I guess they are voting in Virginia tomorrow too

APVA Preservation Virginia Preservation Alert
Please Help Protect Our Historic Districts

On the Ballot on November 7 are three constitutional questions.

Question #3 is a proposed Constitutional Amendment of Article X. Taxation and Finance. Section 6. Exempt Property:

"Shall Section 6 of Article X of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to authorize legislation to permit localities to provide a partial exemption from real property taxes for real estate with new structures and improvements in conservation, redevelopment, or rehabilitation areas?"

Ballot Question #3.

While the objective of the constitutional amendment is laudable in that it will allow localities to reward the redevelopment of blighted or vacant land, we are concerned that by now including new construction to qualify for partial tax relief, this amendment will pave the way for more demolitions within and adjacent to historic districts. The tax incentive for new development rather than for historic rehab may be more compelling. Already we see in communities, like Fredericksburg, Danville, and Norfolk, that local governments and some private organizations are addressing the issues of blight by recommending the demolition of vacant downtown historic structures rather than encouraging the reuse of these structures.

We encourage you to vote "NO" on Ballot Question #3, the proposed amendment of Section 6 of Article X, until language to protect historic districts is added.

Thank you for your support!

Index Keywords: historic-preservation