Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission
Created
1962 Acts of Assembly, c. 481.
Amendments
1976, c. 173 (§ 3)
1985, c. 76 (§ 5)
2002, c. 439 (§§ 1, 3)
§ 1. Definitions.
As used in this act, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent:
(a) "Commission." The Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.
(b) "Facilities." Those sites, historic or otherwise, whether residential or commercial situated in the restorable area, whether real, personal or mixed, as to which the Commission desires to exercise the authority granted in this act.
(c) "Restored facilities." Those sites, historic or otherwise, whether residential or commercial, situated in the restorable area, whether real, personal or mixed, which the Commission has acquired and which the Commission desires to restore, preserve, maintain, construct, reconstruct, produce, reproduce and operate for the use, benefit, education, recreation, enjoyment and general welfare of the people of the City of Alexandria the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States, in accordance with the restoration period.
(d) "Restorable area." The area or areas of the City of Alexandria in which the Commission shall have been given the right to exercise the powers of this chapter by an ordinance duly enacted by the city council of Alexandria.
(e) "Restoration period." The period of time during which the Commission shall seek to conform the design, architecture and construction shall be from the founding of the City of Alexandria to and including a period extending back fifty years from the date that the Commission makes its determination to restore a facility. (1962, c. 481; 2002, c. 439)
§ 2. There is hereby created and constituted within the City of Alexandria a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia to be known as The Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. The purpose and function of the Commission shall be to acquire facilities in the restorable area and provide restores facilities in accordance with the restoration period. (1962, c. 481)
§ 3. The Commission shall consist of five members, three to be appointed by the city council of Alexandria and two to be appointed by the Governor; they shall be appointed within thirty days after the effective date of this act. Members of the original Commission shall be appointed for terms as follows: One for two years, two for three years and two for four years, provided that the members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for four years, and thereafter members shall be appointed for four-year terms except appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms in which event the appointment shall be for the unexpired term only. The members of the Commission, including the chairman, shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the Commission.
The Commission shall be expanded to nine members beginning July 1, 2002. The additional members shall be appointed by the city council of Alexandria. Thereafter members shall be appointed for four-year terms except appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms, in which event the appointment shall be for the unexpired term only. (1962, c. 481; 1976, c. 173; 2002, c. 439; 2023, cc. 207, 208 (§ 3))
§ 4. Not later than fifteen days after the appointment of its membership and annually thereafter the Commission shall hold an organizational meeting at which it shall elect from its membership a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary-treasurer. No business shall be transacted by the Commission except at a regularly called meeting at which a quorum is present and the minutes thereof recorded. Permanent records shall be maintained which shall reflect all official transactions of the Commission. (1962, c. 481)
§ 5. The Alexandria City Director of Finance shall be the ex officio treasurer of the Commission and shall have the custody of all of its funds to be kept in a special account. All receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be handled subject to the same laws, rules and regulations as city funds are handled. (1962, c. 481; 1985, c. 76)
§ 6. The Commission shall have power:
(a) To adopt a seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(b) To contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts of law and equity;
(c) To exercise any power not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this State or the United States which is possessed by private corporation;
(d) To establish an office in the City of Alexandria for the conduct of its affairs;
(e) To purchase, acquire, lease or otherwise hold, facilities or any interest therein for its authorized purpose;
(f) To own, hold, rent, sell, operate, maintain, repair and improve or otherwise dispose of its restored facilities or any interest therein for its authorized purposes;
(g) To acquire in its own name by purchase, grant, devise, gift or lease, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may deem necessary or expedient, facilities, including real property or rights or easements therein or franchises necessary or convenient for its purposes and to use the restored facilities so long as its existence shall continue and to lease or make contacts with respect to the use or disposal of same, or any part thereof, in any manner deemed by the Commission to be in its best interest but only for the purposes for which it is created;
(h) To demolish, clear or remove buildings from any restorable area; such work or undertaking may embrace the adaptation of such area to pubic purposes, including parks or other recreational or community purposes; or to provide restored facilities for residential or commercial use; such work or undertaking may include buildings, land, equipment, and other real or personal property for necessary, convenient or desirable appurtenances, streets, sewers, water services, parks, site preparation, gardening, administrative, community, health, recreational, educational, welfare or other purposes; or to accomplish a combination of the foregoing. To plan buildings and improvements of a residential or commercial design, to acquire property, to demolish existing structures, to construct, reconstruct, alter and repair improvements and all other work in connection with providing restored facilities in the restorable area.
(i) To employ and dismiss at pleasure consulting engineers, architects, superintendents or managers, accountants, inspectors and attorneys and such other employees as may be deemed necessary and to prescribe their powers and duties and to fix their compensation;
(j) To acquire facilities suitable for the uses of the Commission, and to improve, operate and maintain restored facilities for the purposes herein stated, or to act as trustee for any such facilities or restored facilities under such terms and conditions as the owner may prescribe and the Commission shall deem acceptable.
(k) To enter into contracts with the City of Alexandria for the purpose of providing police and fire protection, water, sanitation an other public services deemed necessary or expedient and said municipality is authorized to enter into such contracts;
(l) To contract with any agency of the State or federal government and any firm or corporation or the city of Alexandria, upon such terms and conditions as the Commission finds to its best interest, with respect to the establishment, construction, operation, and financing of the restored facilities of the Commission;
(m) To make and enter into all contracts or agreements, with or without competitive bidding, as the Commission may determine necessary, expedient or incidental to the performance of its duties or the execution of its powers under this act;
(n) To engage in any lawful business or activity deemed by it necessary or useful in the full exercise of its powers to establish, finance, maintain, and operate the restored facilities contemplated by this act, including the renting or leasing for revenue of any property, whether real, personal or mixed and whether improved or not, directly related to carrying out the purposes for which the Commission is created;
(o) To fix and collect charges for admission to any of the restored facilities operated and maintained by the Commission under the provisions of this act and to adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations to govern the conduct of the visiting public;
(p) To borrow money for any of its authorized purposes and for expenses incidental thereto included expenses incurred;
(q) To expend money for research, study and planning to carry out the purposes of this act in providing restored facilities in the restoration area;
(r) To perform all lawful acts necessary, convenient and incident to effectuating its function and purpose. (1962, c. 481)