achfonline.org

FALL 2013

Saving an iconNuçi’s Space steps up to

restore the ‘REM Steeple’PAGE 18

Demolition dilemmaCan the process be fixed and more historic homes saved?

PAGES 3, 21

HOLIDAY gala

2 013

Join the festivities on The Hill

DETAILS, PAGE 14

Keith PlummerVictoria PrevattLori ScottPaul TrudeauEric VaughnTom WilfongCarol WilliamsHollis Yates, Membership Chair

Daniel EptingAdam Hebbard, Development ChairTim KellyCheri LeavyKristen Morales, Communications ChairKim NolandKjirsten OgburnCullen O’Steen, Special Events Co-chair

THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL HERITAGE SPONSORS

Ionic Level ($2,500)Barber Creek DesignETL Construction ServicesTodd Emily

Doric Level ($1,500)Carson Advisory, Inc.Dalton Carpet OneE+E Architecture, Inc. Georgia Power FoundationLindsay Transfer & Storage

ATHENS-CLARKE HERITAGE FOUNDATION Fire Hall No. 2 489 Prince Avenue Athens, Georgia 30601 706-353-1801 e-mail: achf@bellsouth.netwww.achfonline.org Executive Director: Amy C. Kissane Welcome Center Director: Evelyn ReeceHands On Athens Administrator: John A. Kissane

MISSION To be a proactive force in developing community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and heritage.

VISION To become the leading advocate for the importance of historic preservation to the future of the Athens community.

ACHF 2013-2014 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jan Levinson, PresidentDavid Bryant, President-elect/Education ChairErika Lane, Treasurer-elect/Finance ChairBill Kraeling, Treasurer-electKit Candler, Recording SecretaryMarvin Nunnally, ParliamentarianLinda Davis, Revolving Fund Liaison/Preservation Issues Chair

HERITAGE CREDITS Editor: Kristen MoralesDesign: Eleonora Machado Heritage Newsletter Logo: Chris Bilheimer

Cover photo St. Mary’s Church Steeple, a.k.a. REM Steeple, with Nuçi’s Space director Bob Sleppy.

This year ACHF’s Director, Amy Kissane, approached me with a new idea. She suggested that, when she receives notices about historic properties that are slated for demolition, she forward this information to members of our board of trustees. Feeling that our board needs to be as informed as possible about threats to historic properties in Athens, I supported and championed the idea – sharing this news with the board at our August meeting.

Now each time a historic property in Athens is proposed to be demolished, Amy forwards the basic information and photos of the property from the Planning Department to members of the board. In turn, members of our board share their knowledge and thoughts about each property in a string of emails. Finally, when we all meet face-to-face at our next monthly meeting, we take time for such matters to be discussed.

So, what have we found from this new practice? First, I think it has opened all of our eyes to the number of proposed demolitions that happen month-to-month in our town, increasing our awareness about the community and threats to historic buildings. Next and perhaps more important, it has pushed us as a group to regularly ask a simple question: What can we do?

What can we do – that’s both an encouraging and frustrating question to think through. As an organization dedicated to being a proactive force in developing community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and heritage, it is certainly our job as a board to consider what can be done about the demolition of significant buildings in Athens. As a group, we realize that not every building is worth saving and not every neighbor or neighborhood wants to be involved in preserving nearby historic structures. What we do know is that increasingly, as more and more historic homes are threatened, the level of concern on our board and in our community is growing.

After some consideration, we’ve come up with a proactive gameplan to begin tackling the issue. This fall, our Preservation Issues Committee will begin organizing conversations on the neighborhood level to provide information about the benefits and tradeoffs of local designation – not sugar coating the process or the outcome, but providing basic knowledge about what it means to be part of a historic district. We’d like to have honest conversations about preservation with people in the community to make sure they are informed about what it means to be part of a historic neighborhood

Message from the President By Jan Levinson, ACHF

continues on page 20

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 3

fire hallfrom the

By Amy C. Kissane, Executive Director

Someone’s put a bulls-eye on Five Points. I do not have any statistics, but several times a year now we see a historic house come down to be replaced by a much, much bigger house. We’ve seen it on Milledge Circle, Hampton Court, University Drive, West Cloverhurst and elsewhere. Commissioner Mike Hamby has delayed until Nov. 10 a demolition permit for a c.1935 house on West Cloverhurst — just beyond the reaches of the West Cloverhurst Local Historic District — and rumor has it that another house in that same block will soon be on the chopping block.

