Minutes 03/05/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1998 had been identified as the Martinsville District were surveyed. Upon learning the boundaries of the Martinsville District, Council Member Dallas expressed concern that the District did not extend to at least the 1000 block of Fayette Street. Ms. Blanton responded that the Faycite Street area noted was found to constitute a concentrated area of interest requiring special attention, and that more work was needed there. She also noted that this area was beyond the original scope of the project, and Mr. l~eeves agreed, stating that when the project started no one really knew how much area would need to be considered. Mr. Reeves noted that the State put more funds into the project to explore the possible identification of a historic district and three were discovered. Consequently, said Reeves, there is a need to consider Fayerie Street West as a separate and distinctly different district, and, according to State criteria and requirements, the Martinsrifle District identified makes the strongest statement for consideration of'historic designation eligibility at this time. Ms. Blanton went on to describe the survey process, which consisted of research, field work, and analysis of historic context, and discussed some of the findings of the effort, noting several important historic structures. Ms. Blanton noted that the vintage of many buildings in the District was just short of the minimum fifty year age for consideration, and that the potential existed for adding these to the inventory of the district within the next few years as these buildings reached eligibility status. She also noted that the intersection of Market and Faycite Streets is a dividing line for the district, as many buildings West of there had been lost. Nevertheless, Ms. Blanton noted, the old Jobbers Plant has been approved as an individually designated building outside the District designation. The area of East Church Street was next discussed, and Ms. Blanton noted that several buildings in that area were already on the National Register of Historic PlaceS. Ms. Blanton next offered recommendations from the survey results, which included the call for continued survey work, especially in the West Faycite and Moss Street areas, and follow through on work needed on districts and buildings already identified. She noted that the work already done by the Main Street group had been very effective, and complimented the effort. Ms. Blanton went on to describe the effects of Historic District Designation~ noting that it did not restrict use of property or limit people's right to paint-up, fix-up, alter, or tear down buildings, although the hope was that such designation would prompt preservation efforts.