Meeting followup
NOVEMBER 9
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October 19
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October 5
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SEPTember 7
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Important Community Meetings
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Thursday, October 5 7:00 pm What Does it Mean for Me? Residential Options I (Lots, Massing and Scale) |
Thursday, October 19 7:00 pm What Does it Mean for Me? Residential Options II (Design and Details) |
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RECENT and Featured Posts
upcoming meeting topics |
MEETing #1 Q & A |
A Brief History of the Candler Park Neighborhood |
Why?
A Historic District is a proactive way to plan for the future of our neighborhood and one that we, as residents of Candler Park, have the opportunity to define. Historic Districts are the only way to prevent the demolition of existing houses and the only planning tool, written by the neighborhood, that cannot be overwritten except by the neighborhood.
We are talking about this now because residents have repeatedly asked over the years what we can do to have a say over how our neighborhood is developed and grows. By protecting the historic integrity of an area, Local Historic District designation protects the aesthetics and amenities that attracted many of us here in the first place. Regulations (yes) that are written by the neighborhood protect the existing historic buildings and guide future construction and development that affects us all. In this way, historic district designation is one of the only ways we can have a say in new developments in our neighborhood.
The Historic Designation Committee’s task is to facilitate this conversation and assist the neighborhood in collaborating to govern our own streetscape. The alternative is the zoning that already exists and results in development often based on individual developers’ goals and market forces.
We are talking about this now because residents have repeatedly asked over the years what we can do to have a say over how our neighborhood is developed and grows. By protecting the historic integrity of an area, Local Historic District designation protects the aesthetics and amenities that attracted many of us here in the first place. Regulations (yes) that are written by the neighborhood protect the existing historic buildings and guide future construction and development that affects us all. In this way, historic district designation is one of the only ways we can have a say in new developments in our neighborhood.
The Historic Designation Committee’s task is to facilitate this conversation and assist the neighborhood in collaborating to govern our own streetscape. The alternative is the zoning that already exists and results in development often based on individual developers’ goals and market forces.
This is a tough conversation
The topic of Historic District designation can be one of the most divisive. Typically at issue is the value of preserving the character of neighborhoods in the face of development-driven property speculation, vs. the flexibility of property owners to build new or make additions to existing homes. In Atlanta we also have concerns about intown population growth and affordability.
Because a Local Historic District focuses on retaining the character of the district as a whole, a property’s use, including the number of dwelling units it may have, do not have to be regulated or restricted. Regulations are part and parcel of a Historic District, they are the teeth which make the plan work, but we as a neighborhood get to work together and decide what is important.
The topic of Historic District designation can be one of the most divisive. Typically at issue is the value of preserving the character of neighborhoods in the face of development-driven property speculation, vs. the flexibility of property owners to build new or make additions to existing homes. In Atlanta we also have concerns about intown population growth and affordability.
Because a Local Historic District focuses on retaining the character of the district as a whole, a property’s use, including the number of dwelling units it may have, do not have to be regulated or restricted. Regulations are part and parcel of a Historic District, they are the teeth which make the plan work, but we as a neighborhood get to work together and decide what is important.
I don’t have an old house, why should I care?
You may think this does not affect you because your house is not old, or because you don’t own property, but you live in Candler Park for a reason. The proximity of neighbors which encourages easy interactions, shady streets, parks, and walkable restaurants, are among the many things we love about Candler Park. Interestingly, these things exist in large part because of the way our neighborhood developed, its history. Wide front porches bring people outside, lot coverage limits allow space for shady trees, and the proximity of houses keeps you within earshot of your neighbor (for better or worse) and make it easy to chat when you are walking down the street. The small commercial nodes without parking lots are typical of early 20th century streetcar neighborhoods and put amenities within walking distance of all of us.
So please do not ignore this conversation. Let’s collaborate to create a historic district that grows with the city without losing what we already have.
You may think this does not affect you because your house is not old, or because you don’t own property, but you live in Candler Park for a reason. The proximity of neighbors which encourages easy interactions, shady streets, parks, and walkable restaurants, are among the many things we love about Candler Park. Interestingly, these things exist in large part because of the way our neighborhood developed, its history. Wide front porches bring people outside, lot coverage limits allow space for shady trees, and the proximity of houses keeps you within earshot of your neighbor (for better or worse) and make it easy to chat when you are walking down the street. The small commercial nodes without parking lots are typical of early 20th century streetcar neighborhoods and put amenities within walking distance of all of us.
So please do not ignore this conversation. Let’s collaborate to create a historic district that grows with the city without losing what we already have.