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LOCAL City kills change in 'McMansion' proposal By JEFF WILKINSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com Posted on Thu, Jan. 24, 2008 "Columbia City Council on Wednesday unanimously turned back a push by home builders and real estate agents to weaken the city's proposed 'neighborhood character protection' ordinance. The ordinance is intended to prevent developers from tearing down historic homes, radically subdividing lots or building 'McMansions' - houses that are out of scale with the lot they sit on and the homes around them." Read more from The State... Don't deter older communities from getting protections Opinion Posted on Fri, Jan. 18, 2008 in The State "IN ADOPTING RULES to protect historic homes and preserve the character of older communities, Columbia City Council mustn't make it too difficult for neighborhoods to get such protection. On Wednesday, the council will consider a set of temporary rules that would set parameters for tearing down certain homes and structures as well as limit "McMansions" and the aggressive subdivision of lots. The new rules would apply in five neighborhoods that have met requirements set out by the city; others could ask the council to include them in the future." Read more from The State... Home site limits opposed Amendment sought to proposal to restrict 'McMansions By JEFF WILKINSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com Posted on Fri, Jan. 18, 2008 - The State "Developers in Columbia are waging a campaign to water down proposed city rules that would make it harder for them to subdivide lots in six in-town neighborhoods and build large houses on the smaller lots. City Council is to vote Wednesday on the new rules, called the 'community character protection ordinance.' Under the proposal, a majority of property owners attending special neighborhood association meetings could vote to have the rules apply to their area." Read more from The State... America's McMansion Problem Ever-Larger Houses Fuel Rabid Resource Consumption By Stan Cox - Free Times Issue #20.42 :: 10/17/2007 - 10/23/2007 "In Los Gatos, Calif., controversy has raged this summer over the city planning commission's approval of a hillside home that will occupy a whopping 3,600 square feet - and that's just the basement. Atop that walkout basement will be 5,500 more square feet worth of house. The prospective owner says he'll build to 'green' standards, but at the Aug. 8 meeting where the permit was approved, the city's lone dissenting planning commissioner stated the obvious when he told the owner, 'You have a 9,000-square-foot house with a three-car garage and a pool. I don't see that as green.'" Read more from The Free Times... BUILDING OUR CITY Columbia plans to clean house on land-use boards New appointees will determine how city is developed By JEFF WILKINSON and GINA SMITH The State - jwilkinson@thestate.com gnsmith@thestate.com Posted on Thu, Oct. 04, 2007 "The people who decide how Columbia grows are being forced off land-use boards in a sweeping change that could affect the way the city looks for decades. Leading the charge for change are conservative members of City Council and business leaders, who say the powerful boards' members have become entrenched and developers have to work too hard to get projects built in the city. City Council is establishing new term limits and residency requirements that could turn over every seat on the powerful Planning Commission and a majority on the Design, Development Review Commission." Read more from The State... Read our opinion about this new tactic... BUILDING OUR CITY City areas must ask for restrictions Gina Smith, The State. Posted on Thu, Sep. 20, 2007 "Columbia residents, you've got a new tool to help control how your neighborhood develops. On Wednesday, Columbia City Council created an "opt in" plan for neighborhoods that want additional restrictions on new home construction, the subdivision of lots and home demolition. Neighborhoods that don't want to abide by the new restrictions, they don't have to opt in and therefore, won't have to follow the new rules. Two city neighborhoods are already in the new program. All other neighborhoods will need to take additional steps to join. Here's how it will work:" Read more from The State... Preserving Balance Council of Neighborhoods Implores City Council to Be Thoughtful on Infill Demolition, Construction Free Times Issue #20.36 :: 09/05/2007 - 09/11/2007 BY ERIC K. WARD "The Columbia Council of Neighborhoods is imploring City Council to take a measured, thoughtful approach to the emotional and politically charged issue of neighborhood infill development and historic preservation. Normally a quiet adviser from the sidelines of city issues, the Council of Neighborhoods has come out strongly on this one. And for the umbrella group of neighborhoods, representing no fewer than 94 of them, it