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Intern presents resurvey finding 47 now-eligible historic properties; full town survey due this summer
Summary
An intern who resurveyed Purcellville's historic resources told the planning commission he inventoried more than 500 buildings, identified 47 properties now meeting the 50-year threshold and documented nine demolished historic structures in the overlay since 2006. The town will post the data publicly and expects to finish a full-town resurvey by the end of the summer.
PJ Flynn, an intern with the town and a George Mason University student, presented the findings of a resurvey of Purcellville's historic resources and urged updates to the town's historic overlay. "I surveyed over 500 buildings," Flynn said, describing photographic comparisons to the 2006 inventory and his use of Virginia's Cultural Resources Information System (VCRIS/BCRIS) to log results.
Flynn told the commission 47 buildings within the historic-properties overlay are now more than 50 years old and could be considered contributing; he also reported nine historic structures in that overlay had been demolished since 2006. He recommended the commission consider expanding or adjusting the overlay to better reflect the town's architectural character. "Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character isn't," Flynn said as a closing thought on balancing change and preservation.
Commissioners pressed for maps and criteria used to determine contributing status; Flynn and staff said they would produce a consolidated map and make the survey available to homeowners through the public VCRIS viewer. Planning staff said the town intends to complete a full-town survey by the end of the summer and to incorporate the results into the comprehensive-plan update and related policy work.
