Peachtree Circle historic district hits roadblock
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A home on Peachtree Circle in Atlanta's Ansley Park neighborhood. Photo: Courtesy of David Mitchell/Atlanta Preservation Center
A campaign to create the Peachtree Circle historic district in the Ansley Park neighborhood hit a wall this week when the proposal stalled in committee.
Why it matters: Many Atlanta neighborhoods are experiencing tear-down-and-rebuild projects that replace older and (sometimes) smaller homes with postmodern and (often) much larger living quarters that clash with the community aesthetic.
- A historic district designation would ensure an area's oldest, most unique structures are safe from demolition or changes that would significantly alter their characteristics.
The latest: The City Council's Zoning Committee on Monday held the legislation at the request of Council Member Alex Wan, who represents the neighborhood.
- Wan said he supports historic preservation initiatives but wants two-thirds of property owners to agree to establish the district before he would support the request.
- As of Monday, 40 property owners were in support of the request, with about two dozen opposing it.
- "I believe that there should be broad support from the impacted properties, as it is, in fact, an imposition — however heavy or light — on their property rights," he said.
What they're saying: Lisa Hoffman, who owns a home on Peachtree Circle, told Zoning Committee members historic properties "tell us something about how Atlanta developed, how Atlantans lived, how our architecture evolved and how generations of citizens shaped this city."
- "Once those places are lost, they cannot truly be recreated," she said.
- "Atlanta is a rapidly changing city," Peachtree Circle homeowner Joan Lyman added. "This makes preservation more important, not less."
How it works: The city of Atlanta has a Historic and Landmark Districts ordinance outlining how buildings and other structures in designated areas must be maintained.
The other side: Opposition to the request has centered on whether it would affect property values and whether it would prohibit existing property owners from making future renovations, according to Rough Draft.
By the numbers: Robert Reed, the city of Atlanta's historic preservation studio assistant director, told the committee 60 structures along Peachtree Circle are "contributing" to a historic district, meaning they were either built between 1888 and 1934 or have the "stylistic representation" for that period.
- Another 13 properties don't fall into that category because they could be classified as modern or have a different architectural style.
The big picture: David Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, told Axios, "If you choose to live in a neighborhood of character and caliber, don't be mystified that people want to protect that and keep it for future generations."
- "We either have a moment of showing the value and courage of a city protecting itself, or the obituary of a city that only wants to see development at any cost," he said.
What's next: Wan said if the proponents can get two-thirds of property owners to agree to the district by Sept. 8, he will support the ordinance and place it on the City Council's agenda for consideration.