Sunday, August 24, 2008

Highlites from The August Meeting

New Member to the HPC, Jeanna Childress was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Dal Styers.

Terms of members was recently revised from four years to three years. This will allow staggered terms for commission members.

Location change. The Thomasville HPC will change its meeting location to the City Council chambers located on the second floor of the Police Department. The time and date will remain the same.

Deadline for COA applications for the September meeting is 5:00pm Monday August 25.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Highlights From the March Meeting

At the March meeting Natalie Wall was appointed interim Commission Chair. This was due to the spot vacated by Charlotte Sears.

Committee Members Heather Lewis and Natalie Wall are in the process of creating welcome committees within each local historic district.

New Members Carol Brooks and Dalford Styers are officially part of the Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 12

Q. Will the controls in a Historic District make it more difficult to sell my property?

A. Not at all. The neighborhood will be enhanced, and thereby your property as well. Experience with other Historic Districts has shown a strong improvement in the housing market within Historic District areas. There are no limitations set on the sale of property.

Highlights From the January Meeting

The application for 2008 Historic Preservation Fund Pass-through Grant for the nomination of Randolph Street Historic District has been submitted and the Commission may know as early as March if they were awarded the grant.

The Historic Preservation Commission would like to thank Sue Hunter for her donation of $50.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Scenes from the past.

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 11

Q. Will I be forced to do extra maintenance on my property?

A. No, you won’t. The Historic Preservation Commission only has authority over proposed exterior changes, not over routine maintenance or matters covered in the City of Thomasville Minimum Housing Code.

Highlights From the December Meeting

The Commission held two COA hearings. The COA for 318 Spring Street was approved and the COA for 125 Salem Street was turned down.

Residents in the Colonial Drive School Historic District received support from the Commission in their efforts to bring back at the door mail delivery. The Commission passed a resolution supporting the efforts of the residents.

Restoration of the Historic Pepsi sign on the corner of Salem Street and John Thomas Way is back on track with a plan to fund the remaining $2,200 for the project between several groups in town.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Design Review Guidelines

Copies of the Design Review Guidelines are available in PDF format from the Planning and Inspections department on the second floor of City Hall. Also contractors may obtain a CD with information on the NC Rehab Building Code, Historic Mills Bill, and case studies from Preserve NC on large scale rehabilitation projects.

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 10

Q. What is the procedure if I want to demolish a building on my property?
A. You must give the Historic Preservation Commission written notice of any proposed demolition. This serves to provide time for the Commission to find a way to save the building if it is significant. (If the building is not significant, the Commission may permit immediate demolition.) If, within the authorized period of delay, the Commission cannot find an alternative solution satisfactory to you, a record of the historic building and its setting is submitted to the Commission, and you may remove the structure.

Highlights From the November Meeting

Plaques for the newly designated Local Historic Landmarks have arrived and will be installed on the Former City Hall and City Memorial Hospital & Nurses Home. Also the addendum sign installation for the historic districts is mostly complete. Residents should notice the signs attached to the end of the street names in the three Historic Districts.

Continued efforts to educate the public and local real estate agents is one of the top priorities of the Commission. Ideas discussed in recent meetings have been training courses for real estate agents, Historic Preservation Welcome Committees within each district, and direct mailings to property owners in historic districts and local real estate agents.

Appointment of new commission members is rapidly approaching. Recommendations for positions will be submitted by March of 2008. The Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission will be filling four seats next year. For information on Commission appointments please contact the City Clerk or Personnel department.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 9

Q. If there has been previous work done on my house that is not in compliance with Historic Design Guidelines, will I be required to change anything?

A. This is an excellent question. The answer is no. The Historic District Ordinance is triggered only when an exterior change is going to occur. The ordinance is not “retroactive,” a common misconception.

Highlights From the October Meeting

The commission discussed the proposed relocation of City Archives for conservation. The City has allocated space in the public works building on Turner Street and the commission is waiting to transfer the archives from storage.

A report was given on the new Facade Grant program from PACE. The program will give property owners in the Downtown National Register Historic District matching funds up to $5,000 for improvements to the facade of their building.

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) hearing was conducted for a West Colonial Drive property in the Colonial Drive School Historic District. After the presentation of findings of fact and discussion the application was deemed congruent with design guidelines. The application was approved.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 8

Q. Who is on the Historic Preservation Commission?

A. The Commission, appointed by the City Council, is composed entirely of Thomasville residents. Of the nine (9) Commission members, a majority are specially qualified with experience, education, or interest in architecture or history. Members attend training each year in historic preservation practice and principles.

Thomasville Gains Two New Local Historic Landmarks

On Monday September 17 the Thomasville City Council adopted two ordinances designating the former City Hall and former City Memorial Hospital as Local Historic Landmarks. As a Local Landmark these properties now fall under the same design guidelines as properties in a Historic District. No additional maintenance is required beyond minimum standards in current ordinance code. Private property owners of Local Historic Landmarks receive a 50% reduction in property tax liability in exchange for the upkeep of the property as a Historic Landmark. Property owners are not required to remove current additions or restore the property to a previous state.

Highlights From the September Meeting

The Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission will have a display at Everybody's Day. The display will be in the gazebo and showcase photos of historic homes and articles on the accomplishments of the Commission.

Addendum signs marking the Historic District beside street signs is almost complete. The Colonial Drive School Historic District is the only district remaining in the installation process.

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) hearing was conducted for a Haywood Street property in the Colonial Drive School Historic District. After the presentation of findings of fact and discussion the application was deemed congruent with design guidelines. The application was approved

Monday, August 20, 2007

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 7

Q. Can I appeal a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission?

A. Yes, you can. It may be appealed to the Board of Planning and Adjustment. Further appeal can be made to the Superior Court of Davidson County.

Highlights From the August Meeting

At the August meeting of the Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission Election of Officers for 2007-2008 were conducted. The results were for Chairperson Charlotte Sears, Vice Chairperson David Yemm, Secretary Natalie Wall, and Assistant Secretary Heather Lewis.

Heather Lewis joined the Historic Preservation Commission this month as a new member. She is replacing Ann Hardy and is a resident in the Salem Street Historic District.

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) hearing was conducted for a Jones Street property in the Colonial Drive School Historic District. After the presentation of findings of fact and discussion the application was deemed congruent with design guidelines. The application was approved.

The additional signs marking Historic Districts are being installed. Signs have been placed in the Salem Street and Downtown Historic Districts with the Colonial Drive School Historic District still in progress.

Reports for nomination of the Former City Hall and City Memorial Hospital & Nurses Home as Local Historic Landmarks are complete. The Commission will next address the Thomasville City Council to formally approve the nominations.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Grace Lutheran Church

The old Grace Lutheran Church and parsonage. The church was on the corner of Salem St and West Guilford St. at the present day location of Russell Realty.

Historic Districts: 15 Frequently Asked Questions, Part 6

Q. Do all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness require action by the Historic Preservation Commission?

A. No. Applications for minor work may be approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Examples of minor work include replacement of roof coverings and guttering with like or similar materials; and minor changes not visible from the street, such as construction of side and rear yard fences and walls, installation of mechanical equipment or antenna and satellite dishes, installation or replacement of storm windows and doors, and other minor construction.

Highlights From the June Meeting

Funding for additional signage within Historic Districts has been raised. With money from District residents, PACE, and the Historic Commission street signs will have additional markings further identifying the district.

The Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission will sponsor a training seminar later this year for local real estate agents. Agents from the Thomasville, High Point, and Lexington area will be invited to the half-day event designed to assist them in properly informing clients what it means to live in a Historic District.