Council Member Jason Holleman's attempt to apply an historic overlay to the abandoned Charlotte Avenue Church of Christ comes to public hearing tonight. The feel that I'm getting from this controversial bill is that it is breaking down into a battle between absentee congregation and preservationist neighbors living around the building. So, I'll be watching to see how many opponents show up from the Sylvan Park neighborhood area itself to speak against the overlay.
The original potential buyer, Rite Aid, has bailed after they would not budge on their cookie-cutter, auto-friendly, suburban design; the congregation seems to blame the neighborhood, while overlay supporters argue that the declining real estate market had something to do with Rite Aid's choice. Supporters lost the battle in the Planning Commission, which voted 10-0 against an overlay but, undaunted, they are pointing to Metro Legal's action of informed everyone involved that the church property is already part of the Urban Zoning Overlay that was established in 2000.
My sense is that supporters of the overlay have a tough row to hoe on this one: they are going to have to show overwhelming public hearing advocacy to overcome the pro-development, patron-bloated, grow-prisoned bias of the Metro Council, which looks like it is as inclined as the last council to listen to the community on development issues. And that's not much inclination.
The original potential buyer, Rite Aid, has bailed after they would not budge on their cookie-cutter, auto-friendly, suburban design; the congregation seems to blame the neighborhood, while overlay supporters argue that the declining real estate market had something to do with Rite Aid's choice. Supporters lost the battle in the Planning Commission, which voted 10-0 against an overlay but, undaunted, they are pointing to Metro Legal's action of informed everyone involved that the church property is already part of the Urban Zoning Overlay that was established in 2000.
My sense is that supporters of the overlay have a tough row to hoe on this one: they are going to have to show overwhelming public hearing advocacy to overcome the pro-development, patron-bloated, grow-prisoned bias of the Metro Council, which looks like it is as inclined as the last council to listen to the community on development issues. And that's not much inclination.
I was there for this meeting and was very impressed with the Church's turnout. They also were all wearing "VOTE NO" pins.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I dont care for this Historical overlay business, IMO it should be the right of the property owner to do, or sell, as they please.