Quick Update : Mayor of Charleston to Durham Officials: You must save your historic buildings
I was glad that Bob Ashley wrote his column today about long-time Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley's visit to Durham last week, as the Preservation Durham-sponsored event - evidently attended by a veritable Who's Who of Durham politicians and presidents - had received no press coverage. This was a mid-day event, much like Preservation Durham's Lunch and Learn events - which cover some interesting topics. These mid-day things would be great if 1) You can get away from work for a long lunch and 2) You are willing to pay $45 for lunch/event (this time, usually $12-16 - see comments.)
Unfortunately, I can't/won't do either - although if I could have gotten away from work, I might have taken the hit on the cash for this one.
I've gotten some reports from the event. The most salient aspect to me was that Riley praised the architecture of Durham and the renaissance of our downtown buildings, while advising people that we need to do everything that we can to preserve our architecture from demolition. Ashley quotes.
"[Riley] recalled stand-offs with officials who wanted to tear down deteriorated or damaged older buildings.....'We worked hard to keep the bulldozers out,' he said. 'Cities need memories.'"
A question was asked about what to do about property owners that refuse to fix up or sell their deteriorating buildings. Riley noted that Charleston aggressively pursued these people via their demolition-by-neglect ordinance in order to preserve their historic buildings.
Based on this, I partly disagree with Bill Kalkhof's letter to the editor a few days ago, in which he noted that Riley's message was a reinforcement of Durham's policy and action in downtown. While the private sector in downtown Durham has, to date, taken historic preservation seriously, the public sector continues to misunderstand its importance - as evidenced by the public sector push to demolish 120 East Main St. (which Kalkhof supported), the county's ongoing intent to demolish the entire 500 block of East Main St., including the old George's Grill at 526 East Main - documented in the Library of Congress and the 1930s era H. Lee Waters films of Durham, and the general lack of any adequate policy to preserve Durham's historic architecture.
I hope these officials heard the message that I've read and heard - and avoid the self-congratulatory posture. Becuase we are a long way from a point where anyone in the city or county fights off the bulldozers.
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6 comments:
I've never been to Charleston, so maybe I shouldn't say this, but sometimes it seems like Charleston has swung too much in the other direction? They seem too pre-occupied with the past.
I certainly *don't* mean that Durham needs to demolish more buildings -- Durham is clearly on the other side of the line -- but I wouldn't want Durham to turn into Charleston.
Well, I don't think there is any risk of Durham turning into Charleston - we don't enough historic architecture left. I don't really think we could turn into any other city, so I don't think that's really a concern.
My line for "too preoccupied with the past" occurs when the city stops being lived in and used for modern endeavors - Charleston does not qualify in that regard. In that way - as with Savannah and my hometown of New Orleans - I think it is a special place, and proof that modern commerce is not utterly contingent on corpulent highways and 3-spaces-for-every-car parking lots.
Charleston, too, lost a lot of its past - all you have to do is look up near the interstate and see the gap-toothed blocks and lonely historic stragglers.
Are there things like historic carriage rides and those annoying historic interpretive actors that I avoid at all costs? Definitely - that's what some tourists who come from charmless places want. To me, though, the beauty is that the place is lived in by people who go to work, the grocery, school, etc.
GK
I attended the Riley event which was wonderful and not a validation of everything going on in Durham. I hope he persuaded some people. I am glad to hear of Bob Ashley's column. Thanks for your take on this.
Clarification: this was not part of Preservation Durham's Lunch & Learn series. This was a special event. Lunch & Learn events are $16-20.
>>Clarification: this was not part of Preservation Durham's Lunch & Learn series. This was a special event.<<
Yes, indeed. I got a notification of it from Preservation Durham which informed me that places were being reserved for important people in Durham and if there were any spaces left, plebes like me could attend.
Well, la de dah. Do you suppose that Preservation Durham has more members than it needs? It certainly might learn how to communicate more diplomatically with them.
I'll defend P.D. in this instance. I personally would not have wanted to spend $45 for a lunch meeting. If there was limited seating available, then VIP's (i.e. Durham officials) needed to be there more than I did. You don't have to convince me or others like you John that saving architecural history is incredibly important to Durham. Unfortunately there are many folks in positions of power in Durham who need to hear it from someone of Mr. Riley's stature.
AMS
Did anyone mention to Charleston's mayor that Mayor Bell also is part owner of a demolition company, and there's a conflict of interest with his wanting to save Durham's buildings?
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