Plans to create an ordinance outlining and protecting Southside Columbus’ rich architectural history have hit a snag — the maps under which the district was originally created are more than three decades old and must be redrawn.
Members of the Historic Preservation Commission met Monday night to discuss a 50-50 matching grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Historic Preservation Division to fund a new survey and identify what changes — if any — have taken place. The area will then have to be re-certified as a historic district.
The boundaries of the proposed district are College Street, Mississippi University for Women, the railroad tracks and the river. MUW will not be included in the district, but wards 1, 2 and 5 will be affected.
The area, made up of an amalgamation of architectural styles dating from the 1830s to World War II, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1980s.
Board member Betty Miller said it will cost roughly $30 per property to resurvey the area, and she is not sure how many properties are within the proposed boundaries.
If approved for a grant from MDAH, the Commission will have to match the funding, dollar for dollar. The maximum grant is $10,000.
Possible funding sources board members are considering include the Columbus City Council, the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau and Main Street Columbus.
But as Commission Chairman John Hudson pointed out, selling city officials on the idea of spending money on an unbudgeted item at the beginning of a new fiscal year could be difficult, especially as it “only serves a portion of the community.”
To solve that potential pitfall, Hudson said it may be necessary to solicit funding from several different organizations, perhaps even turning to private donors.
“We’re working toward having a Southside district professionally done in a way that doesn’t step on anybody’s toes and goes by the book,” Hudson said.
If the area is re-certified as a historic district, the proposed ordinance would seek to protect the architectural integrity and historic charm of the neighborhood by requiring future structural modifications to be approved by the commission and held to the standard which was contemporary in the structure’s original time period.
Similar ordinances have been passed in Laurel, Meridian, Vicksburg and Natchez, and each city is free to make the ordinances as restrictive or lax as community and local governmental agencies desire.
Commission members have stated at previous meetings that they intend to solicit community feedback as they write the ordinance, and it will have to be approved by the Columbus City Council.
Common homeowner fears — that historic preservation efforts will dictate individual style choices like paint colors — are unfounded, both Miller and other board members have stated at previous meetings.
Miller, a resident of Southside, volunteered to informally survey the neighborhood to determine how many structures are involved and what a consultant will cost, so commission members will know how much funding is needed to take the project from concept to reality.
In other news, the board also spoke with Roger Larsen, founder of The Columbus Packet and a candidate in the Lowndes County District 5 supervisor’s race.
Larsen, who sold the weekly newspaper last year, is renovating the Packet’s former office at 506 Second Ave. N., across from the Lowndes County Courthouse. The building, which he said dates back to the 1830s and is possibly the oldest brick building in Columbus, will be rented to a local attorney. It is adjacent to what was once known as “Lawyers Row” for its proliferation of law offices.
Hudson expressed concern that the project isn’t progressing quickly enough and that the surrounding scaffolding — and the political signage it sports — is furthering Larsen’s campaign more than the renovation.
“If you win this election, you might put this on the back burner,” Hudson said.
“There’s no chance I will win the election,” Larsen replied.
Larsen, an independent, is running against Democrat Leroy Brooks, who has held the position for the past 28 years. The general election is Nov. 8.
Larsen questioned the commission’s authority in attempting to set a deadline on the renovation, an authority which Hudson acknowledged the commission does not have.
However, Hudson cautioned, the building permit was only issued by the city for a year, and if no work is being done, it could be seen as neglect, and the permit could be rescinded.
“I was just a little concerned that it’s become a political sign, but I didn’t want to get involved,” Hudson said. “As long as we see progress … ”
Larsen reassured the commission that the project is moving forward, saying it will be “a jewel” and “a real ornament to the town” when he is finished.
“I got sidetracked a little bit, but I’m jamming again,” Larsen said, inviting commission members to visit the property and see the work being done.
“I want to work with y’all,” Larsen continued. “It’s a real unique building, a grand, historic place.”
The next commission meeting will be held Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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