The Southside Preservation & Enhancement Alliance, Inc. Winter 2026 Newsletter

Board Update - By Dr. Richard G. Jones, Jr., Board Member

Over the past four months, The Southside Alliance has been steadily advancing the priorities outlined in our strategic plan: strengthening our neighborhood, expanding membership, and laying the foundation for longterm revitalization. From zoning advocacy to gateway signage, and from community outreach to identifying grant opportunities, the board has kept a full and productive schedule.

The August meeting set the tone for this period of activity, with the Board focusing on zoning compliance, neighborhood cleanups, and better communication with key stakeholders.

A Note from the Executive Director, Brittany Trippett

As we move into a new year, The Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance remains focused on
one simple goal, helping Huntington’s Southside continue to be a place that feels welcoming, cared for,
and full of life. Known simply as The Alliance, our work brings together residents, businesses, and partners
who love this neighborhood and want to see it thrive.

What makes The Alliance special is that our work is both practical and long term. We support projects that
preserve the character of Southside while encouraging thoughtful improvement. This includes advocating
for gateway signage, bridge aesthetics, historic preservation, neighborhood beautification, safety initiatives,
and solutions that address the impacts of flooding along Fourpole Creek. Each effort is rooted in pride for
where we live and optimism for what Southside can become.

Membership is central to this momentum. Every new member strengthens our voice. When The Alliance
speaks on behalf of Southside, the size of our membership matters. It shows that our neighborhood is
united, engaged, and serious about its future. Membership support also sustains the organization so we
can continue planning, applying for grants, and turning ideas into visible results.

This year, we are expanding outreach and building new partnerships to support homeowners, improve neighborhood connections, and create more opportunities for residents to get involved. Whether you have lived here for decades, are new to the area, or are a former resident who still carries a love for this place, there is a role for you in this work.

If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join us. If you are already a member, thank you for your continued support and belief in Southside. Together, we are preserving the past, enhancing the present, and building a strong future for everyone who calls Southside home.

To learn more, contact Brittany Trippett at info@thesouthsidealliance.com.

Leadership West Virginia Class of 2026

The Alliance is proud to share that Executive Director Brittany Trippett has been selected for the Leadership West Virginia Class of 2026.

Leadership West Virginia brings together leaders from across the state who have demonstrated a strong commitment to service, collaboration, and building a stronger future for West Virginia. Brittany’s selection reflects her dedication to community focused work and her leadership within The Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance.

We are proud to support Brittany as she represents The Alliance and the Southside alongside this distinguished group of leaders. The experience and connections gained through this program will help strengthen our work and partnerships here at home.

Congratulations to the entire Leadership West Virginia Class of 2026.

The Alliance Hosts a Preservation Tax Credits and Grants Review

The Southside Alliance hosted the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office’s SHPO Southside-focused Historic Preservation workshop at the Missio Dei Church on the evening of November 20th. The event was coordinated by Christina Bailey, chair of The Alliance’s Historic Preservation Committee and Brittany Trippett, Executive Director.

SHPO’s Tax Credit Coordinator and Acting Director, Meredith Dreistadt, along with Cody Straley, West Virginia’s Coordinator for the National Register of Historic Places, provided an informative and lively presentation for the well-attended event.

The major focus was the package of state and federal tax credits and grant funding that is available to help reduce the costs of planning for and the completion of restorations of National Register listed residences and commercial structures.

West Virginia offers a 20% state income tax credit for the rehabilitation costs of owner-occupied, residential, certified historic structures. The program requires that the end result meet The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which thoughtful restorations naturally do, and that related costs exceed 20% of the building’s assessed value.

To qualify for the tax credits, buildings must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as part of a Historic District. Interestingly, three of Huntington’s six National Register Historic Districts are in our Southside. Meanwhile, SHPO’s staff is quite hopeful that Southside and Southside Hills home owners will seek to add more Historic Districts. They added that many sections of the Southside and Southside Hills can readily meet the qualifications that are required.

In addition to West Virginia’s tax credit program, a Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of commercial historic buildings. This federal program is regarded as one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective community revitalization programs, having leveraged $127.12 billion in private investment to preserve more than 50,000 historic properties since 1976. The National Park Service administers the commercial structures program in partnership with the 50 SHPO offices nationwide. 

West Virginia’s historic preservation tax credit can be combined with the federal rehabilitation tax credit for qualifying income-producing properties. By combining the 20% federal tax credit with the 25% state tax credit, owners can achieve a total of 45% in tax credits.

Attendees also learned that The National Register of Historic Places is the federal record of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts deemed worthy of preservation for their historic significance. Listing does not restrict the use of structures, but rather identifies them worthy of preservation and documents their histories and architecture.  Doing so saves their information for posterity and opens the funding opportunities should an owner wish to take advantage of them. 

SHPO indicated at the meeting’s close that it will be delighted to work with Southside residents to evaluate the possibilities for available assistance for National Register listed or eligible properties. In Huntington, 70% of the planning and listing cost could be paid for by the state for qualified grantees.  

Interested parties can contact Meredith Dreistadt or Cody Straley at the SHPO office in Charleston, 304-558-0240. 

Support The Alliance

Your membership helps move Southside forward.

The Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance works to bring residents, businesses, and partners together to preserve the character of Southside while supporting thoughtful improvement. Through education, advocacy, and neighborhood focused initiatives, The Alliance helps ensure Southside remains a place people are proud to call home.

Membership support allows us to

• Host educational workshops and neighborhood programs
• Support preservation, beautification, and gateway initiatives
• Advocate for thoughtful development and community investment

As we move further into 2026, a strong and growing membership is more important than ever. When The Alliance speaks on behalf of Southside, the size of our membership demonstrates community commitment and strengthens our voice.

What strengthens Southside strengthens Huntington as a whole. The work we do here contributes to a healthier, more connected, and more vibrant community for residents across the city.

If you believe in the future and character of Southside, we invite you to support this work. Whether you are joining for the first time, renewing your membership, or making an additional contribution, your involvement directly supports projects that help the Southside and the broader Huntington community thrive.

Pay Membership Dues or Make a Donation
We have made it easy to support The Alliance in the way that works best for you.
To pay your membership dues or make a donation online, click the “Pay Dues” button below.

If you prefer to contribute by check, please make checks payable to:

The Southside Preservation and Enhancement Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 1454
Huntington, WV 25716

Thank you for supporting the work of The Alliance and investing in the future of Southside and our community.