Archive for category: Blog

Working with an architect or designer is a personal experience. At Frazier Associates, we enjoy getting to know our clients and greatly value the relationships we build.  It is that relationship and understanding that creates the best possible product in any design situation.  In this Getting to Know Us blog series we offer you an opportunity to learn a little more about us!

Sandra Hanger, Graphic Designer

Sandy works closely with communities and clients as project manager and senior graphic designer to create wayfinding sign systems for Frazier Associates. Her responsibilities include not only design, but also facilitation of client and stakeholder meetings in the early stages of a project when its image, program, and mapping are being developed. In addition to creating many local community wayfinding projects, she designed Virginia’s first regional wayfinding program for the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County – a fast track ground-breaking project developed for the Jamestown 2007 celebration.

Sandy is currently involved in the design and implementation of several sign system projects, including Huntsville, Alabama, the Alleghany Highlands region of Virginia, and Hickory, North Carolina. She is a technical resource for the firm’s Main Street Program work, and assists with gateway designs and community identity/branding charrettes.

As a valuable member of the Frazier Associates team, she also develops presentation graphics for design guidelines publications, as well as illustrations, photosimulations, and mapping as needed for urban design and corridor renewal projects. Sandy has been with Frazier Associates since 1999.  View some of Sandy’s work on the various pages of our Wayfinding section: https://frazierassociates.com/services/wayfinding/

Describe your most interesting experience when doing research for a project:

Being escorted by geese while doing field work in a downtown park!

If you could provide graphic design assistance on any type of building that you haven’t yet worked on, what would it be?

a casino or resort

What interesting place have you recently visited that you would recommend others to see?

the Napoleon House restaurant in New Orleans, built in 1791- great historic building and great food!

When I’m not at the office, you can find me:

in the garden or in the kitchen!

Working with an architect is a personal experience. At Frazier Associates, we enjoy getting to know our clients and greatly value the relationships we build.  It is that relationship and understanding that creates the best possible product in any design situation.  In this Getting to Know Us blog series we offer you an opportunity to learn a little more about us!

Susan Lancaster, Architectural Designer

Susan has a depth of experience in all aspects of architectural projects, including design, project management, and production of construction documents. Although cross-trained in a variety of project types, she has developed a specialty in historic architecture and facade improvement especially as it relates to revitalization of historic districts, downtown commercial districts and commercial corridors. Susan serves as Program Manager for the firm’s Virginia Main Street work, and creates facade designs for those projects as well as assisting with facade improvements and related downtown planning for other firm projects across the state. Susan utilizes Google SketchUp software to create 3-D models which enhance the graphics and visualization of rehabilitation and revitalization projects both commercial and residential. This tool is additionally helpful in showing clients massing for additions and feasibility studies. In addition, her graphics experience is featured in computer renderings for our design guidelines projects. Susan has been with Frazier Associates since 1999. Check out some of Susan’s work in the Downtown Design section of our website https://frazierassociates.com/services/downtown-design/

Describe your most interesting experience when investigating/measuring a building!

Envision a teenaged horror film set: Local law enforcement had recently held training sessions for crime scene investigations in this very building. The third floor had chalk outlines of bodies and photo labels for their CSI-hopefuls! And then there was the head in the basement…

If you could design any type of building that you haven’t designed yet, what would it be?

A new theater or auditorium. I’ve made computer models of existing theaters and what they may have looked like in the past as well as façade improvements. But a new one, especially an infill project in a historic downtown, would be rewarding.

What interesting place have you recently visited that you would recommend others to see?

Alaska… Alaska… Alaska!

When I’m not at the office, you can find me:

Driving kids and attending their athletic events & activities. Teaching water aerobics. Helping maintain the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 0 to 60. Dreaming of where to take another trip-of-a-lifetime, like Alaska.

The Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences met recently to review reforms of various tax credits offered by the state, one of which is the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HRTC). Kathy Frazier, along with representatives from the Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Preservation Virginia, and the Associated General Contractors of Virginia, addressed the Subcommittee to reinforce the valuable role the HRTC program has played in revitalization of historic buildings and communities across the state.  Statewide, city planners, developers and downtown representatives are chiming in to add their support for retaining the tax credits.  Articles can be found at:

http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_6189b9e2-6612-5e95-893f-3aeeb11c3a92.html

http://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/roanoke-leaders-historic-tax-credits-under-scrutiny-benefit-city/article_b98eaa7e-ccbe-5e82-bcb1-3b73491242c2.html

http://www.nbc29.com/story/32867532/virginia-lawmakers-meet-to-discuss-historic-tax-credits#.V8bTj0Lssi8.facebook