While the majority of the Five Points area consists of historic houses that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and eligible for protection via A-CC’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, very little of the area is actually protected. The only locally protected historic districts in Five Points are, west of Milledge Avenue, Woodlawn and West Cloverhurst-Springdale (from Milledge to Stanton Way) and an area east of Milledge centered on Bloomfield Street. There are no local historic districts south of Lumpkin Street. None. Those of you who think that preserving our historic Five Points neighborhoods should be a matter of luck, raise your hand. Those of you think there are

no historic houses south of Lumpkin, please raise your hand. Those of you who think that people who live in these neighborhoods and who have invested in their historic character have no rights, raise your hand. (If you raised your hand all three times, please stop reading and make an appointment to see me, ASAP.)

What is the impact of these demolitions and new construction? It’s not just that historic houses are being torn down; it’s the scale and height of the new houses that also are affecting neighborhoods and neighbors. Talk about David and Goliath. On a practical note, what will these new 4,000-square-foot-plus homes do to property values, and thus property taxes?

Zoning is, in part, the culprit. The predominant scale of housing in Five Points is actually rather moderate, but zoning regulations have changed over the years, since the majority of these houses were built, and the newer zoning regulations that control height, scale, lot coverage and setback do not take into account the existing size of houses so that new houses can be much bigger.

We can protect the historic character and scale of Five Points, but it requires

continues on page 20P A G E 4 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Heritage and cultural travel are big news, and today’s visitors demand authentic, high-quality experiences tied to a locale’s unique history and culture. Athens was recognized for keeping up with this standard at this year’s Governor’s Tourism Conference, where the Athens Historic House Museum Association received the 2013 Tourism Partnership Champion Award for its Holiday Spirits Museum Theatre Tour, which is brimming with the action of Athens’ past. While AHHMA members include the Church-Waddel-Brumby, T.R.R. Cobb, Taylor-Grady, and Ware-Lyndon Houses, along with the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau and ACHF, this recognition spreads far and wide to the following partners: the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department, Junior League of Athens, Rose of Athens Theatre, Circle Ensemble Theatre, playwrights Dan Guyton and Tom Horton, and actors from Athens and as far away as Atlanta, South Carolina, and Columbia.

Looking ahead When the New Year arrives, the Athens Welcome Center looks forward to participating in the Seventh Biennial Henry D. Green Symposium of the Decorative Arts, which takes place on Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at the Georgia Museum of Art. Later, on Feb. 26-28, the Athens Welcome Center will host the statewide Regional Visitor Information Center Workshop. This will be a bright opportunity to showcase Athens to Georgia’s visitor center directors, who promote opportunities for travel within Georgia. Athens continues to be discovered and uncovered as one of the top places to visit in the southeast!

Celebrate the seasonEach December, the AHHMA’s multi-dimensional Holiday Spirits Tour brings our house museums to life with live theater, music, and seasonal refreshments. Please join us Saturday, Dec. 14 for the Holiday Spirits Museum Mile Tour. Take a glimpse back in time at holiday traditions spanning 100 years of Athens history. The tour includes stops at the Church-Waddel-Brumby, T.R.R. Cobb, Taylor-Grady, and Ware-Lyndon Houses. Tickets are $25 for the 2+ hour tour; call the Athens Welcome Center at 706-353-1820 for more information.

Photo taken at the Governor’s Tourism Conference Awards Dinner at Fernbank Natural History Museum in Decatur, GA on September

12th. Pictured left to right: Jane Sowell (Milledgeville CVB), Hannah Smith (Athens CVB),

Kevin Langston (GDEcD), Evelyn Reece (Athens Welcome Center), Chuck Jones (Athens CVB).

