August 24, 2008Discuss Trejbal's column on the Alexander Black HouseThe Black House won't restore itselfBy Christian TrejbalWhen I moved to Southwest Virginia three years ago, the Alexander Black House in Blacksburg caught my eye. A monument to the town's founding family, the Queen Anne home seemed to float above the grass on Draper Road. It was run-down, sure, but the town promised that would soon change. Three years later, it remains as run-down as ever. Is the town going to renovate this thing or not? Is it even worth it? |
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August 24, 2008
Discuss Trejbal's column on the Alexander Black House
The Black House won't restore itself
By Christian TrejbalWhen I moved to Southwest Virginia three years ago, the Alexander Black House in Blacksburg caught my eye. A monument to the town's founding family, the Queen Anne home seemed to float above the grass on Draper Road. It was run-down, sure, but the town promised that would soon change.
Three years later, it remains as run-down as ever. Is the town going to renovate this thing or not? Is it even worth it?
Read more.
Comments
[August 25, 2008 8:14 PM]
Mike RosChris, thank you for writing about the Alexander Black house. I think you answered your own question with a resounding “yes”, the house should be restored for all to appreciate and enjoy. The “Town” as you say is not some nebulous thing. It is we, the citizens of Blacksburg; including our semi-permanent and transient student population. Since it’s inception in 2003, I’ve volunteered many hours of my time on the Town’s Museum Committee. Yes, it’s true that the A. Black house is sitting in stasis. Little tangible, or observable changes have happened. But, under closer inspection, much has happened. Since 2003, Kent Square has been built (not by the Town as you infer) but as a commercial site that allows for some civic functions. The house has been moved and stabilized. Dedicated volunteers, town staff, and council members like Tom Sherman, have put in thousands of hours of time planning, fundraising, collecting and archiving artifacts, and otherwise being positive advocates for the museum project.
The Blacksburg Museum is more than the sum of its parts. We’ve had an ongoing partnership with Smithfield and have provided an interesting and enjoyable lecture series and historic home tours. We’ve rejuvenated the walking tour of historic areas of Blacksburg such as the 16 squares area including a walk interpreting our freshwater heritage. Additionally, we have raised some funds as you have pointed out. We live in tough times. Many groups including the University are seeking ways to raise funds not only to accomplish visionary goals, but to make ends meet and keep operations functioning.
Thank you again for taking some time to think about the Alexander Black House. It is one of our most valuable assets as a window into the past to help us understand where we are now and how to plan as we head as a community into the future. Perhaps we should move the caboose from “caboose park” over to the little Clay St. park to help remind us of how important rail was as the internet is now to connect Blacksburg to the rest of the world. The train station that stood at that site was demolished and lost. We can keep that history alive by displaying and interpreting what archives, photos, and documents we have left. Let’s keep moving forward by finding ways to breath new life into the Alexander Black House and other historically significant places in Blacksburg.
[September 23, 2008 11:24 AM]
Steven B.I have what might seem a renegade idea, but one that I have suggested in the past and have seen work in other cities.
First, Blacksburg is right in purchasing the few truly historic structures that it has, with the intent to restore them, landmark them and have them as rich pieces of our local history.
Here's where "we" - as an often "vocal" community have fallen down on picking our battles.
I use, as an example, recent commercial development as a source to create what would be a Non (or Not) for Profit Community "Endowment" that would collect development fees from developers who propose and build commercial - even large-scale - residential developments.
The math formula to calculate would of course need to be fair and balanced, but imagine if Fairmount Properties (even a Wal Mart); if Bruce Smith with Smith's Landing; even Bill Ellenbogen and his partners with University Mall; and others would contribute a Percentage of the assessed value of their landscape altering developments to this "Community Endowment" - the proceeds of which would be paid to Historic Preservation. In any other city even a "corporation" such as Va Tech would be a responsible civic business partner in contributing to community preservation.
This is one of those moments where one would hope Blacksburg's leadership and it's vocal grass routes organizations would create the NEW model. In this case, to historic preservation of valued local resources.
Such a fund could also assist historic properties such as The Lyric Theatre, and landmarked homes in adjacent downtown neighborhoods.
If you had an endowment that could pay out $100; $200 thousand or more annually to be combined with historic tax credits and other grants, you could successfully preserve these local treasures.
It's an idea worth coming together and discussing. The reality is that Blacksburg will continue to grow - people like it here and as more of us call it our home, there will inevitably be new development - so why not establish a strategic community program that encourages developers to off-set what they gain by giving back generously to the community for preservation.