08/14/2026
Water is one of the biggest threats to a building, and that includes flooding. Many historic properties are located in floodplains. Weather patterns, hurricanes, rising sea levels, eroding coastlines, king tides, and nuisance flooding can all pose a risk to historic resources. Development in these areas comes with strict requirements, and navigating those regulations while preserving the building's historic character can be challenging. We'd like to highlight three of our tax credit projects that have had to mitigate floodplain requirements in different localities:
Jackson Warehouse, Richmond, VA
To meet City requirements, flood vents were installed at the base of the building along the alley-side elevation. Several were fitted within existing infilled openings and painted to match the rest of the building.
Ridenhour, Salem, VA
To place residential units at the first-floor level, the floor needed to be raised above the floodplain. A new, raised platform was constructed over the existing in the residential area of the first floor, meeting the bottom of the window sills. Because the windows are now low to the floor, a safety glass rail has been installed within the window frames. Luckily, the first floor is really tall, so it could easily accommodate this requirement. The commercial space was allowed to maintain its existing floor height.
Fort Monroe - Building 27, Hampton, VA
The project team met early with DHR to address the challenge of the entire one-story building’s location within a floodplain. The enclosed section drawing by Ratio, PC, shows how a new platform is being constructed to raise bedrooms, kitchens, and public egress out of the floodplain. Non-historic dropped ceilings are being removed, revealing historic beadboard ceilings at a much greater height. The historic volume of the space is perceived in perimeter living spaces. We are grateful that DHR worked with us to find a viable solution to this challenging issue.