Athens Historic House Museum Association Wins State Tourism Award For Its Holiday Spirts Tour By Evelyn Reece, Director and Curator, Athens Welcome Center

Welcome Center Update

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 5

Development marks new era for Southern MillsBy Kristen Morales

After more than a decade of discussions, plans — and even more plans — a brighter future for the Southern Manufacturing Mills property (aka Southern Mills) is on the horizon. Athens-based Williams & Associates has submitted plans on behalf of the developer to rehabilitate and renovate the 18+-acre historic mill property and its four c.1903 buildings. The development, tentatively called Millworks, is located along the CSX tracks just north of the Boulevard neighborhood between Chase Street and the Perimeter.

P A G E 6 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

The plans call for a mixture of small apartments (one- and two-bedroom units), live/work spaces, commercial storefronts or office space and an event space suitable for weddings or theater performances. Other amenities on the property include an outdoor water feature running through the center of the revamped space, a top-floor room lined with original rehabbed windows suitable for an art gallery, and a restored water tower at the entrance to the property. Many of the plans for the development reflect the goals that were set forth during ACHF’s day-long symposium held in the spring of 2012: Southern Mills: Economically Smart | Socially Responsible. Most exciting for historic preservationists is the fact that the developers are relying on the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (equal to 25 percent of rehabilitation costs) to make the project financially feasible. In order to receive the credit, the project must meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation which requires the highest standards in historic preservation. For example, they require that the existing historic windows in one of the buildings be restored rather than replaced. “A significant cost,” says Carter Broun, a partner in the project, “but one that is essential to preserving the character of the building.” In addition, complying with the Standards also meets the requirements of the façade easement that ACHF holds on the property. One point of contention when the project came before the Athens-Clarke Planning Commission was moving a water tower, originally part of the mill complex, from its historic location on Chatooga Avenue to the front of the development. Planning Department staff recommended it not be moved.

A few Planning Commission members questioned the historical accuracy of moving the water tower to a new space and also questioned whether it might be best to leave the water tower in its current location, even though it risked more neglect and possible removal entirely. But representatives with Williams & Associates said the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards apply to the water tower as well and require them to resurrect the water tower in a new place only if it doesn’t look like it was always there. After some Planning Commission discussion, the plans passed without any restrictions on the water tower, allowing the developer to move it to a more prominent location and restore it for future generations. Another aspect of the planned development that reflects a goal identified during ACHF’s symposium is the desire to integrate the property with the local arts community. Developers have included live/work spaces, event/performing space and potential art gallery specifically to attract the creative class. The developer is hoping to be able to take advantage of New Market Tax Credits in exchange for offering a percentage of units to artists at below-market rate costs. Resident musicians also can take advantage of a practice space. And because the property mixes commercial and residential, artists can share a living space with their studios. With the wet spring and summer, the buildings’ deterioration has increased faster than at any other time, which is why the developers are trying to move quickly on the project. The next step is the Mayor & Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 5, when the Planning Commission’s decision will come up for a final vote. If approved, construction will take approximately one year.

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 7

Last spring, the Hands On Athens program em-barked upon an ambitious effort to transform the exterior of 170 Lyndon Avenue to something more closely resembling its original ca. 1918 appear-ance. This is an important house in the locally designated Boulevard Historic District and the home of Jackie Maddox, her two daughters and three grandchildren. Jackie’s grandfather built the house, so it has always been in the family. At some point in the 1950s or 1960s the original weather exterior was covered with an asphalt/fiberboard siding that, while providing some in-sulation benefit, is certainly out of character with the original design. In addition, this type of siding can trap moisture that promotes deterioration of the materials underneath, but fortunately remov-al of a few small sections of the nonhistoric siding last March revealed original weatherboards in

nearly pristine condition. A team of UGA historic preservation graduate students, led by UGA historic preservation planner Scott Messer and local carpenter Tosh Lickliter, removed all of the asphalt siding last March. The fol-lowing week, Rowe Insulating Company completed insulation of the four main exterior walls, to make up for any insulation loss resulting from the asphalt siding removal. Next, HOA house captain Ben Liverman and a crew of HOA volunteers completed minor exterior repairs and prepped the entire house for painting during HOA’s spring work weekend, April 5-7. During that same weekend, Green Source Homes donated labor and replaced two original plaster ceilings in the house, which had become badly deteriorated. The house was ready for two finish coats of paint, and the Historic Boulevard Neighborhood Association stepped in to devote an afternoon this past summer to start the job. With the first coat successfully applied, Jake Kiser and CertaPro Painters donated a crew to complete the second coat in early September. The transformation is done! Walk or drive by Lyndon Avenue and take a look.