is a delicate matter requiring a balanced stance." Read more from the Free Times... Read the original opinion piece from The Columbia Star... City needs clear rules to protect old homes, structures An Editorial in The State Newspaper, Thu, Aug. 30, 2007 "COLUMBIA CITY Council has wisely agreed to consider new development rules to protect historic homes and structures as well as preserve the character of older communities. It's important for the city to have adequate rules that not only preserve older structures and communities, but also give developers a clear understanding of what they can do with property they own or intend to purchase and develop. While the council pledges to review development rules, neighborhood leaders understandably are concerned about their communities being left unprotected in the meantime. Their request for temporary protections is a reasonable one." Read more from The State... If These Old Walls Could Speak Historic Preservation Rises on City Agenda Free Times Issue #20.35 :: 08/29/2007 - 09/04/2007 BY JULIE JAREMA "The Waters, co-presidents of the Historic Heathwood Neighborhood Association, have lived at 742 Albion Road for more than 30 years. Both their children, Creighton and Tinsley, are grown, and they have one grandchild. Creighton, the oldest, was married in the backyard in 2006, Mary Waters recalls. Though normally a calm, upscale neighborhood, Heathwood has been in an uproar recently over the demolition in July of a 78-year-old farmhouse, which was torn down to make room for new housing. That demolition and the destruction of an old white church on Huger Street have brought widespread attention to the issue of historic preservation, which has been long overlooked in Columbia." Read more from the Free Times... Mayor Says: Preservation Protects Neighborhoods, Enhances Community Also Beneficial to the Bottom Line Free Times Issue #20.35 :: 08/29/2007 - 09/04/2007 "Mayor Bob Coble Responds I wanted to respond to Kevin Fisher's op-ed about historic preservation (Aug. 15, City Watch, "Politicizing Preservation"). Most of Kevin's personal attacks against me are the same ones he made in last years mayor's race. Rather than try to answer all of those charges again, I will let the vote of the people on April 6, 2006 speak for itself." Read more from the Free Times... Boyer-Gergel Race High Dollar, Big Stakes Match-Up May Shake Up Balance of Power Free Times Issue #20.35 :: 08/29/2007 - 09/04/2007 BY ERIC K. WARD "The first campaign contribution filings for Columbia City Council candidates are in and the numbers are enough to make the much talked about 2000 totals look like peanuts. Boyer's filing is replete with the names of builders and developers such as Mungo Homes, Don Tomlin and Chris Dorsey. In contrast, the Gergel supporters include a small army of lawyers as well as big names like former Gov. Jim Hodges and former S.C. Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum." Read more from The Free Times... BUILDING OUR CITY Compromise would restrict destruction of old homes The State Wed, Aug. 22, 2007 By JEFF WILKINSON - jwilkinson@thestate.com "Developers should post signs for 15 days on homes they want to tear down in Columbia's historic downtown neighborhoods, real estate professionals and neighborhood leaders recommended Tuesday. During that time, a committee appointed by City Council would decide whether the home can be razed. It also would have final approval on what is built in its place. The temporary measure, to be considered by City Council on Sept. 5, responds to complaints that neighborhoods like Shandon and Heathwood are being cluttered by oversized homes on small, cut-up lots." Read more from The State... Unfortunately, Mr Wilkinson missed a couple of key points... Preserving Downtown Neighborhoods Free Times Issue #20.34 :: 08/22/2007 - 08/28/2007 Reader Says Dig Deeper, Look Past Issues at Hand to Preserving In-Town Neighborhoods CNFAID's response to Kevin Fishers' Free Times opinion piece. Politicizing Preservation City Only Now Receiving Wake-up Call?! Opinion by KEVIN FISHER Free Times Issue #20.33 :: 08/15/2007 - 08/21/2007 Suddenly, the city is in crisis. Is it gang violence? Water shortages? The homeless situation? No, it's historic preservation - though the historic aspect is subject to debate. Columbia City Council's latest foray into "government by headline" saw a story about the development of a 2.4-acre lot in Heathwood appear in The State on Aug. 1, followed on Aug. 2 by Mayor Bob Coble calling for changes to the city's development laws. There's nothing like contemplative leadership. Read more from the Free Times... Read our response to Mr Fisher... Election could tip council Win by Boyer would give conservative councilmen a stronger voting bloc The State, Mon, Aug. 13, 2007 By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com The upcoming Columbia City Council race between candidates Belinda Gergel