Comments on: Decatur’s Historic Resources Survey Indentifies 13 Potential Historic Districts

By: JohnnyEgo

JohnnyEgo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:36 +0000

The upside is protection against the egregious things a minority of property owners (who may or may not be residents) might choose to do with their property. In the case of the Clairemont district, it prevented the construction of the Cliff Valley School in the middle of a residential district. The residents have a strong voice in writing the local guidelines, and the fact is that most new suburban developments have much stronger restrictive covenants than anything likely to be contemplated in a historic district designation. (Of course, that may be why we don’t live out in cul-de-sac-land) Clearly a choice between collective values and strictly construed property rights, but in a place as densely populated as our little slice of heaven, collective values become pretty important. My $0.02 worth.

By: George

George — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:23:23 +0000

@hack – Maybe a little strong to make this point:
I once met a man who was born in my Oakhurst cottage in 1925. He grew up in that house, and couldn’t believe it was still standing. They lived there because they had to – they didn’t improve or expand it because they couldn’t afford to. There was no sentimentality about the thin, uninsulated walls, the boiling hot attic (where he slept), or the drafty, leaky roof. His family built it – but even they didn’t like it.

By: George

George — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:15:03 +0000

Amanda,
My sincere apologies – I was referencing the (apparently serious) claims by certain proponents of the recent Oakhurst LHD plan claiming that LHD would be a tourist draw along the lines of historic Charleston. I don’t mean to impugn legitimate historic/civic tourism, which I think is “neat.”

Parks, public places, historically significant civic structures and the like are surely areas for discussion.

But there are two things I took away after reading the survey overview.
1) listed as potential survey user/uses — preservation groups and n’hood orgs for the purpose of historic preservation
2) the majority of areas targeted for historic designation (local or national) are residential (!) rather than civic or institutional.

Whether intentional or not, this study could potentially be used as base for small minorities or special interest groups to advance unwanted LHD.

You’re right these discussion can be contentious – so I’d love to hear the city express neutrality and say that this is in no way an endorsement of LHD in Decatur.

By: hack

hack — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:49:24 +0000

Ramshackle cottages? Oakhurst ain’t exactly Vine City or the Bluff.

By: Amanda Thompson

Amanda Thompson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:57 +0000

The Historic Resources Survey and the maps will be posted online within the next two weeks. The list of eligible neighborhoods refers to listing on the National Register of Historic Places, which means that at least 50% of the survey area contains historic (contributing) properties.

George – As far as the heritage tourism comment, heritage tourism is heavily promoted by the state and people actually travel around to historic courthouses, cemetery’s etc. The city recently established a Tourism Board and we are sharing the results of the survey to tie into their work.

In terms of next steps, city staff and the Historic Preservation Commission will be preparing a timeline and cost estimate for creating the National Register listings recommended in the survey to present to the City Commission for consideration. The National Register is an honorary listing that provides tax incentives to property owners who wish to rehabilitate their property according to preservation standards. It does not regulate property owners in any way, shape or form. It does provide a process to limit the impact of or prevent cell phone towers and road widening.

If you have any questions Regina Brewer, our preservation planner or I will be happy to answer them. All city emails are first name.last name@decaturga.com

Historic preservation topics can become very contentious and we want to do our best to maintain a civil, fact based dialogue that builds community.

Amanda Thompson
Planning Director