Project restores house to its 1918 gloryBy John Kissane, HOA administrator

P A G E 8 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Hands On Athens

Volunteers help add a new coat of sunny orange paint to the home on Lyndon Avenue

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 9

Keep on Athens Heritage Walks continues historic tours

Last month, Athens Heritage Walks wrapped up popular tours of the Pulaski Heights neighborhood with David Bryant, and the Haunted History Tours with Michele Griffin. November walks were scheduled for the start of the month — Nov. 2 at the University of Georgia campus and Nov. 3 in the Bloomfield National Register District.

But there’s still time to catch the final tour of the season, 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Oconee Hill Cemetery National Register District. The beautiful monuments among the rolling hills of the historic Oconee Hill Cemetery memorialize a cross-section of Athens, old and new. Charlotte Thomas Marshall, author of several books on Athens history, will lead the tour.

It’s important for both ACHF members and non-members to take part in the Heritage Walks tours. Tour leaders put a lot of preparation and time into organizing their tours, getting everything just right for introducing others to the area. And ACHF can tell by the responses from the participants — both in positive feedback and repeat registrations. So if you’re interested in learning more about the history of Athens’ eclectic neighborhoods, visit achfonline.org today and sign up for our final tour of the season.

Athens Heritage WalksB

y M

ary

Stak

es, t

our c

oord

inat

or

HeritageATHENS

walksTours are limited to 25 participants unless otherwise indicated.Reservations are required.ACHF Member $12 | Nonmember $15 Ten or more series tickets $10

For tour reservation and additional information:

706-353-1801achf@bellsouth.net www.achfonline.org

WALKING

P A G E 1 0 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Fall Fun-N-Friends

This fall’s Fun-N-Friends was a great success! Guests and ACHF members enjoyed the treats provided by home.made catering while exploring the historic farm on Danielsville Road that serves as the mill and work shop for Oneta Woodworks and Piedmont Bureau of Reclamation.

Owner Zack Brendel gave an overview of the farm and of his businesses. Brendel and his team make the most out of what many consider to be a bad situation in preservation — they reclaim wood from historic structures that are being demolished and rework it into custom flooring and furniture. They make every effort to reuse as much of the original material as possible; scanning a beam with a metal detector in search of embedded (and sometimes handmade nails) is a routine part of the job.

Brendel is one of a few tenants to use the farm on Danielsville Road, which has remained largely intact since the current owner purchased it from the original owner in the 1970s. The barn, farm house, outbuildings and an old general store that formerly fronted North Avenue all still exist on the property.

One of Oneta’s current projects is disassembling and repurposing almost all of the wood in the former Snow Tire building in downtown Athens. These materials will be formatted into bar tops and other furnishings for the new Creature Comforts Brewery, set to open in the space next year.

Thanks again to home.made catering and the Law Offices of Adam Hebbard for their support in sponsoring this event, and to hosts Oneta Woodworks and Piedmont Bureau of Reclamation!

FALL FUN-N-FRIENDS By Hollis Yates

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 1 1

Names: Jessica Rothacker and Travis BurchAs founders and owners of Heirloom Cafe in the Boulevard neighborhood, Jessica and her father, Travis, won ACHF’s award last year for outstanding rehabilitation, thanks to the work they did renovating an old gas station into their restaurant.Member of ACHF: Since 2012

What sparks your passion for historic preservation?

Jessica: Actually, it was probably the process of looking at restaurant locations. They all had these unique features. We looked at the North Georgia Pecan Company (on Foundry Street), but the location wasn’t practical. But there’s a lot of really pretty buildings in Athens.

After renovating your historic space, do you see historic buildings in a new light?

