PRESERVATION ALERT
Help us push back on proposed rewrite of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
We will be asking you to write letters and take other actions to make our Preservation Voices matter.
The date and time of the gathering will be announced when the Public Comment period dates are revealed.
For more information and updates to the proposed changes to Section 106, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation's site
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY IN THE VIRGINIA PIEDMONT
Celebrate with us!
Labor Day Open House at the Woolen Mills Chapel
Monday, September 7th, 11am to 1pm
Explore the Chapel! Snacks! Conversation!
Live Irish Trad music by King Golden Banshee
1819 E Market St, Charlottesville, VA
ABOUT
Preservation Piedmont is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the built environment and its setting in order to protect and create an appreciation for the historic resources of the region.
Preservation is promoted by the protection and rehabilitation of historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods, as well as the natural and created landscape, traditional routes, and open spaces.
The purposes of Preservation Piedmont are to serve the City of Charlottesville, the County of Albemarle, and adjacent localities by:
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promoting greater public awareness of and advocating for historic preservation in the region;
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protecting the historic resources of the region;
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sponsoring educational tours and programs that encourage public participation in the preservation, restoration, and ownership of historic and archeological sites, buildings and structures, and landscapes significant to the cultural, social and architectural history of the region;
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promoting heritage tourism;
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supporting and initiating local projects, partnerships, and studies that help to identify and protect important community historic resources; and
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monitoring local and state government actions on issues affecting preservation of historical, cultural, and natural resources.
These goals are also promoted by cooperating with other groups and organizations committed to the preservation and welfare of the community.
2026 Executive Committee:
Genevieve Keller, President
Rob McGinnis, Vice President
Mark Rylander, Treasurer
Mary Joy Scala, Secretary
2026 Board of Directors
Kirby Hutto
Jean Hiatt
Jody Lahendro
Shelley Miller
Tom Raney
Will Rourk
Brianna Solt
Bernadette Whittsett-Hammond
2026 Board of Advisors
James Boyd
Maria Chapel
Ellen Wagner
Robert Guy Wilson
Ed Brooks
Rebecca Deeds
Helena Devereux
Bill Emory
Margaret Maliszewski Fritz
Taylor Goff
Madeleine Hawk
WHAT WE DO
Advocacy
The Advocacy Committee was created to give Preservation Piedmont an active voice in local public processes related to development.
Advocacy reviews and comments on new codes and legislation, petitions for the preservation of buildings that are threatened by development, and keeps members up to date on issues affecting the built environment.
Documentation
Alarmed at the rapidly increasing loss of Charlottesville's architectural fabric, Preservation Piedmont initiated a City-wide program called 'Document Before Demolish'. The program aims to record jeopardized historic structures through photography, field notes, and, under special circumstances, measured drawings.
Preservation Piedmont has arranged to receive notifications of demolition applications from the City. Once notified, members of Preservation Piedmont go out with camera and documentation forms in hand to record each property slated for demolition. All field records and data generated by the program are temporarily stored in Preservation Piedmont archives and are available upon request.
PAPA
The Piedmont Area Preservation Alliance (PAPA) is a regional umbrella organization formed in 2007 by a Preservation Piedmont steering committee to encourage preservation organizations to build a communication network. Its stated mission is to sustain the cultural and ecological resources of Central Virginia.
The PAPA organization facilitates sharing of organizational news primarily at an annual gathering. The social and networking event is hosted by one of the member organizations, and is usually held at a historic building. Each organization is asked to have a representative make a short presentation about their organization’s recent activities. The current membership of each PAPA member organization is invited to attend, along with local and state government elected and appointed officials. If your organization is interested in joining PAPA, please use the contact us page to send us a message!
“When you strip away the rhetoric, preservation is simply having the good sense to hold on to things that are well designed, that link us with our past in a meaningful way, and that have plenty of good use left in them.”
- Richard Moe, National Trust for Historic Preservation