VVC has two immediate vacancies

The Victorian Village Commission (VVC) has two immediate vacancies. The City’s Historic Preservation Office (HPO) has asked the SNCA to help identify and recommend interested candidates to be appointed to a seat on the VVC. A background as an attorney or architect, and residency or ownership of property or a business in Victorian Village, are preferred, but not necessarily required.

If you are interested, please send a statement of interest, resume and contact information, to Jack W. Decker, SNCA President, jackwdecker@gmail.com. Please indicate “VVC Application” on the subject line. Recommendations are made, in part, on the basis of the perceived strength of the applicant pool and maintaining a mix of backgrounds on VVC, so a past unsuccessful application is no barrier to appointment this time.

Adopted by city ordinance in 1975, the Historic Preservation Code protects our neighborhood’s historic architectural resources and supports neighborhood property values, by requiring that any significant modification to the exterior of a structure, or new structure, within VVC boundaries, be reviewed by the VVC (or HPO staff, in simple cases), to determine that the modification is “appropriate” under guidelines contained within the Code or published by VVC. If a building permit is required for the work, it will not be issued without a “certificate of appropriateness” from VVC. VVC’s jurisdiction consists of an area roughly bounded by N. High Street, W. Fifth Avenue, Harrison Avenue and Goodale Boulevard, but excluding the former Thurber Village Center.

The VVC consists of seven volunteer members, operates under a set of bylaws, and acts, for the most part, by majority vote. The VVC is ordinarily assisted at its meetings by a member of the HPO staff. With training provided by the HPO, a Commissioner is expected to:

1) Be knowledgeable about, administer and apply, the Columbus Historic Preservation Code (C.C. Chapter 3116), the Short North Design Guidelines, and the Victorian Village Commission guidelines, which inform the exercise of discretion by each Commissioner, while complying with related laws governing open meetings, conflicts of interest, and the like;

2) Reliably and regularly prepare for and attend monthly Commission meetings (second Wednesday, 4:00-7:00 pm), Commission business meetings (two weeks prior, noon), occasional special meetings (when called), and occasional site visits (when scheduled).

3) Conduct oneself in such a manner as to promote the purposes of the Historic Preservation Code: to protect and preserve Victorian Village’s historic properties, to ensure that new development and construction is harmonious with the district’s historic properties and in accordance with the Code and associated guidelines, and to protect the reliance interests of those who have purchased and/or rehabilitated such properties with the expectation that the Code will be impartially applied and enforced as to everyone, without fear or favor.

Applications will be accepted at least through August 22, 2025, and until a sufficient pool of candidates is assembled.