plannerkat & BKM:
First, let me explain that I was playing a little on Friday and probably spoke before I thought, so I hope you guys will take what I said with a grain of salt (please see my new quote disclaimer below).
Okay, now for response to you all (and for the most part I agree with both of you).
plannerkat:
Historic district is a lose term here. The house was built in 1956 and has little architectural significance. I have seen video of the house on the news and photos, and it is your standard “ranch”. I will say what I have said before, “just because something is old, does not make it ‘historic’”, if so then we would never be able to infill anything except on vacant land (which we don’t always have). Also, his round stoop is a very minor adjustment and would in fact be an aesthetic improvement to what is there. I know Avondale and they are definitely “over the top”. But like you said, I guess it is his fault for buying a home there.
BKM:
The hospitals gobbling up the Fort Sanders district could be restricted under zoning, and there does not need to be a “historic district” to stop that. I do agree that the character of Fort Sanders got battered in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today still, but… by cramming multiple apartments in the area allows an affordable place for students to live and walk to school because the supply meets the demand. But again this can be code regulated by size and density and not by ‘historic’ regulations. When the house is a true place of ‘historic’ significance, preserve it, but if not, wants change and areas need to be able to adapt. As you said “I would rather see natural evolution than freezing a neighborhood in amber”. If the Fort had been preserved as single family then the students would all have to live elsewhere and drive, causing massive problems.
And truthfully the “historic” relevance to the area dates to the ‘war between the states’ when the area was a cleared hill with no trees or houses. So if people there really want to ‘preserve’ the past the city needs to get out It’s bulldozers!!