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New owners take Secosha (Virginia) block; commission notes historic-district limits
Summary
The commission was told the Secosha (also referenced as the Virginia) block on the common has been sold; new owners are making repairs while commission members noted historic-district rules cover exterior appearance but cannot categorically prevent demolition.
David told the commission that the Secosha block on the common has been sold and that the new owners have begun repairs. He said asking prices on adjacent buildings had been in excess of $1,000,000 and that buyers had been scarce at those levels. "Both of the people that own those 2 buildings on the common are asking a huge amount of money for those buildings," David said.
The commission discussed the historic-district review role: David noted that the historic district has authority over the exterior appearance and replacement materials (for example, avoiding vinyl trim), but he clarified that historic-district status does not absolutely prohibit demolition. "Even with the historic district, the historic district can't prevent a building from being torn down," he said, adding that the commission can influence appearance and materials through review.
