Danielle Worthing Porter’s love of buildings began as a child.
“As far back as I can remember I have always been interested in architecture,” says Porter, Historic Richmond’s director of preservation services.
The 39-year-old says that working for a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, revitalizing and honoring the city’s notable places has been a perfect fit for her.
“I love what I do,” she says. “Preservation encapsulates so much of what I love. It’s a little bit history, a little bit housing, a little bit art and architecture, a little bit economic development and a lot about people.”
Porter came to Richmond in 2011 after completing her master’s in historic preservation at Pratt Institute in New York City. Initially, the New Jersey native intended to move back to New York after completing her summer internship with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, but between falling in love with Richmond and meeting her future husband she decided to stay.
During that pivotal first summer, Porter also attended her first Quoit Club event. Hosted by Historic Richmond, the Quoit Club is a series of soirees where Richmonders enjoy food and drink while touring a historic space in the city. Porter was smitten and ended up joining the nonprofit’s junior board in 2013.
Two years later, Porter was hired as Historic Richmond’s preservation specialist; today, she serves as the nonprofit’s director of preservation services, focusing on preservation projects and advocacy efforts in the city.
Part of her work includes guiding Historic Richmond’s Façade Grant Pilot Program, an initiative that aims to support property owners in the city’s older districts. The program helps homeowners with repairs by providing matching grants up to $10,000 to assist with exterior and structural repair, restoration and rehabilitation. In 2017, Porter headed up the nonprofit’s part of the Gateway Corridor Revitalization Project which revitalized vacant, blighted and tax delinquent structures for housing. The effort was a partnership between Historic Richmond, the city, project: HOMES and the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust.
When she’s not helping to spruce up Richmond, Porter says she enjoys cooking and baking with her two kids, running marathons, strength training and learning needlepoint.
Of her nonprofit’s efforts, Porter says she wants the River City to retain its laid back charm.
“It’s a really unique city,” she says. “We just want to keep Richmond special.”
