Scott points to a blurb in the print version of the AJC, but not yet online.

Decatur is one of 10 Georgia cities receiving federal money for historic preservation projects.

The city will receive $10,000 from the Historic Preservation Fund to do a condition assessment report and preservation plan for the Beacon Hill complex.

The complex on West Trinity housed pre-integration elementary and high schools for the city’s African-American students.  It has served as the city’s police department since the early 1980s.

The city has considered for years how to renovate the existing building for modern use, while retaining the historic character.

Looking back on it, few should be surprised that preservation efforts, both historic and environmental, were so aggressive prior to 2008.  The construction industry, which single-handedly does more to alter the natural and urban landscape than any other entity, was building at an artificially fast pace, boosted by demand that really wasn’t there.

So it should also be no surprise that in a post-boom era, conservation groups are making up for lost time, buying up land for a fraction of the price it once demanded.

From the New York Times…

The victories [for conservation groups] reveal a green lining of sorts in a credit crisis that has depressed real estate prices, spawned foreclosures and derailed development projects across the nation.

The purchases by conservationists and state and local governments assure that thousands of acres will be put aside in perpetuity for parks, watershed protection or simply preservation of open space.

“We are getting a second bite at properties that never should have been developed in the first place,” said Will Rogers, president of the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit group that buys land for preservation. “We are working on dozens of these deals across the country, and I know other land trusts are as well.”

At last night’s city commission meeting, the commission accepted a detailed Historic Resources Survey of Decatur (page 15 of pdf), compiled by Keystone Preservation Associates and Morrison Design, LLC.

At a cost of $35,000, the months-long survey, which documented every single parcel within the city limits, was one of the outcomes of the ugly clash between residents, city boards, cats and dogs over a proposed Oakhurst Historic District in 2007.  Among the many aspects of the initiative that confused and angered all parties was a lack of information on historic inventory within the neighborhood.

So the city ponied up the dough and funded an extensive survey that documented the entire city.  According to a letter to the commission by Planning Director Amanda Thompson…

This report will help the city move forward with several long term preservation goals including awareness and appreciation of Decatur’s historic resources by making the survey results available online and determining a timeline and cost proposal for creation of National Register listings.  We will also use the report to explore the world of heritage tourism and if that is a market the city is interested in pursuing.

Missing from the city’s stated goals is any mention of the creation of any additional local historic districts, which is the only way to physically regulate design in a neighborhood. (National Register status mainly provides tax incentives to residents to rehab property and creates red-tape for federal government-funded development)

That said, a portion of the survey was included among last night’s meeting materials and identifies 13 neighborhoods inside the city limits that would be eligible for some form of historic designation.  They are… Read the rest of this entry »

Well it sure didn’t take Atlanta long to begin its slow turn away from preservation in an economic downturn.

“A dozen people, among them preservation leaders and residents of historic districts, appealed to the City Council’s Community Development/Human Resources committee Tuesday to rehire Karen Huebner, executive director of the city’s Urban Design Commission.

Huebner was one of the 222 city employees laid off recently as the city sought to offset a $50 million budget shortfall.”

Here’s the money quote…

“A weakened UDC bodes badly for historic preservation in the city,” said Kevin Kuharic, historic Oakland Cemetery’s director of restoration and landscapes.

“In other cities like Savannah where preservation is a way of life, it wouldn’t matter as much,” he says.

“Atlanta needs that layer of protection and guidance. We can look to the past and see what happened without it.”

Just got the schedule for this Saturday’s 1st Annual Decatur Old House Fair!

Looks like Regina’s lined up some really great speakers…and its only $10 if you buy tickets in advance (list of merchants here), and $15 at the door.  The full schedule is online, but here’s a taste…

• A historic window restoration workshop
• A sensitive additions seminar from an architect and preservationist from re-FORM
• A “Research Your House” seminar with GA resident expert Ken Thomas (who also happens to be a Decatur resident!)
• A “What Style is Your House?” seminar
• A seminar on “greening your old house”
• A seminar on historic landscapes
• A “How to Hire a Contractor” seminar by Renewal’s CEO
• A “Remodeling for Sustainable Living” seminar

I’m obviously a nut for this sort of thing so I’d say any ONE of these seminars is worth the price of admission.

Over at The Decatur Minute, Regina also promises free goodies from vendors…and free coffee.

Again, it’s 10a-5p this Saturday at the Holiday Inn Conference Center/Plaza/Whatever.  If I’ve missed anything, any and all details can be found HERE.