Staunton Neighborhoods: a Town within a Town

SELMA

WEST END

BASIC WITZ

UNIONTOWN

PLUNKETTVILLE

SEARS HILL

SUNNYSIDE

NEWTOWN

Staunton Neighborhoods

HSF Brown Bag 2015-2016

Staunton Neighborhoods: a Town within a Townwhere are they, what anchors them, how can we support their presence into the future

Exploring ways to re-emphasize existing neighborhoods and

support their growth as thriving districts within the City.

Built within the ridge and valley topography typical of the Shenandoah

Valley, the City of Staunton has been shaped over time by land form,

availability of natural resources, economic demands, and social dynamics.

The geographic growth of the City is expressed in cycles of annexation,

beginning in the 1700’s, continuing on through the 1800’s, into 1905, 1935,

1948, 1956, with the most recent,

large expansion to the City limits occurring in 1986.

These annexations included the absorption of previously independent

communities including ca. 1930’s Plunkettville to the west of central

Staunton and the post-Civil War historic African American community of

Uniontown to the east; both annexed in 1948.

Locations of Plunkettville and Uniontown as shown in an excerpt from Jed

Hotchkiss, T.E. Map of Beverley Manor Magisterial District, Augusta

County, 1884.

Heavily influencing Staunton’s evolution was the establishment of a new zoning

ordinance in the 1960’s, resulting in broadening codification of land use districts.

Staunton’s new land use policies, like many zoning ordinances and land use districts of

that time period, were designed and configured primarily to support the car oriented

development of subdivisions and strip malls - whether or not the existing conditions

reflected that type of neighborhood patterning.

Plunkettville

The location of Plunkettville within the context of Staunton’s current zoning districts and

neighborhood patterning visible in Staunton aerial view.

Buildings forming the commercial center of Plunkettville

and houses typical of the adjacent neighborhood.

Uniontown

The location of Uniontown within the context of Staunton’s current zoning districts and

neighborhood patterning still visible in Staunton aerial view.

Existing buildings in Uniontown. Uniontown is included in the

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

African American Historic Sites Data Base .

Existing Supports: Entrance Corridor Overlay District, protecting character

Exceptions to off-street parking requirements for existing commercial buildings on space

restricted or steep parcels City wide; exceptions for the required placement of a new

residence on a small (don’t meet minimum area and/or width requirements) lot to reflect

near-by conditions.

Existing Supports: ordinances encouraging the use of existing

residences and commercial buildings

Existing Supports: zoning encouraging the continued use of residences as residences

Staunton’s Neighborhoods: a town within a town: exploring ways to re-emphasize existing neighborhoods and

support their growth as thriving districts within the City.

SELMA

WEST END

BASIC WITZ

UNIONTOWN

PLUNKETTVILLE

SEARS HILL

SUNNYSIDE

NEWTOWN

Staunton Neighborhoods

HSF Brown Bag 2015-2016