14HP0147CASE MANAGER: Heather Barrar
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BS Time Remaining: STAFF'S
365 days REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
14HP0147
June 25, 2014 BS
Dr. Wilson E. B. Shannon
and.
Deaconess Dr. Jane J. Baskerville
Historic First Baptist Church of Centralia
Dale Magisterial District
4412 Centralia Road
REQUEST: Historic Landmark Designation.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
Semi-public uses (church) are planned.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE:
RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
AYES: MS. HOWE AND MESSRS
WALLACE.
ABSENT: MR. COGBILL.
DANIELS, DUTTON, MORRIS, WALKER AND
PLANNING COMMMISSION:
RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
AYES: MESSRS. WALLIN, PATTON, BROWN AND WALLER.
ABSENT: MR. GULLEY.
Pro~Tiding a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public ser~Tice
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval of landmark designation for the original one (1) acre site of the Historic First
Baptist Church of Centralia for the following reasons:
A. The presence of special historical interest relating to local, state and national
history;
B. The presence of one (1) or more distinguished buildings of high architectural
quality and historic interest; and
C. This designation will cause no significant adverse effect on future development of
the County.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
After the Civil War, in 1867 Salem Baptist Church provided support to establish Salem African
Baptist Church two (2) nines east on Centralia Road. Fanulies of Salem Baptist Church assisted this
effort, including Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Challdey, who granted a one (1) acre plot of land, and Mr.
Benjanun Duval, who donated lumber for the first stnictLire. The historic one (1) acre site served as
worship grounds for the congregation, who first met under a bnish arbor. Soon after, the first church
building was constricted and used until 1910. The second church building was erected circa 1910.
According to O'Dell, it includes elements of the Gothic Revival, Colonial Revival and Shingle
styles and was the largest standing church of its period and had a more elaborate exterior than most
n~ral churches. An outdoor baptismal pool circa 1911 sits adjacent to the church and replaced creek
baptisms. Tragically, the 1910 church stnictLire was razed by fire in 1996. The congregation and
community were called to action by Pastor Wilson E. B. Shannon to rebuild. Within a year, the
stnictLire was rebuilt to historic specifications by the members of the church with community
support and was dedicated in April 1997. The congregation meets at a nearby location on Kingsland
Road and uses this location for education and celebration purposes. The church is located in
Centralia, one of the earliest suburban developments south of Richmond. It served as a railroad stop
and transportation hub to the Chesterfield County Courthouse. (Chesterfield County Early
A~chitectu~e and Historic Sites, O'Dell, pages 340, 356)
Location:
The property is located along the north side of Centralia Road, to the west of Chester Road
and the CSX railroad tracks and is better known as 4412 Centralia Road. Tax ID 786-664-
6120.
Existing Zoning:
R-7
Size:
1 acre
2 14HP0147-2014JLTN25-BOS-RPT
Existing Land Use:
Residential: 1.0 unit/acre or less
Adj acent Zoning and Land Use:
North - R-7; Vacant
South - C-3; Residential
East - C-3; Community Commercial
West - R -7; Vacant
LAND USE
Comprehensive Plan:
The Comprehensive Plan speaks to the importance of preserving historic resources in
Chapter 8: Historical and Cultural Resources. Specifically, the following guideline of this
chapter supports this designation:
• Historic Designations: Encourage voluntary local, state and national
historic landmark and district designations through incentive programs.
Consider designation of only that area necessary to accomplish
preservation thereby affording the option for future use of the remaining
area.
The subject property is located within the boundaries of the Chester Plan (2005) which
suggests the property is appropriate for residential use. The following goal of the Chester
Plan supports this designation:
• Goa12: Protect and preserve historic and cultural resources.
Area Development Trends:
The area along Centralia Road is characterized by residential and senu-public uses, adjacent
to a commercial node at the intersection of Chester and Centralia Roads. Centralia is one of
the oldest communities south of Richmond and still maintains its historic character with
numerous locally designated historic homes in the vicinity.
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 authorized planning and
development of high speed rail corridors nationwide. The Richmond region is located on
one (1) of five (5) original national corridors, the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR)
corridor, from Washington to Raleigh. A Tier II Environmental Impact Statement has
been prepared, and it provides a detailed analysis on the impacts, identifying track
location and proposed road improvements. Further implementation of the SEHSR
corridor is dependent on funding availability. The preliminary design for the SEHSR
corridor illustrates the grade separation for most of the roads current at-grade crossings.
In this area, the plans propose elevating and bridging Centralia Road over the Seaboard
3 14HP0147-2014JLTN25-BOS-RPT
Coast Line Railroad. With the proposed increase in the grade of Centralia Road, the
existing driveway onto Centralia Road that serves the Historic First Baptist Church of
Centralia will need to be repositioned further to the west. Information about this historic
landmark designation request has been submitted to the Virginia Department of Rail and
Public Transportation. Any required modification to the design for the SEHSR corridor,
will be evaluated as the SEHSR project advances.
CONCLUSION
The proposed historic landmark designation is representative of, and compatible with, existing and
anticipated area development, and is supported by both the countywide Comprehensive Plan as
well as Goal 2 of the Chester Plan, to protect and preserve historic and cultural resources. This
area has a high concentration of historical buildings and sites that are important reminders of
Chesterfield County's past. The proposed designation will not have an adverse effect on the
County's future development.
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recommended.
CASE HISTORY
Joint Preservation Committee and Planning Commission Meeting (5/22/14):
The applicants accepted the recommendation.
There was support noting that this is the first landmark designation granted to a rebuilt
stricture due to the fact that it is an exact duplicate and sits upon the original one (1) acre
site.
On motion of Mr. Daniels, seconded by Mr. Wallcer, the Committee recommended
approval of the request.
AYES: Ms. Howe and Messrs. Daniels, Dutton, Morris, Wallcer and Wallace.
ABSENT: Mr. Cogbill.
On motion of Dr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Patton, the Commission recommended
approval of the request.
AYES: Messrs. Wallin, Patton, Brown and Waller.
ABSENT: Mr. Gulley.
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 beginning at 6:30 p.m., will take under
consideration this request.
4 14HP0147-2014JLTN25-BOS-RPT
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