Nominations to the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia's 2010 Endangered Properties List are being accepted through Dec. 1.

Properties named to the list will receive services supporting preservation and rehabilitation as part of PAWV's Endangered Properties Program. Services will include on-site assistance such as help with needs assessment, redevelopment and sustainability plans as well as identifying funding sources and assisting with grant writing for preservation projects.

Lynn Stasick hopes to make a difference in West Virginia as PAWV's first full-time field representative. "The quality and abundance of the state's historic resources is outstanding and so many properties are worthy of preservation, both from a historic and economic perspective," said Stasick. "Moreover, there is a fast and growing body of people interested in preserving their community resources."

Stasick's position with PAWV is funded in part by a $75,000 National Trust for Historic Preservation Partners in the Field challenge grant. The NTHP funds are matched dollar for dollar by PAWV donors who have pledged their support to the field services program. Preservation Alliance hopes to continue the program beyond the three-year grant period.

Endangered lists are collections of at-risk historic properties in a given region compiled primarily to bring attention to the plight of the properties and organizations involved in their preservation. Properties are usually determined endangered by a number of criteria that might include historic significance, geographic location, preservation emergency and resources available to resolve the endangerment.

Endangered lists have been used by preservation organizations for many years to help draw attention to diminishing historic resources. An endangered list is an effective way to help focus the attention of an organization on the most pressing issues or significant resources in a community or region, particularly when an organization is responsible for a large geographic area.

There are many circumstances that can lead to the endangerment of a historic property. Neglect is most often the culprit. In West Virginia, shifting economic forces push jobs and people to other locations, leaving communities or property owners without the financial resources to maintain properties.

Conversely, growth and development can also prey upon historic resources. Likewise, changes or variances to zoning and planning ordinances can also put heritage at risk, allowing changes that can compromise the integrity of a building or historic district.

Properties named to the 2009 list included Hinton's McCreery Hotel, Capitol Theatre of Wheeling, First Ward School of Elkins, Wyco Church near Mullens, Tyler County Home, Glenville Bridge and the Waldo Hotel of Clarksburg.

A limited number of properties will be accepted to the 2010 list and nominations are expected to be competitive. To be considered, properties must be listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and meet other criteria such as historic significance, geographic location, preservation emergency and resources available to resolve the endangerment.

The nomination form for PAWV's 2010 Endangered Properties List can be found at www.pawv.org/endanger or may be requested by phone from the PAWV office by calling 304-345-6005. The list will be announced in January 2010.

Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, founded in 1981, is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation, heritage development, related education and advocacy.