April 13, 2009
· Filed under Annexation, Georgia Cities, Georgia Counties, Greenspace, Historic Preservation · Tagged Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, Autry Mill Nature Preserve Association Board, Bill Doughty, Fulton County, Joan Compton, Johns Creek, Mike Bodker
The City of Johns Creek filed suit against the nonprofit Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association Board that runs Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Centerto take over the 46 acres of recreation and green space located on Autrey Mill Road. The City inherited the lease in January 2007 when it bought the park from Fulton County. The nonprofit has operated the park for 20 years.
“Our primary concern centers around the Association’s original lease with Fulton County and an amendment executed July 19, 2006, the day after the successful referendum vote on [Johns Creek] incorporation,” city spokesman Bill Doughty typed in an email sent to concerned residents who have contacted the city about the lawsuit.
The City contends the lease is illegal, but there is more to it.
“We own the park, we own the liability, so we should at least have some say about appropriate activities happening at the park,” Mayor Mike Bodker said.
The nonprofit has fired back.
“In these times with money short everywhere, we were shocked that the City is spending taxpayers’ dollars and forcing Autrey Mill’s nonprofit Board to divert our limited resources into a court fight,” [board member Joan] Compton said. “We are ready and able to defend Autrey Mill from a hostile takeover, but we continue to prefer to negotiate with the city and resolve our differences in a principled way.”
Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center posts Q & A’s here going on the offensive against the City and the lawsuit.
Q) Were you expecting to be sued by the City?
A) No, we were totally shocked. . . .
December 11, 2008
· Filed under Georgia Cities, Historic Preservation · Tagged Atlanta, Georgia Tech, Crum & Foster, Urban Design Commission, Karen Huebner
In the latest round of lay-offs, Atlanta let go its top preservation director and draws protests to the Atlanta City Council. Karen Huebner, executive director of the city’s Urban Design Commission, was one of the 222 city employees laid off recently as the city sought to offset a $50 million budget shortfall.
For 20 years, Ms. Huebner has led the Urban Design Commission charged with the regulation of 54 officially landmarked buildings and 15 districts.
The most recent brouhaha concerns the Georgia Tech Foundation’s desire to razethe 1927 Renaissance-style Crum & Foster Building in Midtown.
September 17, 2008
· Filed under Georgia Cities, Historic Preservation · Tagged Ashkouti, Kennesaw, Shiloh United Methodist Church
In spite of neighborhood opposition, Kennesaw unanimously approved the rezoning of the Shiloh United Methodist Church on Cherokee Street near the intersection of Jiles Road from residential to commercial, but with the condition that the 5.5 acres will not be developed as a gas station or convenience store. The church had decided to pack up and sell the property to developer Brandon Ashkouti because it faced losing a portion of the property to the Cobb County Department of Transportation.
Shiloh UMC was founded in 1832, making it one of the oldest churches in the county. The original church was a log cabin that Union Gen. William T. Sherman used as a hospital during the Civil War. The current church was built in the 1930s.
With the successful rezoning, Shiloh UMC can sell the property to the developer for $3 million and build a new church about five miles north on Woodstock Road.
September 15, 2008
· Filed under Big Box Development, Historic Preservation, Interstate Commerce, Recent Court Decisions · Tagged Dorman Commerce Clause, Fast Food Chains, Formula Restaurant, Formula Retail, Big Box Development, Islamorada, 11th Circuit
August 30, 2008
· Filed under Georgia Cities, Historic Preservation · Tagged Crum & Foster, Georgia Tech, Historic Preservation
Atlanta Urban Design Commission has voted unanimously to recommend landmarking the Crum and Forster building in Midtown. The recommendation now goes to the zoning committee of the Atlanta City Council.
The Georgia Tech Foundation argues that its demolition permit predates the historic designation nomination and is appealing the denial of a demolition permit for the building, which will be heard by the Board of Zoning Adjustment on November 21.
July 29, 2008
· Filed under Demolition, Georgia Cities, Historic Preservation · Tagged Academy of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia Tech, Historic Preservation
The Georgia Tech Foundation is the new owner of the Academy of Medicine building on West Peachtree in Midtown. The Atlanta Medical Heritage is donating the 1941 National Registry of Historic Places building because it can no longer afford its upkeep.
The Georgia Tech Foundation has stated its commitment to preserving the building, but will certainly face greater scrunity from the media and the Crum & Foster opponents.
