I don't agree with you on everything, but on this I'm with you 100%. Saving the houses on Blount Street was a great idea in the 1970s, when the rest of state government was destroying entire neighborhoods. When I worked for Cultural Resources the Lewis Smith House was a fantastic living argument for historic preservation. I think we've gone back into a period where monumental new construction is the preference- the current rehab of the museum of history doesn't impress me at all. Granted, the original building was poorly thought out, but fancy exterior rehab wasn't what it needed to be as welcoming as the Museum of Natural History across the street. The amount spent on the Civil War museum in Fayetteville is mind-boggling too....
You point out how government has been a failure at preserving these homes. Why should the government own them in the first place?
Sell them at a reasonable discount with the stipulation that the buyer restore the home and live in it or use it as a business, like the Second Empire restaurant.
This is another example of why private ownership is more successful versus the failure of collective state “ownership” where no one is responsible.
I don't agree with you on everything, but on this I'm with you 100%. Saving the houses on Blount Street was a great idea in the 1970s, when the rest of state government was destroying entire neighborhoods. When I worked for Cultural Resources the Lewis Smith House was a fantastic living argument for historic preservation. I think we've gone back into a period where monumental new construction is the preference- the current rehab of the museum of history doesn't impress me at all. Granted, the original building was poorly thought out, but fancy exterior rehab wasn't what it needed to be as welcoming as the Museum of Natural History across the street. The amount spent on the Civil War museum in Fayetteville is mind-boggling too....
You point out how government has been a failure at preserving these homes. Why should the government own them in the first place?
Sell them at a reasonable discount with the stipulation that the buyer restore the home and live in it or use it as a business, like the Second Empire restaurant.
This is another example of why private ownership is more successful versus the failure of collective state “ownership” where no one is responsible.
Yes - I would prefer they be sold with preservation covenants. But at the very least, maintain them while they're under state ownership.