Jessica: Now, when I look at a space that’s been kept up to historic standards, it gives me a lot of respect for the building and the person who owns it.

Travis: I look at the things we did to modify this space, and I look at people who are embarking on a new project (at Southern Mills) and I admire their ambition in trying to do a project of that scale.

P A G E 1 2 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Be a part of

by being a part of AthensACHF.

What does my membership do? It works on many levels. It provides funding for educational and community programs that happen throughout the year all around Athens, including programs in schools, classes for scout badges and the ever-popular series of Heritage Walks, which showcase different historic neighborhoods around town.

Your membership dollars also support ongoing programs that are a part of the fabric of Athens, such as the Athens Welcome Center, Classic City Tours and Hands On Athens — all programs that also support the local economy while fostering neighborhood spirit.

How can I join? Turn to Page 23 (the inside back page) for a membership form, or visit ACHF online at www.achfonline.org.

Since 1967, the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation has been the leading advocate for not only preserving the history in Athens, but also looking towards its future. There is value in keeping historic structures — not only as a historical resource, but also as a living, breathing landmark that gives back to the community with everyone who walks, bikes or drives by.

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 1 3

HOLIDAY ON THE HILLA festive gathering at Athens’ ‘secret hideaway’

This year, celebrate the season with “Holiday on The Hill,” ACHF’s annual holiday gala. The event takes place starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at The Hill, Lee Epting’s “orphanage” for old homes on the west side of town.

HOLIDAY gala

2 013

Join the festivities on The Hill

P A G E 1 4 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Travel back in time as you wan-der the wooded grounds to explore Lee’s collection of saved antebel-lum homes and outbuildings, all while enjoying a generous bounty of food and drink. Hosts Kimberly and Jim Fiscus, John Knowlton and Lee Epting will graciously open their homes for the evening, and once again Marti Schimmel of Marti’s at Midday will coordinate food donations from Athens’ finest chefs and restaurants.

Tucked away on a rolling piece of wooded property just off Jefferson Road, The Hill is like a character from a story. Stepping into the houses on The Hill, in particu-lar the Armstrong-Dobbs House, the Donnald-Epting House, the Quinn House, and the Rock House, is like stepping into the past as these houses were art-fully preserved and are decorated to match the time period in which they were originally constructed.

One of the oldest homes in Athens, the Armstrong-Dobbs house is believed to have been constructed sometime in the late 18th centu-ry, as it is referenced by Joshua Meigs, the University of Georgia’s first president, in 1801 and again in an early history of Athens that was written in 1820. In 2001, as the house lay in disrepair at its original location on Oconee Street near downtown Athens, the Eptings took on the monumental task of moving the house to The Hill and restoring it to its original splendor.

The cornerstone of The Hill is Lee Epting’s personal home, the Donnald-Epting house, which was built in 1790 in Abbeville County, S.C. The Epting family acquired the house in 1979 and had it moved, brick by brick, from Donalds, S.C., to Athens. At the same time, an 1840 Finley Street house was moved from downtown Athens in order to add a library, master bedroom and kitchen to the Epting family home. In doing so, the house is now somewhat “original” to Athens.

Lee Epting’s passion for historic preservation is evident in the way that he and his crew painstakingly took apart the house, writing de-tailed descriptions of where each brick and piece of wood belonged. The building materials were then transported over miles of highway and reconstructed at The Hill with great attention to detail. From front door to back door, visitors can walk through more than 200 years of history as they explore the interior. It can be awe-inspiring to sit in the dining room, touch the walls, and think about the gen-erations who have sat and dined in this communal space.

Enhancing the property are two houses that are original to the land and were built in 1920 and 1930. One of these homes, the Rock House, is a quaint two-story stone house that was built by the grandson of a former slave who was deeded the property after the end of the Civil War. Interesting fact – the stones were all locally harvested!

Winter gala event

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 1 5

Winter gala event

Fun Facts about The Hill• The historic homes on The Hill

are all numbered by their ad-dress according to the year they were built.

• The brick columns in the back yard of the Donnald-Epting House were salvaged from UGA’s Phi Delta Theta House on Lumpkin Street in the 1970s.

