Preservationists lose another one in Norfolk

There are positions and quotes from only one side of the argument. When did it become appropriate to report negatively on the demolition of a building without speaking to the owners? Your article states that they are building a duplicate of the structure across the street. What is getting demolished to make room for that? Certainly, it isn't being rebuilt in Stockley Garden. You didn't mention any complaints. This article raises more questions than it answers, and is not objective. This article is clearly intended the whip up one side, which it obviously has based on the posted comments. I'll continue to take the Pilot's reporting with more than a grain of salt.

It is true that by world standards, the history of Norfolk, Va is just a drop in the bucket. In United States History, or even Colonial History, this area has been there right from the beginning, or very close to it, & is therefore considered by many to be rich in history, Many also deem it's history as significant. If you go to St Paul's Church downtown, there are graves that the tombstones date back to the 1600's. A cannonball lodged in the wall of that church, was fired New Years Day 1776, by Lord Dunmore of England, the first day of year the Declaration of Independence was signed. History begins when news ends. 400 years ago is definitely history.

The owners of the house should be free to do with it whatever they please, unless there was some guidelines set forth when purchased. Churches have one purpose, and that is to grow bigger and win the popularity contest for their brand of meddling with people's minds. Other posters are comparing Norfolk to England, or other cities with rich histories. This is Norfolk, in Hampton Roads. It's not significant by any means, and a year after the new church building is up no one will remember the house. There will be plenty of other empty ones on the surrounding blocks.

I cannot believe that anyone takes seriously the comments of Barclay Winn or Paul Fraim when they wring their hands as if they can't do a thing about saving these buildings. Where were they YEARS ago? But even worse is that the Church decided it must tear this down rather than work to incorporate it into an expansion. It could have but the big egos needed a legacy. And rather than being good neighbors it chose a controversial, ugly building to distort the integrity of the historic neighborhood. Then it squandered thousands more forcing it on the community. Perhaps Vache should give them some advice on real estate! This another example why I left the Episcopal church.

To me the only advantage to using osb would probably be the price. When its used on roofs, adding an "H" clip is used to increase strength between rafters. Science is improving products, and if you ever look at the edge of a sheet of osb, you will see a sealant usually blue or orange meant to address the edge, but don't always use a full sheet. There has always been an argument which is better among contractors & manufacturers. GA Pacific says plywood is better overall for most applications. Osb manufacturers say their product is just as good, & seem to have studies to prove most of their claims. Maybe I can put it this way for my choice..When Lexus first came out they claimed to be as good as a BMW, but less costly. Id still rather have the BMW, even if it cost more. I could go on for a while with reasons I don't like or trust it for various applications.

On a wall if you think it will be secure from moisture, Osb will suffice, But I prefer tried & true. Osb is also used on roofs which are notorious for leaking. If I took a 1/2"piece of Osb and a 1/2 piece of plywood stretched over rafters esp. 24" OC, guess which one I would prefer to stand on. Ultimately it's up to the customer, but on my own properties I always choose plywood. Plywood's lateral strength is far more reassuring to me than Osb, no matter how good the adhesive is supposed to be. But Styrofoam is my greatest peeve. A lot of expensive homes in Great Bridge have walls made of Styrofoam except I believe the code is corners, & every so many feet some wood, to have something to nail the vinyl siding to.. (outer to inner) vinyl siding, Styrofoam, drywall, you. .Would you stand behind that in a hurricane?

The people who are going to have to live near the hideous glass building the Church is planning to build care very much about this travesty.

Christ and Saint Luke's was able to skirt the law thanks to the rotten shills at City Hall who are now giving pathetic lip service to preservation. They ALL make me want to vomit, rotten hypocrites that they are.

Preservation in Norfolk is A JOKE. Fraim won't be happy until all of Norfolk is blanketed in bland condominiums. Except his tony neighborhood, that is......The same tony neighborhood most of the fat cats who attend Christ and Saint Luke's live in.

That's so sad to hear. I was only thinking this AM how Norfolk has kept it's history and not like Virginia Beach-No HISTORY! I hope Norfolk can stop tearing down their history, dont be like Virginia Beach-Wanna Be's and try to copy NY city,and other big cities. Like one post said-we chopped down all our trees-we have nothing from the past and no trees!! Norfolk save your HISTORY!

