City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: GRETCHEN BULOVA, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture for the Commonwealth History Fund Grant Program.
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ISSUE: The Office of Historic Alexandria seeks to apply for a Commonwealth History Fund Grant from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to fund a comprehensive documentary study of the Market Square and City Hall block.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve submission of the grant application; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Commonwealth History Fund was established by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to support and encourage meaningful history education and preservation projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Made possible by generous funding from Dominion Energy and others, the Fund is designed to provide grants of approximately $400,000 per year and nearly $2,000,000 overall in its first five years of operation. Applications for the grant program are due September 30.
Market Square has been the center of civic activity for Alexandrians since the City's founding in 1749. The current City Hall, built in 1871, is a great source of community pride and serves as a workplace for more than 300 City employees. After many years of service, major updates are needed throughout City Hall to repair aging building components, improve operating systems, optimize space utilization, improve building circulation and wayfinding, and enhance security.
The Office of Historic Alexandria seeks to support this renovation project with a documentary study of the Market Square and City Hall block.
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