Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Preservation Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic preservation staff reports high COA approval rate, upcoming National Register work and neighborhood signage projects
Summary
Planning staff reported that the commission reviewed about 74 COA applications in the most recent year and that roughly 96% of commission‑reviewed items were approved, and previewed upcoming National Register and neighborhood signage projects.
At the end of the commission’s January meeting staff summarized year‑over‑year COA activity, ongoing surveys and neighborhood outreach projects.
Staff told commissioners that the number of commission‑reviewed COA applications returned to roughly 74 in the most recent reporting year and that the commission’s approval rate for items that come before it is about 96 percent. Staff also noted an increasing use of expedited staff review for small, like‑for‑like projects (for example, a window replacement at 427 Russell was handled administratively and removed from the public agenda after staff review).
Upcoming preservation work includes a privately funded National Register nomination for First Baptist Church (the nomination will come to the commission for review before submission to the Alabama National Register Review Board) and the draft Terry Heights Phase 2 Historic Resource Survey (completed with a certified local government grant), which staff will distribute to commissioners and the neighborhood before any formal nomination steps.
Staff also described neighborhood outreach in several mill‑village historic districts that currently lack the city’s brown historic street sign toppers; staff said Dallas Mill, Lincoln and Lowe neighborhoods will work with residents to select a graphic for new toppers and that the Dallas Mill neighborhood also lacks a separate historic marker that staff will pursue through the Alabama Historical Association process. Staff reported plans to coordinate manufacturing and installation with traffic engineering once neighborhoods approve graphics.
Finally, staff provided an update on the Annie Mertz building rehabilitation progress for council member Kling: developers reported framing and interior work timelines, with the shell projected to be ready for finish work in mid‑April and building enclosure work projected to be substantially complete in mid‑January; staff will continue to monitor the project and update the commission as new information arrives.
