The City of Virginia Beach, a recurring client, hired CPG to complete an architectural survey and National Register Nomination for the community of Seatack. The goal of this project was to tell the story of Seatack, an African American residential community in Virginia Beach, and create a historic district. The City of Virginia Beach wanted to document the history of the area as it gradually transformed from large farms to small residential parcels owned by local families during the nineteenth century.
Project Design
CPG developed an approach that documented the tangible resources through a traditional architectural survey as well as the intangible resources found in oral histories and local stories. Recording the various types of historic information and resources helped to tell a fuller story of this remarkable community. The project team was also responsive to the needs of the community and added a phase to the project to incorporate geographic areas that were historically a part of Seatack. The team's experience with public engagement and Black history was essential in connecting with the Seatack community and developing a project that could recognize all components of the community's history.
Challenges & Accomplishments
The community was initially dissatisfied with Seatack being reduced to the main core area as this seemingly overlooked other geographic regions that were culturally significant. CPG used a total of five discontiguous areas to include the historic roads that comprise this community, and included as much of the historic built environment as possible. Since discontiguous districts are rare and require more extensive evidence, CPG developed an effective case using historic research and oral histories to connect the five areas to the main core area. This project led to the listing of the Seatack community on the National Register of Historic Places in May 2024. By the end of the project, many members of the community expressed excitement and gratitude for the project, and it was highlighted in the news.
