City of Valdosta Press Release:

The City of Valdosta is accepting nominations for the second annual Valdosta Preservation Awards, which recognize significant historic preservation projects that contribute to the preservation and enhancement of historic buildings in the local Valdosta Historic District.

Nominations for Preservation Awards may be submitted in four categories:

Award of Outstanding Achievement: This award recognizes exemplary accomplishments in historic building rehabilitation or restoration. Awards in this category are given for complex or large-scale projects. A successful project in this category will preserve the exterior historic integrity of a building by retaining a building’s significant portions and features through repairs and sensitive alterations (including compatible additions), while making possible an efficient contemporary use; and/or the projects may restore a building’s exterior to its original appearance based on historical or physical evidence (authentic interior rehabilitation or restoration is not necessary, but could weigh heavily in decisions to give this award).

Award of Distinguished Merit: This award recognizes improvements made to historic resources (buildings, structures, sites, landscapes) important to Valdosta’s heritage. Awards in this category are given for simpler, smaller-scaled projects and do not require extensive restoration or rehabilitation work.

Award of Achievement for a Contributing Addition to the Community: This award recognizes outstanding achievement in new construction that complements and reflects the architectural character of the Valdosta Historic District.

Award of Stewardship: This award recognizes property owners for their long-term care, maintenance, stabilization, or protection of a contributing historic property.

Buildings nominated for the first three categories must be at least 50 years old. Nominations will be considered for projects completed within the last three years and will be reviewed by the Valdosta Preservation Awards Committee, comprised of members of the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission, the Lowndes County Historical Society and the Valdosta Heritage Foundation. Award decisions will be based on the contributions of the projects to the architectural and historical character of the Valdosta Historic District.

The second annual Valdosta Preservation Awards will be presented on May 13, at noon, at the Brown Bag Lunch Concert event, which takes place during National Historic Preservation Month.

Nomination forms and a complete list of award rules are available at www.valdostacity.com or at the city’s Planning and Zoning Division. Completed forms may be mailed to the City of Valdosta Planning and Zoning Division, 300 N. Lee Street, Valdosta, GA 31601, or emailed to efoster@valdostacity.com by Thursday, April 1, 2010. For more information, contact Emily Foster at (229) 259-3563.