For 40 years, a section of Columbus’ Southside has been recognized as a historic district by the National Register of Historic Places, a largely honorary distinction noted Meredith Massey of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
During it’s Monday meeting, Columbus Historic Preservation Commission took a step toward adding a designation that will require homeowners in the district to comply with a city ordinance for construction, alterations and additions.
If approved, Southside will become the second of the city’s three national historic districts to be designated as a Local Historic District, a federal program designed to preserve the historic integrity of neighborhoods throughout the country.
MDAH officials, including Massey, attended Monday’s meeting in an advisory capacity and will serve as a liaison between the city and federal officials who administer the program, which has designated 2,300 neighborhoods throughout the country and 55 in Mississippi.
The Downtown Historic District earned the Local Historic District (LHD) status in 1996.
Although recognized on the National Registry since 1980, some residents in the area, including commission members, say it’s time for Southside to apply for LHD status.
“It’s been 24 years since downtown became a Local Historic District and we feel it’s time Southside made the move as well,” said commission member Joe Boggess, who owns the historic Whitehall property. “The designation we have now does not do anything to protect properties from inappropriate alterations or construction that are incompatible with the history and character of the area. With the (LHD), anyone in the district who seeks a building permit would be required would have to take their plans to the Historic Commission to make sure it’s compatible with the requirements laid out of the city’s LHD ordinance.”
On Monday, the commission voted to take the next step in the process, asking the city to apply for a grant to conduct a new survey of the district.
Columbus federal programs director George Irby will ask the city council to apply for the grant at the council’s next meeting on Jan. 21.
The grant is a 50/50 match. Massey said MDAH will hire a firm to conduct a survey to determine the total number of buildings in the district.
“The going rate is $32 per building,” Massey said.
Boggess estimated there are 300 to 400 buildings (the survey does not include outbuildings such as detached garages, workshops or sheds), which would mean a total cost of between $9,600 and $12,800.
Monday’s meeting drew a crowd of about 75. Most, but not all, supported applying for the LHD designation.
The Southside district runs from the Mississippi University for Women campus to First Street and from College Street to Seventh Avenue.
City building inspector Kenneth Wiegel said that while the city council will act on Irby’s request to pursue the grant, that does not commit the city to approve the LHD designation. Wiegel said he expects the city to hold at least one public hearing after the survey is completed and the Historic Commission makes an official request for LHD designation.
“Citizens will have the opportunity to have their say on this,” Wiegel said.
Boggess said he understands some homeowners may fear the LHD designation will make renovations more difficult and, perhaps, more costly.
“We understand that,” he said. “But it’s important to remember that these requirements would affect only the parts of he homes that are visible from the street. It’s not as though every change someone wants to do will be affected by the LHD designation. The idea is that moving to this designation will protect property values. That’s a good thing for every property owner.”
Massey said LHDs have been careful not to make requirements onerous for property owners.
“What people do on the interior or in the areas of the homes that aren’t in view from the street really doesn’t fall under this,” she said. “We have 55 LHDs in the state and the response has been favorable. In some instances, the designation makes property owners eligible for tax credits. The designations have been well-received. We think it’s a good program.”
Commission chairman Barbara Bigelow said the commission is working closely with MDAH as it proceeds.
“We were glad that representatives from the Mississippi Department of History and Archives were able to join us to answer questions and advise use as we move forward,” Bigelow said. “I was also glad to see the interest from the community would be affected by this.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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