VIRGINIA BEACH — The National Park Service recently approved the Cavalier Shores Historic District for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
The nomination was initiated by the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission, and compiled and submitted by Robert Taylor of Dutton + Associates. The National Register designation is honorary and sets no restrictions on property owners. The Cavalier Shores Historic District was previously listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register in December 2018, commission officials said.
Cavalier Shores encompasses approximately seven blocks north of the Cavalier Hotel between Cavalier Drive and 42nd Street 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. An original brick promenade, called “Myrtle Walk,” extends through the neighborhood from the hotel to 45th Street, according to a news release from the city.
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 20th 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. Of the 192 buildings in the neighborhood, 135 are considered to be contributing resources to the historic district designation, officials said.
