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Arlington and FBC owners formally notified
Published Saturday, August 2, 2008
NATCHEZ — The owners of two historic Natchez properties considered to be under “demolition by neglect” have now been formally notified of the charge.
Arlington and First Baptist Church earned the title at a June 9 Preservation Commission meeting, but formal letters weren’t sent until recently.
The letter of notification to the owner of Arlington was sent July 23 and the church’s letter was sent out July 31.
The owners now have 30 days to get a building permit from the city to correct what is causing the negligent demolition.
Building Inspector Paul Dawes said both letters are essentially the same.
“(They) basically described the things that were improper with the building, namely structural elements incapable of supporting the loads safely,” Dawes said.
He said both letters also point to where water, in both cases, has been allowed to enter the building, which is causing deterioration.
The letters request that open spaces on each building where the elements and vandals can enter be boarded up.
City Planner John “Rusty” Lewis said the ball for the process is rolling.
“We’ve satisfied the first step and the process will continue,” he said.
Arlington is owned by Dr. Tom Vaughan, who recently granted the Historic Natchez Foundation approval to cut the property’s grass and install security equipment.
The former First Baptist Church was purchased by Dream Homes Inc., in Marrero, La., and is to be turned into luxury condominiums.
As of Friday afternoon, neither owner had replied to the city.
If the 30 days expire with no response the owners will have to appear before the Natchez Preservation Commission for a hearing, according to the Natchez Preservation Ordinance.
After the hearing, if the commission sees that the buildings are still deteriorating due to neglect, the owners could face charges.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on August 2, 2008 at 1:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, there is child abuse and there is building abuse. Building abuse gets more articles per case in the Democrat. I wonder what the penalty for building abuse charges in Natchez is. Hanging from one of the green light poles or public whipping, or what? Maybe a big "A" for Abuser burned into their breasts?
In child abuse cases the child usually gets taken away and given to foster parents. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Historic Socialist Services does the same with these buildings. The Cult of House Worshippers has been known to kidnap buildings before, but of course those were in another county.
By the way, HNF, Planning Commission and Preservation Commission, I hear the HNF is holding 160,000 for the restoration of the old Wagner Store up in Church Hill and won't spend the money and that building is falling apart too. Apparently what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.
The federal, state, and local governments cannot meet their own responsibilties for properly caring for the infrastructure under their care due to lack of money. Where does the government get the authority to force private citizens to do what it cannot do? This is a bad precedent and will only get worse.
Shame on Natchez. .
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's painfully obvious the City is doing this to the homes that have out-of-town owners. Are there any plans to pursue the local owners of rotting buildings?
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
^5 EnKiKur. I just love that old store. I have a spent, "Good For" trade token from that store. Found it in a creek. I wonder if the store is insured? The way it looks now, a big bad wolf, with leukemia, could easily blow it down.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Used to sell the pecans I picked up to the Wagner store. It was great spending money as a kid. Good memories.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Cult of House Worshippers has been known to kidnap buildings before, but of course those were in another county."
Could you elaborate Enkikur? Just curious.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on August 2, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is just my allusion to the moving about of the Wagner store from where it was to where it is now, and the moving of the old Greenwood Presbyterian Church. You would think part of preserving the history of a building would be its location and I am sure that would be the case in Natchez. Can you imagine the Cult allowing a Natchez building to be moved out of the city limits?
The moving of the church is not such a bad thing, seeing as how it was mostly saved, but there is a bit of wierdness to the whole house worship thing going on over in Natchez. For instance, calling the Pilgrimage the Pilgrimage. Do you get the religious connotation of that? Pilgrimage is what you do at Lourdes, Jerusalem or Mecca. Going to look at old houses hardly constitutes a pilgrimage of any sort in my opinion.
Posted by natcheznative (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Pilgrimage is a silly word to use. Actually, the new trend is to talk about how the people lived and where the slaves lived etc. This is what tourists want these days. It is not so much about the house but about the people. No one care what religion you are in natchez.
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