By Karen Middleton
The Athens City Council passed an amendment to the Historic Preservation Commission ordinance that would allow the city to name structures for designation to the National Register.
But the measure did not go off without a hitch. Councilmen Harold Wales and Jimmy Gill voted against the amended ordinance, saying they were acting in accordance with the public’s wishes.
Councilwomen Milly Caudle and Mignon Bowers voted for it, as did Council President Ronnie Marks.
The amendment would allow the city to become a Certified Local Government, which could propose an “inventory” of buildings to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Such a designation, although the building in question might not be located in a historic district, would possibly help the owners of the building apply for a historic preservation grant.
“This doesn’t say that we have to become a CLG, but if we want to sometime in the future, we can,” said Caudle, who has long been active in historic preservation. “Owners of the Pinnacle Group building got a grant because they got put on the National Register.”
Caudle said the amendment could affect the designation of new historic districts, but it’s “not likely” that the city would seek formation of a new district. The city now has three historic districts: Robert Beaty, Houston, and Athens College.
“I’m not saying I disagree with the ordinance, but I can’t support it,” said Wales when it came time to vote. “People are uneasy about it and asked me not to support it.”
During discussion of the measure, Gill said he had questions. He said he believes historic ordinances are too restrictive on residents.
However, Marks told him that many of the restrictive rules have been eliminated, such as those pertaining to paint colors and building materials.
After the meeting, Gill said he had received “40-some emails and letters from people asking me not to support this.”
“It’s just a way of putting on more rules that they didn’t want,” said Gill. “Even though a lot of these people are not in my district, I have a responsibility to represent the whole city.”
Gill said he observed that residents in historic districts keep up their properties. When asked if this might be because of the district regulations, Gill said he didn’t think that was the case.