The city will allow a historic building to be knocked down, but can't do anything about slumlords property in EOV. Should be the other way around, knock down the breeding grounds for drugs and violence and keep our historical landmarks and buildings. The city leaders have to go!

who are strongly against razing these homes, you have the right to go and purchase these properties and do whatever you feel is in "YOUR" best interest, the same as the groups who are tearing them down do. To create petitions to save properties, at the cities expense, not your own, is absurd. I do not want one single cent of my tax dollars going to save one of these homes. Most of us could care less.

For every American who vacations in Europe and its environmens - the attraction is the historically preserved homes, buildings, statuary. Is is any wonder that Europe is the prime tourist destinatio, or that Asian countries are the magnet that draws the tourists and their dollars. They preserve. Norfolk is on the way out - it has yielded to the blandishments of the chrome, stainless steel, glass, stark ugly modernism. For example look at the destruction of so many old places whose architecture is beautiful. There is in Eureka,Ca. a beautiful old building that is a real tourist draw. Same for Ferndale,Ca. not too far from Eureka - a town that has revered its past buildings and incorporated them into the real draw for tourists. What does Norfolk have?? I was born and raised there and when I moved to my husbands home on the west coast, all I had left were memories of the old preserved building, the cobblestone street in front of the YWCA, the Weaving house at its end, the 3 story houses on the same street, houses where 3 centuries of hurricanes only broke out one window. Now, my brother went there to bury mom's ashes and took pictures of the sites I remembered. He cut short the trip

So the church is going to build a replica of this very same building across the street? That's not good enough? What is it about a "historical" building that is worth saving - or worth stopping progress?

Churches wonder why todays society has such an obtrusively negative view of the "organized church". Jesus did not sit in a pew. He was in and among the community, serving and ministering to them. But todays churches want nothing more than pew space. Give me a break. You don't need to mow down the community you are suppose to serve. Show grace. Show mercy. Show humility. Show Jesus. Are those only by-words that might be found in your "statement of faith" or are they an active, functioning expression of faith. I choose to be active and function in my showing my faith by respecting those around me. I was told one time that I may be the only bible someone will ever open. In other words, faith is action. God's word is compassion, humility, and respect for all who I come in contact with. That is the Jesus I have come to know in my relationship with Him.

"replaced with ones that have walls of OSB (chipboard)"

If you truly are a contractor you know that OSB is in fact stronger than plywood. It is not what it used to be when it was called particle board as a misnomer, but it is an engineered product that is superior to the previous method(plywood). Many older homes are built out of planks but that is rarely done anymore due to cost. Are you saying that when you perform your "contracting" you are planking buildings? Wow.

Soon it will be just Ghent...not Historic Ghent.

Even though they are the owners of the building, and have every right to tear it down for new construction, they moved one step closer to destroying their neighborhood's character. I'm sure the new building to replace this beautiful residence will wind up being some post-modern brick and glass box with no connection whatsoever to the surrounding environs.
Shameful!
They state, 'The church plans to build a replica of the Guild House across the street using some of the original materials.' Well, from what I can see in the photo, they don't appear to be dismantling this structure with any care! God bless your 'church'!

Not everything is "historical" and "worth keeping". This is a great example of George Washington's America at work. I'm glad the church has the "demand to expand" when over 3,500 churches across America are closing their doors every year. The city will miss the "historical property tax valuation" but that's about it. It's private property!

The loss of this beautiful building is shameful. I realize it was privately owned, but there had to be other alternatives.

I am against the razing of historic buildings. Some of these have survived though a century of hurricanes, northeasters, & fires. Many are still structurally safe. Since June 2007? 5 of them.. Must be since the spaghetti warehouse( 3 story brick building that used to be used to stage cotton) That was sometime last summer. I have a 100 year old Victorian style house in South Norfolk Historical District. To raze this building and you would have to physically remove me. What really makes me sick is to see buildings that were built to last ,replaced with ones that have walls of OSB (chipboard) & even Styrofoam sheet, & vinyl siding. The siding looks like crap after 1 year. You can throw a brick through the wall on a cold day. These are what I call 30 year houses.

"(Norfolk) voted to explore ways to preserve the community’s historic offerings."

Now, that's funny! That's like Virginia Beach voting to explore ways to save trees!