and Brian Boyer isn't just about issues. It's about control. The April election could determine which of two political camps rule the city. On one side: The Mayor Bob Coble camp, a Democratic-leaning group of senior council members which counts many supporters among neighborhood leaders and city activists who live in the district, and have strong ties to the African-American community. On the other side: an emerging group of young, conservative business owners - Kirkman Finlay and Daniel Rickenmann - who are calling for more financial accountability and a greater chunk of the city's money to go for police and other basic services. Read more from The State... Columbia City Council candidate pushing for historic preservation The State, August 7, 2007 09:10 PM COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A Columbia City Council candidate says there should be a moratorium on demolition and building in some Columbia neighborhoods. Belinda Gergel, along with several Neighborhood Association representatives, says aggressive and inadequately regulated development in some of Columbia's most historic neighborhoods is creating problems. Read more from WISTV.com... City to fine-tune development rules Council says new process is needed to address concerns By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com It might become more difficult for Columbia developers to demolish old homes, subdivide a lot to build multiple homes or build homes that don't fit into the character of the surrounding neighborhood." Read more from the follow up article in The State, August 2, 2007... "Historic - or just plain old? Backlog of 'historic' requests deepens tension over what can be built, torn down By DAWN HINSHAW - dhinshaw@thestate.com The State, August 1, 2007 The surprise destruction of a 78-year-old farmhouse - sitting on more than two acres in one of Columbia's most affluent and historic areas - has renewed debate over the value of preserving old neighborhoods." Read more from The State... Sinclair Not Running Creates Key Campaign Issue #20.30 :: 07/25/2007 - 07/31/2007 A decision by longtime Columbia City Councilwoman Anne Sinclair not to seek re-election has given rise to a political race that could affect the balance of power on the seven-member City Council. At least two serious District 3 contenders have emerged: Brian Boyer, a 30-year-old resident of Shandon, and Belinda Gergel, a 57-year-old who lives in the University Hill neighborhood. More from The Free Times... NATIONAL Davis, California Help plan development The Davis Enterprise - By Claire St. John - Published Sep 16, 2007 - 02:19:44 CDT. Three meetings this week will allow Davis residents to help plan future development on the 12-acre Simmons property on East Eighth Street near the Davis Cemetery. "The purpose of the workshop is to try to get a consensus between the city, the developer and the community for a conceptual plan for development," City Planner Cathy Camacho said. Read more from the The Davis Enterprise... Raleigh, North Carolina 588 Raleigh homes replaced since 2002 Triangle Business Journal - 4:46 PM EDT Friday, September 14, 2007 Some 588 single-family houses have been built in Raleigh since 2002 on sites where a building has been demolished, according to the data released Friday from a city research report. The numbers are from the first phase of the report, meant to measure the trend of people replacing their homes. Such building often takes place in older neighborhoods - a trend that, city leaders are concerned, could rob those neighborhoods of their character. Read more from the Triangle Business Journal... Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro at-large race: Three who would challenge developers By Amy Kingsley, Staff writer, YES! Weekly The seating arrangements for the Greensboro at-large city council candidates' forum at Peeler Community Center had been worked out well in advance of the Sept. 6 event. The lone incumbent, Sandra Anderson-Groat, anchored one end, and on the other sat challenger Greg Woodard. The 10 remaining candidates filled the vast middle space. Like poles on a magnet, Woodard and Anderson-Groat seemed to attract like-minded neighbors: Woodard's end was peopled with political outsiders while Anderson-Groat's included former members of the city council and Guilford County Commission. In addition to its imbalance of political experience, the table was also divided along vocational lines. Anderson-Groat, a homebuilder, was surrounded by realtors Kevin Green, Mary Rakestraw - a former county commissioner - and Robbie Perkins, a real estate broker who served on the city council until 2005. The Woodard end was a mixed bag of small business owners, retirees and a clergyman. Read more from YES! Weekly... Atlanta, Georgia Council to vote on new zoning ordinance By DAVID PENDERED The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on 08/17/07 Two years ago, Atlanta's