Cavalier Hotel named Va. landmark, aims for U.S. status

Virginia Beach:

“History was made at the Cavalier Hotel. Now, it's officially historic. Once a bustling resort in the Roaring '20s, the regal Oceanfront hotel has captured state landmark status and is on its way to national recognition. The hotel has to meet state approval before it can be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, which lists sites worthy of preservation. Recent additions have included the Astrodome in Houston and the George M. Lightfoot House in Washington.

The state status provides an income tax break for those who renovate historic buildings. The federal government accepts up to 20 percent of eligible costs to rehabilitate a building listed on the national registry. The Cavalier Hotel is already on track to receive a 25 percent tax credit from the state.”

~Writes Stacy Parker of The Virginian-Pilot

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Clarke County Among Beneficiaries of State Farmland Preservation Grants

Clarke County

“Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the recipients of fiscal year 2014 farmland preservation grants.  Eight localities have been awarded just over $1,058,000 from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).  Localities must use the grant monies to preserve farmland within their boundaries through local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. PDR programs compensate landowners who work with localities to preserve their land permanently by voluntarily placing a perpetual conservation easement on it.

VDACS allocated almost $149,678.46 each to the counties of Albemarle, Clarke, Fauquier, Isle of Wight, James City, and Stafford, as well as the City of Virginia Beach.  Rappahannock County will receive an $11,000 grant.  These allocations total a little more than $1,058,000, bringing the total allocation of state matching funds to $8.68 million since 2008, when PDR funds were first distributed.

This is the seventh time that the Commonwealth has provided state matching funds for certified local PDR programs.  Of the 22 local PDR programs in Virginia, 18 have received local funding over the past few years. To date, more than 6,700 acres on 49 farms in 12 localities have been permanently protected in part with $6 million of these funds.  Additional easements are expected to close using the remaining funds over the next two years.  Future new appropriations will help preserve additional working lands as well.”
~Writes the Winchester Daily-Monitor

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