FlintTalk.com Forum Index > Political Talk Topic: Compromise is key in saving Manning Court houses from demoli

Author    Post   Ryan Eashoo F L I N T O I D FLINT THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Sunday, January 14, 2007 By Nancy Finegood and Ellen Thackery JOURNAL READER We all have heard the expression that change is the only constant. People who care about history and historic places have also heard and understand the expression. We know that communities are alive and changing, but we also know that historic places enliven and enhance a community. Communities all over the world have recognized that residents are richer for living with places that are interesting, have character and tell the story of the community. Our historic places, such as Flint's Manning Court, enhance our quality of life and power the economy. Communities that retain their historic character: Attract residents to stay and invest in the neighborhoods. Draw shoppers who enjoy a vibrant downtown commercial district. Attract heritage tourists to invest in the community's shops, museums, inns and restaurants. Lure businesses that want to invest in a place that will offer employees a high quality of life, while offering the businesses access to qualified employees. Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Northville, Farmington, Plymouth and a revitalized Detroit, Saginaw or Flint - all of these cities have wonderful historic resources that contribute to each community's unique sense of place. That sense of place is a community asset worthy of protection. The primary legal means communities have to manage and protect historic character is the local historic district. When a place is deemed a local historic district, as was Manning Court, that district is then protected and managed by a commission made up of local residents charged with protecting those resources. This commission is a quasi-judicial body, and its decisions must be made legally and carefully, following Michigan law and based on established federal standards. These standards are "rehabilitation standards," not "restoration standards." It is understood that buildings may need to be adapted for new purposes and that buildings need repairs. Michigan's historic districts act (Public Act 169 of 1970 as amended) even describes specific circumstances in which work in the district that does not meet these rehabilitation standards, such as demolition of a historic resource, can be approved by the commission. There are specific conditions that must be met, and these are spelled out in the state law that all commissions must follow. Residents trust every historic district commissioner to take the commitment to protect a community's historic resources seriously. Whether a city stands to lose to development one historic building or a whole historic neighborhood, we urge the larger community - district property owners, commissioners and other residents and leaders - to engage in a spirited and thorough conversation about community losses, gains and potential alternatives. A further consideration: The arts community has long had a positive relationship with old buildings. Communities are often spurred to new life when artists invest in old buildings. If there ever were an opportunity for a compromise that would balance historic assets and a cultural institution, it seems that this could be it. Creative people often design imaginative solutions that meet the growing needs of a community while respecting its past. Doesn't Flint deserve such an imaginative compromise? Nancy Finegood and Ellen Thackery are executive director and field representative, respectively, for the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, and Thackery also is a field representative for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. _________________ Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:54 pm  Don't Think so Guest Ryan get over it, those houses will be history soon! Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:43 pm  Grand Blanc Man Guest Like the cultural center doesn't bring money or people to Flint. How does 4 little houses mean anything compared to the Cultural Center? Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:26 am  Jerry Guest quote: Grand Blanc Man schreef: How does 4 little houses mean anything compared to the Cultural Center? "Once in a while you get shown the light In the strangest of places if you look at it right." Those little houses you speak of, two of which are still homes to families living in them, undeniably mean and represent more to a lot of people than a parking lot could ever mean to a few. Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:59 am    Display posts from previous:   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First

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