Crum & Forster – Deferred to August 8

June 28, 2012

At the June 27, 2012 Atlanta Urban Design Commission hearing, the application for a Type IV Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition due to unreasonable economic return submitted by the Georgia Tech Foundation for 771 Spring Street, the Crum & Forster Building, was deferred to August 8, 2012.

Representatives from the Atlanta Preservation Center were in attendance to monitor the deferral that was requested by the Economic Review Panel. The rationale of the Panel was that all three members of the Panel were not able to be at the June 27 hearing.

The Economic Review Panel submitted its recommendation to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission via a letter on Thursday, June 21, 2012. The letter stated that the Panel was unanimous in its finding that reasonable economic return could not be achieved if all of the Landmark building remained. The letter is available here. The APC submitted materials to counter the Panel’s findings.

It is important to know that the Atlanta Urban Design Commission does not have to accept the findings of the Economic Review Panel. This fact makes the participation of the public imperative for saving ALL of the Landmark Crum & Forster Building.

Crum & Forster – June 27 Hearing Deferred

June 26, 2012

It is the understanding of the Atlanta Preservation Center that the application for a Type IV Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition due to unreasonable economic return submitted by the Georgia Tech Foundation for 771 Spring Street, the Crum & Forster Building, will be deferred from the June 27, 2012 hearing of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission to a date to be determined.

The Economic Review Panel submitted its recommendation to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission via a letter on Thursday, June 21, 2012. John Shlesinger submitted the letter on behalf of the Panel. The letter stated that the Panel was unanimous in its finding that reasonable economic return could not be achieved if all of the Landmark building remained. The letter is available here . The APC submitted materials to counter the Panel’s findings.

Via email to interested parties, Doug Young of the Commission indicated that the Economic Review Panel requested a deferral of the case from the June 27, 2012 Commission hearing. In requesting this deferral, the Panel did not indicate its preferred date for the case to be heard. The APC has been informed that the Commission has been advised to grant this deferral.

The APC will have representatives at the June 27 Commission hearing to monitor the deferral of the matter and to gain the most current information regarding the application. The APC will communicate this information via email, our website and social media as soon as possible.

Your participation in this process remains important. Please follow the action plan outlined on the APC website and remain engaged to save ALL of the Landmark Crum & Forster Building.

Crum & Forster – Economic Review Panel Decision & AUDC Hearing Wed, June 27th

June 25, 2012

The challenge to save ALL of the Landmark Crum & Forster Building continues with the decision of the Economic Review Panel and the uncertainty as to whether the Atlanta Urban Design Commission will hear the application this Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

The Economic Review Panel submitted its recommendation to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission via a letter on Thursday, June 21, 2012. John Shlesinger submitted the letter on behalf of the Panel. The letter stated that the Panel was unanimous in its finding that reasonable economic return could not be achieved if all of the Landmark building remained. The letter also communicated the opinion of the Panel that saving part of the building was “gracious and fair.” The letter is available here.

Via email to interested parties, Doug Young of the Commission indicated that the Economic Review Panel has requested a deferral of the case from the June 27, 2012 Commission hearing. In requesting this deferral, the Panel did not indicate its preferred date for the case to be heard. As of Monday, June 25, 2012, the case remains on the agenda for the hearing.

Until further information is obtained from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, it should be assumed that the matter of the application of a Certificate of Appropriateness: Unreasonable Economic Return to demolish approximately two-thirds of the Landmark Crum & Forster Building will be heard on Wednesday, June 27 and that the Commission will rule on the application.

SIDEWALK ART SHOW at APC

June 15, 2012

The Atlanta Preservation Center is pleased to support the SIDEWALK ART PROJECT by hosting the THE SIDEWALK ART SHOW at its offices in the historic LP Grant Mansion from Thursday, June 21, 2012 – Thursday, July 19, 2012. The Opening for the exhibit will be Thursday, June 21 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Gallery hours for the exhibit are Thursdays from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. The Opening will include light refreashments and live music provided by AM 1690.

