Commission of Architectural Review: key votes and outcomes from May meeting

Richmond — The Commission of Architectural Review approved a series of routine and contested items during its May 2025 meeting, sending two historic‑district nomination changes to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and taking final action on multiple building and site‑alteration applications.

The most consequential votes were on two National Register nomination amendments and a cluster of staff‑recommended certificate of appropriateness (COA) applications. The commission also deferred two items that raised policy or technical questions: an aluminum storefront replacement on East Marshall Street and a digital monument sign at St. James Episcopal Church on West Franklin Street.

What the commission approved

- Main Street Banking historic district boundary decrease and nomination update: The commission voted to concur with staff and forward a recommended approval letter to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). The amendment extended the period of significance through 1976, removed a demolished building at 703 E. Main, and reclassified 705–711 E. Main Street as contributing for early modern architecture. Motion to approve was made by Commissioner Sherpa and seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez; commissioners recorded yes votes including Easterling, Greer, Moore, Nutt, Rodriguez and Stripler.

- Chanco Valley / Tobacco Row boundary increase and period extension: The commission recommended approval of a boundary increase and a period of significance extended to 1967, adding multiple contributing and non‑contributing resources to the district inventory. Two commissioners announced they would abstain from this vote; the…