Created in 1996, Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program is one of the most effective incentives for preservation and revitalization of the state’s vast stock of historic structures. According to a study by Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013, over $3.9 billion has been invested through the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program since 1996 resulting in the rehab of over 2,375 historic buildings throughout Virginia. The projects stimulated the economy in general, creating an estimated 31,000 jobs and generating $133 million in local and state tax revenue. State tax credits amount to 25 percent of total rehabilitation costs. When combined with the 20 percent Federal tax credit, this incentive makes many projects more financially feasible for property owners throughout Virginia. https://preservationvirginia.org/press-room/release/vcu-study-finds-historic-preservation-contributes-to-virginias-economy-by-u

Frazier Associates has been assisting property owners with design and application for historic tax credit projects since the program’s inception.  The firm has witnessed the benefits of this valuable tool for historic preservation of both commercial and residential properties in communities large and small across the Commonwealth. Staunton and Harrisonburg have particularly benefited with visionary developers investing millions in downtown buildings. Examples of some of these projects can be found on our website at https://frazierassociates.com/services/architecture/historic-rehabilitation-historic-tax-credits/

Learn More about the Tax Credits

Kathy Frazier recently presented a webinar to the Virginia Main Street community, “Credits Where Credits Are Due: Bringing Historic Tax Credits to Main Street” which explained how use of the tax credits can not only enhance the appearance of Main Street but can encourage further economic development in Virginia’s downtowns.  Key points of the presentation included:

• How credits can be used to attract and incentivize downtown investment
• How to navigate the state and federal historic tax credit process
• A breakdown of the design guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
• Highlights of successful downtown tax credit projects in Virginia Main Street communities.

To see the webinar, click here:  2016 Tax Credit Webinar

Support Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits!

The AIA Virginia is a strong supporter of Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, noting “not only does the HRTC have a proven track record for stimulating economic growth through private investment, it helps to preserve Virginia’s cultural heritage for future generations”. The AIA, along with a coalition of twelve other organizations, are working to educate legislators on the benefits of the program in an effort to keep the credits in place. To find out more about this effort go to: https://www.aiava.org/advocacy_news/historic-rehabilitation-tax-credit-threatened/

Contact Frazier Associates for more information about the state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, and to see if your building might qualify.

Created in 1996, Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HRTC) program is one of the most effective incentives for preservation and revitalization of the state’s vast stock of historic structures. According to a study by Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013, over $3.9 billion has been invested through the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program since 1996 resulting in the rehab of over 2,375 historic buildings throughout Virginia. The projects stimulated the economy in general, creating an estimated 31,000 jobs and generating $133 million in local and state tax revenue. State tax credits amount to 25 percent of total rehabilitation costs. When combined with the 20 percent Federal tax credit, this incentive makes many projects more financially feasible for property owners throughout Virginia. https://preservationvirginia.org/press-room/release/vcu-study-finds-historic-preservation-contributes-to-virginias-economy-by-u

Frazier Associates has been assisting property owners with design and application for historic tax credit projects since the program’s inception.  The firm has witnessed the benefits of this valuable tool for historic preservation of both commercial and residential properties in communities large and small across the Commonwealth. Examples of some of these projects can be found on our website at https://frazierassociates.com/services/architecture/historic-rehabilitation-historic-tax-credits/

Learn More about the Tax Credits

Kathy Frazier recently presented a webinar to the Virginia Main Street community, “Credits Where Credits Are Due: Bringing Historic Tax Credits to Main Street” which explained how use of the tax credits can not only enhance the appearance of Main Street but can encourage further economic development in Virginia’s downtowns.  Key points of the presentation included:

• How credits can be used to attract and incentivize downtown investment
• How to navigate the state and federal historic tax credit process
• A breakdown of the design guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
• Highlights of successful downtown tax credit projects in Virginia Main Street communities.

To see the webinar, click here:  2016 Tax Credit Webinar

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Under Review

The AIA Virginia is a strong supporter of Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, noting “not only does the HRTC have a proven track record for stimulating economic growth through private investment, it helps to preserve Virginia’s cultural heritage for future generations”. This important incentive is currently under review by the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences. The AIA, along with a coalition of twelve other organizations, are working to educate legislators on the benefits of the program in an effort to keep the credits in place. To find out more about this effort go to: https://www.aiava.org/advocacy_news/historic-rehabilitation-tax-credit-threatened/

Contact Frazier Associates for more information about the state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, and to see if your building might qualify.