VIRGINIA BEACH — The Virginia Department of Historic Resources recently approved the Cavalier Shores Historic District for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register.
The nomination was initiated by the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission, and compiled and submitted by Robert Taylor of Dutton + Associates, according to a news release from the city.
The state register designation is honorary and sets no restrictions on property owners. The nomination will now be forwarded to the National Park Service for consideration for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Cavalier Shores encompasses approximately seven blocks north of the Cavalier Hotel between Cavalier Drive/42ndStreet and the south side of 45th Street and between the Oceanfront and Holly Road.
The neighborhood was platted in 1927 by Cavalier Shores, Inc., a subsidiary of the adjacent Cavalier Hotel, according to the city. An original brick promenade, called “Myrtle Walk,” extends through the neighborhood from the hotel to 45th Street.
The most prevalent architectural style in the district is Colonial Revival. Tudor Revival and Minimal Traditional style designs are also present in the neighborhood.
The district includes one example of the Mediterranean Revival style. The neighborhood also features alleyways that run east to west between the primary streets. Garages, many with small apartments, and guest cottages are accessed from these alleys.
“Cavalier Shores is an excellent example of coastal suburban development during the first half of the twentieth century,” said Mark Reed, the city’s historic preservation planner.
The period of significance for the Cavalier Shores Historic District is 1927 to 1968, which is when most of the residential properties were constructed, according to the city. Of the 192 buildings in the neighborhood, 135 are considered to be contributing resources to the historic district designation.
