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. 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.’”
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. Read the full version of this story here.—Stephanie Riegel
