Monday, December 15 2008

APVA Preservation Virginia has announced that Cool Well, built c. 1820, has been sold by the endangered historic properties Revolving Fund Program to an individual for restoration. Cool Well was donated by a joint venture between Mr. Todd Rogers of Rogers-Chenault, Inc. and Mr. Bryan Kornblau of Eagle Construction, Inc. to the Revolving Fund Program in 2006. Cool Well, is located in eastern Hanover County, Virginia on Shady Grove Road.

Jim Duke, Director of Development for Rogers-Chenault, Inc., said he is "very pleased that the property has found an owner and we are very thankful that we were able to help APVA's Revolving Fund Program in its preservation efforts.

Cool Well

The purchaser of Cool Well is "very excited to own the property and rehab it." Once the property is restored he plans to make it his home. Sarah Cooleen, Manager of the Revolving Fund, expresses APVA Preservation Virginia's gratitude to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Kornblau for donating the property to the Revolving Fund Program. Cooleen said, "The donation and subsequent sale of the property will not only save Cool Well for future generations but the income from the sale will allow the Revolving Fund Program to now save even more endangered historic properties."

A historic architectural evaluation of Cool Well paid for by Rogers-Chenault, Inc. revealed that Cool Well may have served as a tavern. Many of the building's original and early features survive.

Cool Well's listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places was made possible by The Revolving Fund Program through Partnership Funds received from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Listing on the historic registers will allow the restoration of the building to qualify for the historic rehabilitation tax credit program.

To further protect the property, Cool Well has been placed under protective easement with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The easements prevent the the structure from being demolished or moved, interior and/or exterior character defining features from being altered or destroyed, and the land from being subdivided. Easements are recorded and "run with the land"; meaning they transfer from owner to owner thus protecting the building in perpetuity. Any restoration work at Cool Well, including changes to the interior or exterior and any additional buildings on the land, must be approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources which is responsible for enforcing the easement.

The Virginia Historic Preservation Trust Fund was established in 1989 by the Virginia General Assembly and administered through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources until it was transferred to the APVA in 1999 and is now referred to as the Revolving Fund Program. The Program's mission is dedicated to saving endangered historic residential and commercial properties across Virginia from demolition and severe neglect.

Contact Revolving Fund Program Manager Sarah Cooleen for additional information at 804-648-1889 ext. 320 or Tina Calhoun, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at (804) 648-1889, ext. 316.

About APVA Preservation Virginia

The mission of APVA Preservation Virginia is to preserve, promote and serve as an advocate for the state's irreplaceable historic places for cultural, economic and educational benefits of everyone. Learn more at www.apva.org.

Press Contact:
Tina Calhoun
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
APVA Preservation Virginia
204 West Franklin Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
804-648-1889, x316
tcalhoun@apva.org