A look at the Town’s Architectural Review Board
► 1975 – The “Washington Historic District” was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
► 1985 – The Town passed a Historic District Ordinance which created the Architectural Review Board. According to the town’s Comprehensive Plan, the board is charged with maintaining the “unique historic fabric of the village” through the application of standards and guidelines. It reviews plans for new buildings, and changes to the exteriors of existing structures to assure the architectural integrity of the historic district.
The current ARB members:
► Drew Mitchell, Chair: “For more than two decades I have been involved in the National Trust for Historic Preservation. My husband Bill and I didn’t just write checks, we furthered NTHP’s mission by restoring a handful of historical residential and commercial buildings, one of which was featured in Preservation Magazine. For over 25 years I’ve also owned and operated a successful design firm headquartered in “Big” Washington called Fathom Creative. Although the name highlights the artistic side of the business, its longevity is largely due to our wellearned reputation for our adherence to objective, universally-established design principles.”
► Wes Kerr, Vice Chair: “At a young age I started gaining experience in historical preservation. First learning techniques and procedures to restore antiques, and later using this awareness to develop residential and commercial reconstruction strategies that were in keeping with modernization norms, while remaining respectful of historical aesthetics.”
► Deborah Harris, Secretary: “As a member of this community for more than four years and as a local business owner (Gay Street Inn), I have a vested interest in serving the town in this capacity.”
► Nanette Edwards: “My volunteer experience includes 20 years of serving on many boards and committees for Historic Boulder, Inc. in Colorado. Through my association with Historic Boulder, I learned about different architectural styles and the importance of preserving the architectural integrity of buildings within historic districts.”
► David Knight: “Having been a full-time resident of the village for over a year and a half, I am passionate about preserving our town’s architectural heritage while also positioning it for future success. A native of Lexington, KY, I graduated from Hampden-Sydney College with a degree in Political Science. I returned to Lexington to obtain a Master’s Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Kentucky. I later worked for The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit that protects, revitalizes, and promotes the historically significant buildings that contribute to Lexington’s architectural identity and sense of place.”