Office of the City Attorney
Press Release
Litigation regarding a dispute over the demolition of a historic Downtown Mall storefront has been settled.
The dispute centered on the removal of the historic façade of the building located at 219 West Main Street, which previously housed the Victory Shoe Store. The façade was removed without the required approval of the City's Board of Architectural Review. The building owner has issued a public apology and statement (complete text below). It includes the announcement of a $16,000 donation to the City's Historic Preservation Fund.
Questions should be directed to the City Attorney's Office at 434.970.3131.
Editor's note: 219 West Main Street on the downtown mall is the current location for Sweet Frog Premium Frozen Yogurt.
Public Apology and Statement from Joe H. Gieck Trust
In late 2009, the historic storefront façade (circa 1947) of the former Victory Shoe Store located at 219 West Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, was removed without the required prior approval from the City's Board of Architectural Review ("BAR"). Subsequent to the removal, the owner of the building - the Joe H. Gieck Trust ("Gieck Trust") - followed all procedures required by the City and complied with all applicable building regulations to restore the façade to the original 1920s façade. However, the 1947 façade was gone forever.
The Gieck Trust, and Joe and Sally Gieck, have long been committed to the preservation of historic structures in the City of Charlottesville, and particularly, the Downtown area. They recognize that local governments must be able to protect historic resources through valid zoning powers. The Gieck Trust further acknowledges that it should have been cognizant of the historic status of the 1947 façade and admits that the 1947 façade should not have been removed without prior approval of the BAR. The Gieck Trust expresses its sincere apologies for the loss of the 1947 façade. These apologies run to the City of Charlottesville, and to its citizens, particularly those in the Charlottesville-Albemarle community who realize that preservation of our historic resources is a worthwhile and laudable endeavor requiring substantial commitment by the private and public sectors working together.
In furtherance of its endorsement of ongoing efforts to preserve our historic resources and of its desire to provide a reasonable measure of reparation to the public and the community, the Gieck Trust has donated sixteen thousand dollars to the City's Historic Preservation Fund, to be applied toward conducting a much-needed survey of all historic resources in the Downtown area, or toward any other purpose that the City Manager, with the concurrence of the City Council, deems appropriate.
