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Solar Hill Revitalization Project | ||||
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Download a Walking Tour Map of Solar Hill showing the location of the historic markers and their narratives. In 1869 an astronomical observatory was located on a hill in Bristol to view the total solar eclipse of August, 1869 (NYT
Observation Arrangements, NYT
Baileys Beads, NYT Eclipse
Accounts). The area was named Solar Hill after this observatory (see map). Some
of Bristol's most colorful history occurred in the area, including stories involving
several men who later became U.S. presidents. Andrew
Johnson was injured in a stagecoach accident when a hornet flew into the coach, causing
passengers to flee and spooking the horses. The coach overturned near what are now King
and Sullins streets and left him with a scar he carried for the rest of his life. Presidents Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson In
1999 Bristol spent $10k to survey the area to see if it could qualify for National
Historic Register status. Preservation Planner Philip Thomason, who
conducted the survey, called it “one of the finest collections of historic
residential architecture in the region.” In
2001 Solar Hill became the first Bristol, Virginia neighborhood listed on both the
Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. We
have completed an Enhancement Program application for the Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT). The program funds pedestrian projects and gives special
consideration to projects that include a tourism element. The Solar Hill Revitalization Project will provide improvements that the city alone could not afford. It will improve the area by:
Our project should benefit Bristol by providing:
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According to a recent survey by Smithsonian Magazine and the Travel Industry Association of America, 81 percent of U.S. adults who traveled were historic/cultural travelers. The study also found that travelers spend more money on historic/cultural trips. Virginia was listed among the top 10 states visited by historic/cultural travelers. Bristol is located halfway between historic Abingdon and Jonesborough and should be able to attract tourists visiting those towns. The
Solar Hill Historic District is already the site of walking tours hosted by Bud Phillips
and Christmas historic homes tours to benefit the Tri-Cities Christian
Schools. In
recent decades, Bristol has lost many of its historic buildings, including:
Our
project would help ensure the preservation of Bristols oldest residential
neighborhood. Solar
Hill reached its peak in the early 1900s. Today it is one of the most economically diverse
neighborhoods in Bristol. Residents have invested heavily in Bristol
City Council has shown great insight in supporting the Train Station and Library projects,
and in finding ways to attract revenue to the city at locations such as Exit 7. Our
project would help attract revenue to our historic downtown area. The
Enhancement Program requires a 20% funding match. The total cost of the project is about
$441k. The city's 20% match will be about $88k, which will be quickly recovered by
property taxes from the Solar Hill area. The city would receive about $353k that it would
not otherwise have -- an over fourfold return on its investment. The project has been approved by the Bristol Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board and the Bristol City Council, which passed resolutions of support on February 24 and October 12, 2004. The grant application
was submitted to VDOT in March, 2004. VDOT awarded $165k toward the
project. The
application was resubmitted in November, 2004. VDOT awarded
the remaining $188k required to complete the project. The City of Bristol will provide a 20% match of
$88k, making $441k available for
the project.
Postscript: the City delayed the project until 2009, during which time construction costs rose, and also underestimated project cost. Ultimately the City provided over $100 thousand to complete the $600k+ project. |
NEWS Walking Tour Map Download a Walking Tour Map of Solar Hill showing the location of the historic markers and their narratives. Project Progress Post lights go up in Solar Hill and the Solar Hill monument and historic markers arrive for installation. Other News
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