THE SIDEWALK ART PROJECT is an audio education experience created by Sidewalk Radio and SCAD Atlanta. This creative partnership integrates Sidewalk Radio’s programming into the curriculum of SCAD’s School of Fine Arts to educate students about Atlanta’s artistic and cultural history. Using Sidewalk Radio’s episodes as the starting point, the students and their work become a discussion of the subject matter. It is hoped that the project will expose the students to their talents to a large and art interested public, and realize a productive and successful partnership for the school, the show and the community.

THE SIDEWALK ART SHOW presents a collection of 13 of more than 30 works created by this project selected by Brett Osborne, SCAD’s Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts. The students selected to present as part of this show are Carrie Alexander, Elizabeth Castaldo, Jarrett Christian, Andrus Deanne, Emily Harris, Nat Kamp, Sergei Isaenko, Kin Matt, Yi Lim Park, Serge Ruffato, and Arzu Yontar. The exhibition includes lens based work, works on paper, canvas and panel and multimedia sculpture.

Sidewalk Radio is a monthly show on AM1690 “The Voice of the Arts” hosted by Gene Kansas, that thematically focuses on art, architecture, design, development, city planning and preservation. Episodes typically feature people, places and things that have had a great impact on and are important to Atlanta’s physical and cultural development.

Are ‘Sweet Auburn’s’ Best Days Behind It?

June 13, 2012

If you missed this morning’s broadcast of “Are ‘Sweet Auburn’s’ Best Days Behind It?,” here is a link to the interview. Our thanks to Steve Goss of WABE for asking this important question.

And, the answer to the question posed by the piece’s title? No, Sweet Auburn’s best days are not behind it! Local and National preservation ordinances can serve as a blue print for successful development that honor the District’s place in history and bring economic prosperity.  

Sweet Auburn – Tune In!

June 12, 2012

Catch APC’s Boyd Coons on WABE 90.1 FM. Public Broadcasting Atlanta will air an interview by Steve Goss of APC’s Executive Director, Boyd Coons on Wednesday, June 13 in two parts at 7:35 am and 8:35 am. A long-format interview will be posted at www.pba.org after the radio broadcast.

The interview focused on Sweet Auburn, its history prior to the Civil Rights Movement and the Historic District’s preservation issues. Mr. Coons spoke to Mr. Goss in-depth about the different phenomenon impacting the District including; economics, differing philosophies of preservation and previous redevelopment. Mr. Coons also expressed optimism about the renewed interest in the District because of the Atlanta Streetcar and stakeholder Georgia State University.

Crum & Forster – No Hearing on 13th – Third Panelist Appointed

June 7, 2012

The struggle to save all of the Landmark Crum & Forster Building continues. The Atlanta Preservation Center has been advised that the next hearing of the Crum & Forster matter before the Atlanta Urban Design Commission will be deferred from June 13 to June 27. Please put this new date on your calendar and watch for APC’s reminder notice closer to the time.

To review, the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc. has applied for a permit that will allow the demolition of approximately two-thirds of this Landmark building located in Midtown at 771 Spring Street. At the time of this writing, the Economic Review Panel appointed to review the evidence submitted in opposition to and in support of the Type IV Certificate of Appropriateness Unreasonable Economic Return had not made its recommendations to the Commission.

At the May 9, 2012, Atlanta Urban Design Commission hearing, evidence was submitted related to the application and two members of the Economic Review Panel were appointed. Tom Aderhold, President of Aderhold Properties, was appointed by the Georgia Tech Foundation. Scott R. Taylor, President of Carter & Associates, was appointed by the Commission. These two panelists appointed John D. Shlesinger, Vice Chairman of the worldwide commercial real-estate firm, CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc., during the latter part of May. This panel is charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission related to the unreasonable economic return aspect of the application for demolition.

The Atlanta Preservation Center is continuing to encourage the public to contact the Commission and officials involved in the application. It is the position of the Center that the application’s argument of unreasonable economic return is unsupported and that the partial demolition of a Landmark property undermines the integrity of the City’s Preservation Ordinance.