• The boxwoods planted in front of the Donnald-Epting House are from seedlings from colonial Williamsburg.

• Lee’s backyard contains a rare three-seated “luxury” outhouse that was used by Sherman at a stop on his march to the sea during the Civil War.

P A G E 1 6 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Winter gala event

“The gala provides a setting for people to celebrate the holidays in a giftwrap of history.”

Holiday on the HillWhen: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8

Where: The Hill, located off U.S. 129 (Jefferson Road), Athens

How much: Tickets are $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers

More info: visit www.achfonline.org to purchase tickets or call 706-353-1801 for more information

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 1 7

Athens Places in Peril

After nearly a decade since the original idea was introduced to Nuçi’s Space, the brick and stone steeple on Oconee Street is now under the care of the nonprofit. Executive Director Bob Sleppy says the idea to take over the ownership of the steeple, home to REM’s first concert decades ago, began when the Steeplechase condominium board, which owned the structure, approached Nuçis in 2004.

But at the time, the board was willing to give away the steeple — but not the ground underneath it. “So that obviously wasn’t attractive to us,” he says.

Fast-forward to November of 2010, when the abandoned former print shop next door to the steeple burned. City inspectors came out to check on the integrity of the structure, and while they were there, took a look at the steeple, too.

The result was a citation sent to Steeplechase, telling the condominium complex it needed to either restore the steeple or tear it down.

Within a month, Sleppy says, he was in discussions with Steeplechase about acquiring the building. “It took two years,” he says, but the deal worked out best for all parties. “We take the steeple off their hands and also get a strip of land (adjacent to the steeple).”

Nuçi’s closed on the property deal this past March thanks to help from a donor on the West Coast. Because Nuçi’s doesn’t have a dedicated fund for the project — and can’t pull money from its own projects to fund steeple renovations — the organization relied on the donor’s

vision to begin stabilizing the steeple and start thinking of the next steps.

Whitsel Construction was brought in to look at the steeple, and in October a wall running alongside the west side of the steeple — but not attached to it — was removed. Sleppy says the wall was originally part of the old St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (the steeple was connected by a second-floor walkway, but not adjacent walls), and over time a large poison ivy vine had grown between the freestanding wall and the steeple.

But after removing the wall, workers discovered the vine also had embedded itself into the northern wall of the steeple, and now its twisted trunk can be seen between the 100-year-old bricks.

So now, Sleppy says, the project is focused on ways to secure the brick walls without taking them apart to remove the vine. It’s a labor of love for a historic structure that likely will never serve a specific function for Nuçi’s Space. Although Sleppy says, once it’s restored and lit, it will seve as a great beacon for east side visitors driving into Athens.

“We thought we could be good long-term stewards,” Sleppy says, adding that the project isn’t one for just Nuçi’s Space. Rather, it will take help from those outside of the Nuçi’s Space circle to keep the steeple from the wrecking ball. “We took this first step alone, but to follow through, it has to be a community effort.”

The steeple rises againNuçi’s Space begins restoration of old St. Mary’s structureBy Kristen Morales

P A G E 1 8 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Athens Places in Peril

An iconic building linked to Athens’ music history is finally getting some long overdue care, thanks to a local organization that specializes in caring for musicians.

H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 1 9

and how that choice might play into future development in that neighborhood.

In the coming months we’ll be reaching out to ACHF members who might be interested in helping us to host these gatherings. We envision these events as informal but will make sure that time and energy go into planning to make sure interested stakeholders are present, that our staff and volunteers are on hand to provide reliable information, and that those who attend the events have a chance to weigh in and let us know their thoughts and concerns about preservation in their neighborhood.

Will these conversations solve our “what to do” problem? I think they might give us a place to start. Beyond that, hopefully these conversations will be a good start in a new outreach initiative that helps us as an organization stay in touch with our members and lets them know that ACHF is there as a resource for knowledge. From there, I think we can go great places. Stay tuned for more from our Preservation Issues Committee in the coming months. In the meantime, if you are interested in taking part or hosting one of these proposed events, please get in touch with Amy Kissane.