white-hot intown housing market turned neighbor against neighbor as residents fought over a torrential trend of tearing down older homes and replacing them with million-dollar houses that towered over the neighborhood. "It was a frightening time," said Dianne Olansky, a neighborhood leader in the Morningside area. "You'd go down a street in the morning and come back in the afternoon and a house was gone, demolished in a day. The face of the neighborhood where you live and work was changed in a day." Some homeowners wanted top dollar and a quick sale, and they flocked to developers who'd pay $250,000 for a house just to tear it down. The land was that valuable. Now, after two years of back-and-forth negotiations, a compromise has been reached. The Atlanta City Council's Zoning Committee voted unanimously for the proposal earlier this month and the council is scheduled to vote on it on Monday. Read more from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution... Fort Smith, Arkansas Historic New Homes Monday, August 13, 2007 A stroll downtown in Fort Smith's Belle Grove Historic District shows off many homes dating as far back as 1850. These 18 different architectural style homes represent a piece of the city's past. But also with those houses are many empty lots - merely a plot with steps that lead to a house that is no longer there. One local resident started what many hope to be a trend by purchasing an empty lot on North Sixth Street in the historic district to build a new house - one that resembles its surroundings. More from the Times Record... Tucson, Arizona Neighborhood-protection plan up for council vote today August 6, 2007 A hotly-disputed neighborhood-preservation zoning overlay will be back in front of the City Council today - after undergoing another transformation from previous plans. This time City Council hopes it has threaded the needle to make two competing interests happy - developers who want to build minidorm-type structures for college students and neighborhood homeowners who don't want older houses torn down and replaced with bigger structures that don't fit architecturally with the area. More from the Arizona Daily Star... NPR Story "March 6, 2006 - There's a backlash in many communities against building "McMansions" -- larger-than-average homes built on traditionally sized lots -- in established neighborhoods with smaller homes. Cities such as Austin, Texas and Atlanta are considering laws that would stop the building of new homes that tower over adjacent houses and fill up small lots in older sections of town. Kathy Lohr reports on attitudes around the nation on this trend." Listen to the story on the NPR web site... Atlanta, Georgia "Fitting into intown: Incompatible infills anger neighborhoods The din of demolition continues to reverberate across Atlanta's intown neighborhoods as crews tear down older houses to make way for mini-mansions for residents who want lots of space." More from the Atlanta Journal Constitution... Austin Moratorium on large homes "Citizens across the city have expressed concern about the impact of larger new homes being built in established neighborhoods with aging infrastructure." Read more from the City of Austin web site... Austin Moratorium on large homes "The Austin City Council passed a moratorium late Thursday night on big new homes that neighbors say dwarf smaller, older homes nearby. The council passed the rules unanimously on first reading, which means they will have a chance to tweak the rules before voting on them again next Thursday on second and third readings. However, the rules take effect today." Read more from the Austin-American Statesman newspaper online... INTERNATIONAL Moscow, Russia Nine-year-old girl dies of electrocution in Moscow MOSCOW, August 23 (RIA Novosti) A nine-year-old girl died and another girl was injured and hospitalized after being electrocuted at a building site in a residential area in northwestern Moscow, police said Thursday. It is not the first instance of children suffering from electric shocks in a capital that is booming with construction projects, including infill development, where vacant or underused plots within existing urban areas that are already largely developed are sited for construction. More from RIA Novosti... Halifax, Nova Scotia South end of city both a dream and nightmare Developments will bring good return for builders, but older homes lost August 2, 2007 - South-end Halifax is fast turning into a developer's dream, but it's also creating a bit of a nightmare for the area councillor. "There's infill mania going on here right now," Deputy Mayor Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm-South End) said in an interview. "I've got infills going left, right and centre, up the yingyang." More from the Chronicle Herald... If you have news about the growing trend of infill development, please send us a link to the article at cnfaid@dmzgraphics.com |