The City of Valdosta is accepting nominations for the 6th annual Valdosta Preservation Awards, which recognizes 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 five categories:

1. Outstanding Achievement Award:  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).

2. Distinguished Merit Award:  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.

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

4. Excellence in Compatible New Construction Award: This award recognizes excellence in the design of new construction that complements and reflects the architectural character of the Valdosta Historic District.

5. Harold M. Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award: This exceptional award recognizes a person from our community who has dedicated many years of his or her life to historic preservation and impacted preservation efforts in the City of Valdosta. This person has had significant and sustained accomplishments related to the preservation of our community’s architectural and cultural heritage, which may include: the restoration of historic buildings; the designation of historic properties; leadership or significant contribution to a community-based preservation organization; a sustained record of leadership of, or contributions to, historic preservation; or a significant accomplishment that advances the preservation ethic within our community.

Buildings nominated for the Outstanding Achievement Award and Distinguished Merit Award categories must be at least 50 years old and located in the Valdosta Historic District. 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. 

Award nominees and winners will be notified the first week of May 2014. The Valdosta Preservation Awards will be presented at the May 22 City Council meeting, during National Historic Preservation Month.