VALDOSTA — The City of Valdosta has been awarded a $25,000 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant from the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The grant will support the completion of the Valdosta Southside Historic Resource Survey, a significant undertaking to preserve and celebrate the city’s rich historical heritage.
The Valdosta Southside Historic Resource Survey will comprise a comprehensive survey of an estimated 1,123 parcels within the city’s southern portion. The survey will visually evaluate all buildings, structures, objects, and sites within the survey area to determine their historical significance and physical integrity. It will update obsolete historic resource data stemming from a countywide survey that was done in 2004 and the Southside NRHP survey that was done in 2006.
Resource surveys provide a basis for using legal and financial tools to protect and enhance historic resources, the City said. Surveys also provide a database from which the City may monitor and channel development.
The City is in process of hiring a qualified historic preservation consulting firm to complete the project. The expected completion date for the project is February 2025.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Historic Preservation Division, and we extend our gratitude for their support in funding this significant community historic preservation project,” said Senior Planner of Historic Preservation Jeff Brammer.
Brammer added that preserving the city’s history is vital for future generations, and this grant will enable the City government to conduct a comprehensive Historic Resource Survey to capture the essence of Valdosta’s past.