I feel that it is important at this time to once again post links to other towns that have had problems with commercialization in their historic districts. The ordinance that the city council will vote on October 1st will help us significantly in our fight to keep commercialization out of the historic residential district. This ordinance is about keeping Minden's Residential Historic District the beautiful, nostalgic, peaceful and RESIDENTIAL district that it is currently. Take a few moments to drive through the historic residential district this weekend and notice the signs that homeowners have placed up in support of this ordinance. We have nothing to hide. If there is one thing that we are, it's united. The signs, the ordinance and the commission are all proof that we take the issue of protecting our historic residential district very seriously.
Many years ago, when my husband and I were still both in the Air Force, we realized that we wanted, NEEDED, a place to call home. Shaun is from Indiana, so we looked at moving to a number of small towns all over the country. When we fell in love with Minden, it wasn't because of the commercial businesses located here. Show me someone who falls in love with a town because it has a Walgreens or any other big-box-discount store and I'll show you someone who needs therapy. That's not to say that the residents of the historic district don't welcome business to our hometown with open arms: we do want them to come here. But we do NOT welcome them open-armed into our HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
Americans, as a whole, tend to take things for granted. When we moved to this beautiful little historic town, it was because we could see that it was a safe place to raise our children and spend the rest of our lives. When we were shopping for our home, we knew that it would be THE home for us. Our 1908 beauty has creaky floors, leaky windows and peeling paint. But we overlook these, and many other problems that go along with owning an older home, because we realize that we are our home's guardians. We are charged with protecting the home that generation after generation of Mindenites were raised in, and we consider this both an honor and a priviledge. That we don't take for granted.
You see, in the historic residential district we have something uniquely special. We can take a stroll around the block and stop to chat with our neighbors as they work in their flowerbeds. We can look out our windows on any given Saturday and see brides having their portaits made in Academy Park. There is a reason why people have picnic lunches by The Fitzgerald House, and why the Mardi Gras parade starts at the library, and that reason is not because Webster Parish Citizens treasure commercialization.
If you are sincerely concerned about why we want this ordinance to pass, look at the following websites. They will show you that the rezoning, removal and destruction of our historic districts is a nationwide epidemic. We are very lucky that the residents of our historic district are enlightened enough to keep this from happening in our community, but other towns have not been so lucky.
If you would like a copy of the ordinance in advance, please contact city hall or Bill Green at 377-5004.
Thanks so much for all of your support!
Jackie Lewis
http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/chain_drugstores/
http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/chain_drugstores/drugstores_success_stories.html
http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arc_news/120704.htm
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17090917&BRD=1653&PAG=461&dept_id=12717&rfi=6
http://www.examiner.com/a-468611~Historic_Chinese_eatery_to_become_a_Walgreens.html
http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_178221105.html/resources_printstory
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cdap/downloads/cdap_pdf14072.pdf
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/08/01/MN133594.DTL&type=printable
http://www.eurekawebs.com/cityhall/commdevp/docs/City_PRES_PLAN_final-text.pdf
http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/downloads/drugstore_rockland_ma.pdf
http://www.northside.net/nba/pdf/NBAmeetingWalgreens060605.pdf
http://www.preservationdirectory.com/HistoricalPreservation/Home.aspx
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=136614&format=print
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/11/25/BA215296.DTL
http://www.metafilter.com/comments.mefi/33664
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/clubextra.html?nclubid=888222976&nid=337570030
http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arc_news/120704.htm
http://www.timesreporter.com/topFive.php?vote=2&Headline=Drug+stores+are+great%3B+so+are+historic+neighborhoods&ID=55465&Category=6
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/320808930?ltl=1177742960
http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_178221105.html
http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_143223536.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/97758_walgreens29.shtml
http://www.historicrockland.org/walgreens_development_plan_targe.htm
http://www.savethecumberland.org/what.htm
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/chi-030113landmarks1,0,3462980.story?page=6&?track=sto-relcon
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070310102500AALzs1C
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
PETITION SIGNING
Hi everyone! Bill Green will be in his front yard this afternoon (21 September 2007 starting at 2:00 pm) with the petition. If you haven't had the chance to sign it, please stop by! His home is in front of Academy Park, located on East and West Street. There should be plenty of signs to point the way, but if you can't find it you can call me for directions!
