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The
nomination of Springs Valley to the Virginia Landmarks
Register and the National Register of Historic Places is
citizen-initiated and funded. A report by architectural
historian Cheryl Hanback Shepherd documents the significance
of each of the 572 contributing resources within
approximately 7,500 acres of land in mid-western Fauquier
County. (The report is available for viewing in the
Department of Community Development and online at:
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/homepage_features/board_activities.htm.)
The
mandatory public hearing for the proposed Springs Valley
National Register Rural Historic District was conducted on
February 5, 2007 at the First Springs Baptist Church. Dave
Edwards from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources
advertised the public hearings in local newspapers. At the
hearing, architectural historian Cheryl Hanback Shepherd
presented a slide show summarizing the history of the
Springs Valley. Dave Edwards explained how National
Register status provides neighborhoods with some protection
against certain types of publicly-funded projects. National
Register districts also allow: (1) individual property
owners with buildings that might not be separately eligible
for listing to have their properties recognized as
contributing structures within these districts; and (2) to
apply for the State Historic Tax Credits for eligible
repairs.
This
National Register designation has no connection with
additional regulatory oversight in Fauquier County. Being
listed on either the Virginia Landmarks or National Register
of Historic Places only conveys an honor and recognition of
a property’s historic significance; it does not place any
constraints on the property owner. Being listed on either
register does not restrict or prevent an owner from
altering, tearing down or otherwise disposing of the
property.
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