Here’s the
agenda,
and below are the videos as events transpired,
of the 29 September 2014 Regular Session of the Greater Lowndes
Planning Commission (GLPC). Continue reading
Tag Archives: Valdosta City Council
Outside corporation trumps Valdosta citizens about historical Nichols house? –Jim Parker @ VCC 2014-10-23
Received 27 October 2014 about Whose rights come first? –Tim Carroll. -jsq
So because the owner of the property, which appeared to be a
national property owning corporation for the fraternity’s local chapters, couldn’t, or more likely, didn’t want to see the cultural and architectural significance of the Nichols’ House, and merely wanted to unload the property as quick as possible, their property rights trump all other citizens of Valdosta in regards to our historical/cultural history and what we may wish to preserve? Do private entities, which may not even live here, have carte blanche to run roughshod and do whatever they please in our city irregardless of the interests of the citizens that do?
If you think I have a “lack of true understanding Continue reading
Whose rights come first? –Tim Carroll @ VCC 2014-10-23
Received 25 October 2014 on Too bad about the Nichols House –Jim Parker @ VCC 2014-10-23. -jsq
I realize many may think none on council heard what Dr. Willis had to say, but that was not the case. What I think was missed by many in the audience was the fact that the owner of this property was not the applicant of this request, but was adamantly opposed to it. Not only did they have an offer on the table to sell, but it was pending the outcome of the vote regarding historic designation. To take away the rights of a property owner at the request of another is a very tricky thing. Whose rights come first? This was a tough decision in and unto itself. To suggest that only the monetary value of the property for taxation purposes drove the decision demonstrates a lack of true understanding of the all the pertinent facts of this case.
-Tim Carroll
I think
the applicant’s frat alumnus attorney speaking for 15 minutes against probably tipped off most people about that first point. -jsq
Too bad about the Nichols House –Jim Parker @ VCC 2014-10-23
Received 23 October 2014 on Alfred Willis comments at Valdosta Historic Preservation 2014-10-06. I added the [vote correction] and the links. -jsq
I attended tonight’s City Council meeting, and heard Dr Willis’ impassioned advocacy of the Council approving the historical preservation of the Nichols’ House. Our Historic Preservation Commission reviewed this and request recommended approval by a vote of five to one. Dr Willis sold me on the merits. Unfortunately, the Council must not have heard what I did, and unanimously voted against [actually all but one against] approving the designation. It looks to me, that as it stands, demolition of the house could commence tomorrow, and the replacement construction of the apartments for VSU students can commence.
A huge number of apartment buildings have been built over the past few years. First with the large complexes of Blanton Commons, The Gardens, and The Grove, to the numerous buildings along West Mary, Baytree Drive, Boone Drive and Oak Street, among others. Plans are still on tap for the major development of the entire city block just south of campus (one that I can actually appreciate). The question was mentioned to me tonight whether Continue reading
Videos: Nichols House, Turner Brooks, Scintilla Charter School, sidewalk, street lights @ VCC 2014-10-23
If it’s old, it’s no good: tear it down!
Despite
Alfred Willis saying the
Nichols House was not just
historic like he presented in his October 1st lecture,
but perhaps the most historic,
a lawyer spoke against it,
and
the Valdosta City Council voted against preserving it
and thus in favor of demolishing it for the
Turner Brooks subdivision next to VSU.
Only Council Robert Yost, in whose district the Nichols House remains
for the moment,
voted for preserving it.
We’re told the
water issues noted by WWALS for that subdivision
are permitting issues, so we’ll see what happens with those.
See also
Alfred Willis’ comments to the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission.
And the Council approved Scintilla Charter School’s conditional use, perhaps not coincidentally after local attorney Bill Langdale spoke for it. Plus a sidewalk, streetlights, and other matters.
See the agenda. Here are videos of events as they transpired at the 23 October 2014 Regular Session of the Valdosta City Council.
Continue readingNichols House, Turner Brooks, Scintilla Charter School, sidewalk, street lights @ VCC 2014-10-23
The historic nature of the
Nichols House
in the proposed
Turner Brooks subdivision next to VSU,
which also has
water issues noted by WWALS,
will be considered at the Valdosta City Council tonight; the picture is of people at a previous Planning Commission meeting about this.
See
Alfred Willis’ comments to the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission.
Also Scintilla Charter School’s proposed rezoning, a sidewalk,
streetlights, and other matters.
Here’s the agenda.
AGENDAContinue reading
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, October 23, 2014
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Video: Baytree Nichols House, Alfred Willis Lecture @ VSU 2014-10-01
First all-electric house in Valdosta, new materials, unusual arrangement
of space for indoor-outdoor living on the same level outside as in, with light throughout because mostly only one room wide,
in a western atomic ranch house adapted for Valdosta.
Will what Dr. Willis had to say about
“a replete instance of the diffusion of Californian”
be enough to preserve the masterpiece of Lloyd Greer Sr. (1885-1952)
from development?
Announced as Continue reading
Lowndes County officials at Open Government Symposium @ OGS 2014-10-17
Gretchen reports from Macon that Lowndes County Commissioner Clay Griner (District 5), Paige Dukes (County Clerk), Joyce Evans (District 1), Scott Orenstein (District 2-elect), and Valdosta City Clerk Theresa Bolden (not pictured)
are all at the
VDT Open Government Symposium in Macon.
Congratulations, Jim Zachary and the VDT, on getting them to show up! Continue reading
VDT Open Government Symposium: in Macon?
Yay open government symposium!
But why in Macon, why not in Valdosta,
if it’s organized by the new VDT editor?
Sure, Macon is the geographic center of the state, but it’s only
about an hour from Atlanta, and one thing most people in Atlanta don’t
understand is how big Georgia is, so asking them to drive four hours
to Valdosta would be educational for them.
And if the VDT is so interested in government transparency,
why doesn’t it investigate the county’s lawsuit against local business Deep South Sanitation
at the expense of the local taxpayers that benefits nobody but
“exclusive franchise” ADS and its investors in New York City?
Why is the VDT’s front page story that gave a platform for
Spectra’s Andrea Grover no longer online, especially now that
the Sabal Trail deadline she announced has been busted?
Let’s see the VDT lead the way.
Here’s a first test:
Gretchen is going to Macon with the LAKE video camera.
Will the VDT let her video?
Unsigned article, VDT, 11 October 2014, VDT leading way in open government, Continue reading
Georgia Power plans to change all streetlights to LEDs
Terri Lupo. South Region Vice President at Georgia Power, has provided further information on Valdosta converting to LED streetlights.
She said on the telephone yesterday that
Georgia Power met with Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson last week.
Georgia Power plans over next four years to change out all the streetlights
in Georgia, from high pressure sodium (or whatever they’re currently using)
to LED lighting.
She says that will be more efficient, and will provide more
light, with a better pattern of coverage.
Valdosta had already expressed interest, so they were one of the first
to join this LED streetlight program.
She said it’s not surprising Tim Carroll was a little vague on the details, since Georgia Power is Continue reading