CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville City Council Monday night considers an appeal of a Board of Architectural Review’s unanimous denial of a property owner to demolish the oldest house in the Wertland Historic District. The BAR in May denied the petition by a seven-to-zero vote to demolish what’s known as the Wertenbaker House at 1301 Wertland Street.

City Historic Preservation and Design Planner Jeff Werner pointed out at the May meeting the house was built in 1843 by William Wertenbaker, the second librarian at the University of Virginia who was appointed by Thomas Jefferson. He noted it’s one of about 25 homes he found on GIS built before 1850, of which this is one of 23 still left intact. Wertenbaker and his family moved into the property while he was at UVA, and his family is the namesake for Wertland Street. The building currently houses UVA students.

The agenda item notes “the Appellant acknowledges the Comprehensive Plan generally supports historic preservation; however, Appellant states the BAR did not balance this with City Council’s specific policy objective to promote more housing”.

Click here for the agenda item.