Message from the President

From the Fire Hall commitment by those who live in Five Points. Is living in a local historic district really that scary? Property owners in local districts can modernize their kitchens and bathrooms and do anything to the interiors they want. In the past three years alone, the Historic Preservation Commission has approved major additions to two houses in the West Cloverhurst-Springdale Local Historic District. Yes, living in a local historic district requires some sacrifice, but that sacrifice is required equally of all and is in exchange for knowing that the neighborhood in which you have invested will be protected from unsympathetic changes for years to come.

continued from page 3

continued from page 4

P A G E 2 0 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

On September 13 the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department sent out a notice, as required by the county’s Demolition Delay Ordinance, that an application for a demolition permit had been filed for the c. 1900 historic home located at 355 North Avenue. The ordinance states that applications for demolition permits will be reviewed by Planning Department staff for eligibility for a 90-day delay. Properties that qualify for this delay are those that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those that appear to have been built over 50 years ago. [Note – Listing on the National Register does not provide protection against demolition.] If a property qualifies, Planning staff send a memo notifying the commissioner representing the area in which the property is located. That commissioner then has authority to request that the permit be delayed for up to 90 days from when it was filed.

Many of the properties that come through this process are eligible for the delay by virtue of being over 50 years old but are relatively insignificant architecturally and historically and so their application is approved and the demolition proceeds. 355 North Avenue, however, is—or I should say was—significant both historically and architecturally. The house was part of a historic settlement known as Barberville, named for one of its earliest inhabitants, Wethersby Barber, and the house itself was an excellent example of late 1800s/turn-of-the century vernacular architecture. [The Spring edition of Heritage will include a feature on Barberville.]

The intent of this ordinance is to provide time for historic property advocates to find alternatives to demolition. There are basically two ways to save a building in this situation: (1) advocates can convince the property owner not to tear it down or (2) the A-CC Commission can vote to put a moratorium on its demolition until it can be designated a local landmark. [NOTE: The A-CC Commission has

Demolition Merry-Go-RoundBy Amy C. Kissane

c. 1900 historic home located at 355 North Avenue

continues on page 22H E R I T A G E | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | P A G E 2 1

2013

DAY DATE NAME PLACESunday Nov 17, 2:00 p.m. Athens Heritage Walks Oconee Hill Cemetery (see page 10 for details)

Sunday Dec 8, 5:00 p.m. Heritage Holiday Gala Holiday on The Hill (see page 14-17 for details)

Saturday Dec 14 Historic House Museums Holiday Spirits Tour (see page 5 for details)

2014 Dates to Save:Hands On Athens, weekend of April 11-13, 2014

Annual Preservation Awards Ceremony, Monday, June 2, 2014

ACHF Annual Meeting, Monday, June 23, 2014

never locally-designated an individual property without the owner’s consent.] The reality is that in most cases, by the time things get to this point, the dye has been case, the milk spilt, the water passed under the bridge... you get the point, and a few months is not enough time to turn the tide. Over the past two years, ACHF has contacted several property owners to discuss possible alternatives to demolition, including adaptive re-use in one instance to incorporating a house into a planned development in another and, in the case of 355 North Avenue, moving the house. In all cases plans had progressed too far.

So, what can be done? In November the A-CC Commission’s Government Operations Committee, chaired by Kathy Hoard, will be looking into the demolition delay ordinance to see if there are any changes to be made to make it more effective. In addition ACHF will soon be kicking off its Historic Neighborhood Initiative to educate residents of unprotected historic neighborhoods and let them know what their options are for protecting their neighborhoods. (Please see Message from the President on page 3.)

Membership RenewalsRenewal Notices were mailed in September! If you have not yet renewed your membership for September 30, 2013 – September 30, 2014, please do as soon as possible. Membership dollars make up almost one-third of

our operating dollars. If you misplaced your renewal form, no worries. You can send in the form you see to the right or you can also renew online at

http://athensclarkeheritagefoundation.bigcartel.com/. And, please do not hesitate to contact Amy Kissane at 706-353-1801 or achf@bellsouth.net if you have questions about your membership, or anything else, for that

matter. YOU matter to us!

