Residents of some of the city’s historic neighborhoods are concerned about an item slated to come up at this afternoon’s Metro Council meeting having to do with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Councilwoman Tara Wicker is proposing to create a Historic Preservation Ordinance Committee to study the HPC and the portion of the ordinance that gives it authority to cite owners of dilapidated properties with “demolition by neglect.” But some residents of Spanish Town, Beauregard Town and Drehr Place say the committee is unnecessary, and fear such a move could ultimately undermine the HPC’s already-limited authority over the city’s historic districts.
Representatives from several neighborhoods met Tuesday to discuss the issue. Rev. Howard Hall, a Spanish Town resident, issued a statement saying, “Residents fear … the Wicker Committee could be a forum for … weakening our current historic preservation ordinance because of the committee’s broad mandate to ‘review the current Historical Preservation Ordinance.’”
Hall noted the HPC has already formed its own subcommittee to review the ordinance and suggest ways to clarify some of the definitions and confusing language in it, especially as it relates to appealing a demolition-by-neglect citation. That became a hot-button issue earlier this fall, when the HPC issued a preliminary finding that property owner Richard Preis was demolishing by neglect several dilapidated rental houses in Spanish Town.
Wicker insists she is not trying to weaken the HPC, but says she and other Council members want a broader group of community voices to review the HPC ordinance and the demolition-by-neglect process. If established, her committee will include representatives from the HPC and the Historic Spanish Town Civic Association, as well as the Downtown Development District, Center for Planning Excellence, Planning Director Troy Bunch and city attorney LeAnne Batson. “We just want to make sure we have representatives from everyone involved to make sure we have a clear voice with what needs to happen with demolition by neglect and the appeal process,” says Wicker, adding that the HPC is a huge asset to this city. “We’re not looking to make them any less than that,” she says.
