Comments on: Free-For-All Friday 7/13/12

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:02:21 +0000

One suggestion would be to get clear about the objective of the preservation ordinances — to preserve the historic nature of individual properties, or to preserve the nature of a district made that contains several properties — and then write and interpret accordingly. The Hardi-plank issue is an excellent example of where we seem to get bogged down between those two things. If the aim is to preserve the historic integrity of a “district” — however it is bounded and defined in a particular instance — then it seems that Hardi-plank should be permissible on any house within that district or on none. If the goal is to preserve historic integrity of individual properties, then it could make sense to have different determinations. But then we aren’t talking about a historic district, we’re talking about individual historic properties.

By: J_T

J_T — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:25:41 +0000

Damn. A few days too late:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/17/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a-president-anti-gay_n_1680984.html

By: Diane Loupe

Diane Loupe — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:29:20 +0000

Barb, I’ve got a great handyman for ya. Ben Brackner, bwbrackner@yahoo.com.

By: TeeRuss

TeeRuss — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:04:29 +0000

I’m not sure if the problem is the ordinance and the commission. All I know is that the results indicate a problem.

This particular case highlighted the fact that there appears to be some kind of interpretation that gives more leeway to new construction on empty lots vs. restoration or expansion of existing houses. The commission/staff flat out said that this was the reason they were going easy on 329 S. McDonough. This interpretation can also be found on new homes being allowed to be built with hardiplank siding, while a request to take off non-conforming aluminum siding for an existing house comes with conditions that the original wood siding underneath be kept. I was told “you can tell the difference between real wood and hardiplank”. OK, so why do I have to have real wood and new builds can have hardiplank?

By: Deanne

Deanne — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:28:01 +0000

I had never noticed it either! Are you saying it’s been there since the site revamp?!

By: Deanne

Deanne — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:21:11 +0000

Peripatetian- THANKS!!! :0)

By: Deanne

Deanne — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:19:58 +0000

(This has the potential to become the skinniest comments thread in the history of blogs… :0)

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:16:56 +0000

OK. Any suggestions?