Demolition Merry-Go-Roundcontinued from page 21

P A G E 2 2 | F A L L 2 0 1 3 | H E R I T A G E

Membership RatesAll members receive the Basic Membership Package including: free admission to Athenaeum Club and other membership events; discounts on tours, events, and rentals of Fire Hall No. 2; the Heritage newsletter; and much more.

I would like to become a member at the following level:

I would like to increase my support by by joining at a Heritage Holiday Gala Host Committee Level:

$250 Donor [2 tickets to Gala] [Basic package plus a 10% discount

at the Athens Welcome Center Gift Shop]

$500 Supporter [4 tickets to Gala] [Above plus two Classic City Tours

tickets; four tickets to Heritage Holiday Gala]

$1,000 Patron [6 tickets to Gala] [Above plus six tickets to

Heritage Holiday Gala]

Thank you for Protecting the Past for the Future.

$30 Student $50 Individual $75 Family $100 Sustainer

Looking to volunteer?Check here if you would like to talk to someone at ACHF about volunteer opportunities such as membership, special events, education, tours, Hands On Athens, preservation awards, PR/marketing, fundraising, newsletter, mailings, etc.

These programs depend on your support… thank you.

Community EngagementAthens High & Industrial School MarkerBen Epps Commemorative StatueBuena Vista Local Historic District Initiative

Navy Supply Corps School Transfer

Heritage EducationAthens Area Realtors WorkshopsAthens Heritage Walks Guided ToursHeritage NewsletterHistoric Property Owners WorkshopsLocal Lore Girl Scout Badge

Tour of HomesHistoric Properties and MuseumsAthens Historic House Museum Association

Church-Waddel-Brumby House MuseumHistoric Fire Hall No. 2Ware-Lyndon House Museum

Membership EventsAthenaeum ClubFun-n-FriendsHeritage Holiday GalaAnnual Meeting

Ongoing ProgramsAthens Welcome CenterClassic City ToursFaçade EasementsHands On AthensHistoric Preservation Revolving FundAnnual Historic Preservation Awards

To join, complete the following information and return with payment to:

ACHF, 489 Prince Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601Name Address E-mail Phone

Payment Type: Enclosed Check Credit Card

Card number Expiration Date

Name on Card

Contact us at 706-353-1801 or achf@bellsouth.net

TH

AN

K Y

OU

fo

r bei

ng

a m

ember

of

the

Ath

ens-

Cla

rke

Her

itage

Fou

ndati

on! You

r m

ember

ship

du

es s

uppor

t ou

r m

an

y on

goin

g pro

gram

s su

ch

as

Pre

serv

ati

on M

att

ers,

Han

ds

On

Ath

ens,

Ath

ens

Her

itage

W

alk

s, A

nn

ual Pre

serv

ati

on

Aw

ard

s, a

nd t

he

Ath

ens

His

tori

c H

ouse

Mu

seu

m A

ssoc

iati

on.

PLE

ASE

CO

NSID

ER

makin

g an

addit

ion

al don

ati

on

to s

uppor

t th

e F

oun

dati

on’s

pos

itiv

e co

ntr

ibu

tion

s to

th

e A

then

s co

mm

un

ity.

FO

R I

NF

OR

MA

TIO

N

on m

akin

g a d

onati

on,

con

tact

us

at

706.3

53.1

801 o

r ach

f@bel

lsou

th.n

et.

AC

HF

is

a

501(c

)(3) ch

ari

table

org

an

izati

on

an

d d

onati

ons

are

tax-

ded

uct

ible

.

No

n-P

ro

fit

Or

g.

U.S

. Po

stag

e

PAID

Pe

rm

it #

403

Ath

ens,

GA

Fir

e H

all N

o. 2

489 P

rin

ce A

ve.

Ath

ens,

Geo

rgia

30601

706-3

53-1

801

ww

w.a

chfo

nlin

e.or

g

INT

ER

ES

TE

D I

N B

EC

OM

ING

AN

AC

HF

ME

MB

ER

? P

LE

AS

E C

ON

TA

CT

US

AT

AC

HF

@B

ELLS

OU

TH

.NE

T RE

TU

RN

SE

RV

ICE

RE

QU

ES

TE

D