URGENT UPDATE: In a surprising move, the centuries-old Nimmo United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach has formally requested to be removed from the city’s Historic and Cultural District. This request, presented to the Planning Commission on December 6, has ignited significant debate among city officials regarding the strict standards imposed by the Historic Review Board.
The church’s removal from the historic district could set off a chain reaction, potentially eliminating the entire Nimmo Church Historical and Cultural District established in 1980. City officials are now questioning whether the review board’s guidelines are excessively stringent and financially burdensome for property owners.
Mark Reed, the city’s historic preservation planner, noted that the church is grappling with “significant material and labor costs associated with repairs and improvements desired by the church.” In response, the Planning Commission has deferred its decision on the matter until January 14, seeking further information to understand the church’s needs.
Commissioner Bryan Plumlee emphasized the importance of this issue, stating, “It’s an important issue affecting our consideration of this district and other districts throughout the city.” However, representatives from the church were absent during the meeting, leaving many questions unanswered.
Nimmo United Methodist Church is recognized as the oldest Methodist church in continuous use in the United States, dating back to its original construction in 1791. The church’s historical significance includes serving as a hospital during the early Civil War and being a gathering point for freed slaves who later established nearby Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal.
The church’s request to exit the historic district has been met with resistance from both the Historic Review Board and the Historic Preservation Commission. In recent meetings, both entities denied the church’s request, citing concerns that approval could set a detrimental precedent across other historic districts in the city.
City Councilwoman Barbara Henley, who represents the district containing the church, has expressed her awareness of the ongoing situation. “Being in the (historic and cultural) district, they’re just required to meet the highest standard of historic preservation,” she explained. “That gets extensive. After a while, it just gets to be so costly you just can’t afford it.”
Recent applications for alterations within the historic districts have included various proposals, from homeowners associations seeking to install gates to the city’s plans for new infrastructure. The Historic Review Board has been known to enforce design guidelines rigorously, often disregarding cost factors in their evaluations.
As the church seeks to navigate the complexities of maintaining its historical integrity while managing financial constraints, the community watches closely. The outcome of this decision could have far-reaching implications, not only for Nimmo United Methodist Church but also for other historic sites in Virginia Beach.
With the clock ticking towards the January 14 meeting, all eyes remain on Virginia Beach as residents and officials alike await the next steps in this historic preservation dilemma.
