 1920s. "The Holbrook-Ross district is practically the sole collection of concentrated buildings [in Danville] built for and by African Americans," Grant says.
"One thing our group wanted to do was highlight some of that history in Danville, and that's one reason we wanted to start in this particular neighborhood," Ingram says. "It just so happened that the owner of this house came forward to donate the house that was in that neighborhood. It just worked out well."
Morris, Ingram, and Grant hope this first project of the revolving fund sparks community interest in historic preservation, especially in the deteriorating Holbrook-Ross district.
"If this is successful," Grant says, "it will be the template for perhaps moving to the next and the next and the next."
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Comments
Submitted by Jr. at: June 17, 2010
I can't wait to see what Mr. Bagley has in store for this house, I have seen his remodeling work all across the triangle-area of North Carolina and he does beautiful work. I am very proud of him for sticking with this project, and can't wait to see the day when this old Italianate is refurbished and standing strong in this prominent neighborhood.
Submitted by TABB at: June 4, 2010
I stand corrected. My great-grandmother's maiden name was Minnie Patrick.
Submitted by sonja at: June 4, 2010
This would never have happened if Susan Stilwell, Historic Property Realtor, had not been involved. Susan has been fighting for historic preservation in Danville for years- way before anyone else was interested! Thanks Susan!
Submitted by Pat at: June 3, 2010
Yippee! Another battle won!
Submitted by TABB at: June 1, 2010
This is very exciting! My grandfather, George Bowers, was born in Danville. His mother, Minnie Scott, hailed from Danville as well.