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Today's University City Review carried a letter by the Spruce Hill Community Assn Zoning Committee, along with a copy of its blessings on the project to the city's Zoning Board of Adjustments.
Correct me if I'm wrong (yes, it does occasionally happen), but the SHCA zoning committee seems to comprise a strong contingent of folks who ardently support the "historic district" nomination. So, it was rather shocking to see the support this Committee is giving to a project that many in the neighborhood believe would destroy what the preservationists refer to as "the fabric" of the block. Among other things, because the setbacks from the sidewalk are so short compared with those both every house and the apartment building. Oh yes, for those who endorse the "nomination" but have never bothered to read it -- that block has 14 buildings on the north side (4215 to 4241) that ostensibly "contribute to the historic character of the neighborhood," nine on the south side that also supposedly do so (4208 to 4222 plus Webster Manor), plus one at the northwest corner that's "contributing," one at the southwest corner that's "contributing," and one at the southeast corner that's claimed to be "significant."
What gives? Is the fabric only important when some dastardly Philistine wants to install a thermopane window or commercially-available turned (or, heaven forbid, vinyl) porch spindles (which can always be changed later), but not when someone who appears to have insider connections of one sort or another wants to build something that will alter the purportedly "historic" streetscape essentially permanently?
Always at your service and ready for a dialog,
Al Krigman For an admittedly biased report on the first "forum" bungled by the Task Force on Historic Designation Reform, check the online equitable urban revitalization bulletin board at www.urbanrevit.blogspot.com. |
