University of Virginia Library

Organizations Ask City Council
To Save Historic Opera House

By RICHARD JONES

Levy Opera House Faces Conversion To Restaurant

Citizens Attempt To Preserve and Restore 19th Century Structure

Pleas to preserve and restore the 19th
century Levy Opera House in the Court
Square area of Charlottesville were heard
Monday by City Council.

The opera house in the heart of the
city is being used as an apartment
building. Owner Harvey B. Nichol has
asked council to rezone the property B-1
so that he could convert the first floor
into a restaurant and the second and third
floors into offices.

Prompted by Mr. Nichol's plans,
several protests arose from organizations
interested in restoring the opera house to
its former use.

Frederick Hartt, chairman of the
University's art department, said that the
opera house is one of the few 19th
century buildings still standing in
Charlottesville. He also suggested that the
building could be restored on the outside
to its original appearance. He termed the
three-story structure an "extremely
handsome antebellum structure.'

"Historical Image"

"It is extremely important to the
whole picture of Court Square," Mr. Hart
commented. He added that there are still
enough buildings in the downtown area
to preserve a historical image. He also
pointed out that could be useful as a
theatre and concert hall for amateur,
visiting, high school, and college groups.

The City Council also heard objections
from delegates of the Landmark
Committee for the Citizens of Albemarle,
the area chapter of the United Daughters
of the Confederacy, and the Lane High
School Players Club.

January Hearing

The Council referred the zoning
request to the city planning commission.
According to Mr. Nichol, the request will
be brought before the Joint City and
Planning Commission in January.

Commenting on the building's history,
Mr. Nichol said that the structure was
built in 1851, served as the town hall, and
later served as an opera house. He added
that the present outside structure is very
similar to the original but that Mr. Hartt
admitted that facts on the original design
were rather scarce. Mr. Nichol also
affirmed that he would probably
refurbish the outside of the structure.