Jackie
Jackie
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
IMPORTANT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
There is a VERY IMPORTANT city council meeting on Monday, October 1st, 2007, at which time the city council will vote on the proposed Minden Historic Residential District Ordinance. It is EXTREMELY important that we all make a grand showing in support of this ordinance.
For more information, you may call Bill Green at 377-5004 or Schelley Brown at 423-0192. Please make sure that you have signed both the online and handheld petitions! These are available at Concepts Beauty Salon on Homer Road, and by calling Schelley or Bill.
Please call your city councilman and let them know about your opinion on this matter.
Also, there is a Historic Residential District Meeting tonight, Tuesday, September 18th at 6:30 pm at the home of Billie Jean and Bill Green, 311 East and West Street. Please attend this meeting for more information.
In addition, if you would like a "Help Save Minden's Historic District" sign for your yard, contact Bill Green at 377-5004.
We really appreciate all of your help!
For more information, you may call Bill Green at 377-5004 or Schelley Brown at 423-0192. Please make sure that you have signed both the online and handheld petitions! These are available at Concepts Beauty Salon on Homer Road, and by calling Schelley or Bill.
Please call your city councilman and let them know about your opinion on this matter.
Also, there is a Historic Residential District Meeting tonight, Tuesday, September 18th at 6:30 pm at the home of Billie Jean and Bill Green, 311 East and West Street. Please attend this meeting for more information.
In addition, if you would like a "Help Save Minden's Historic District" sign for your yard, contact Bill Green at 377-5004.
We really appreciate all of your help!
Historic District Residents
Dear Historic District Resident and Home Owner,
Did you know that your home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? In 1992 this area was listed with the National Parks Service as a valuable historic site in Louisiana. This means that you can place a historic marker on your home without all the extra paperwork required by others not in this defined area, if you are listed as a contributing element home.
As many of you know our historic district is one of our most valuable assets for not only us as home owners but for our community as a whole. Most of you decided to live in this area because of your love for this type of historic home and many of you have had these homes in your family for over 100 years. Believe it or not this is one of the most highly sought home areas in the city. These homes have been a crucial part of the fabric of Minden for nearly a century and for some over a century.
We have been faced over the last few years with some harsh realities. The reality is our historic area is in danger of being placed on the endangered species list. You are all aware of big business wanting to push commercial buildings and development on our corners. We must protect our homes and our heritage. By allowing big business to take over we will slowly erode a sacred area of Minden. This part of town is not only important to you the home owner but is equally important to others. The fact that others in Minden care has been made apparent with expressed concern and the many petition signatures.
Over the last few months, I as well as others in the district have been hard at work for you and your home values. We have made trips to Natchitoches, Louisiana and El Dorado, Arkansas as well as other cities to meet with the city officials to discuss how to save our area. It has taken Natchitoches some thirty years to get where they are today. It can only take one day to destroy 100+ years of history. We have researched and corresponded with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We have searched out other historic towns and cities web sites and looked at studies on historic areas. We want to preserve and protect your home and investment to the best of our ability.
We have worked with Mayor Bill Robertson and Judy Talley Thompson on this issue. We have been involved with a City Council workshop to provide you with the best solution to preserve and protect our homes and our historic district. The enclosed ordnance is something we have worked many hours on. We have worked very hard to come up with something that all of us can live with; we hope you will be pleased with this and we also hope to have your support in this issue. This is a very lenient ordnance compared to other cities and towns. You may not like every point in this ordnance but please remember it is not just about you, we all need to remember the real reason behind this! We are not trying to force an issue on anyone but if this ordnance in not passed we might as well give up on preserving our district. This will mean that the corporate endeavors of some will happen maybe not this year but soon. I personally want this to pass. This is a safeguard for us to a point.
It is a documented fact that a preserved historic residential area increases home values. This ordnance will make everyone accountable for the condition of their homes and will insure that the district will remain harmonious within itself and the surrounding homes. It doesn’t mean you can’t paint your house a color other than white. This means that your neighbor can not paint their home black with orange shutters unless the type home that they own is historical correct using those colors. It also lets big business and cooperate America know up front how the town feels about intrusion in this area. It means that the historic beauty will be kept for all to appreciate for many years to come. Guidelines from other cities will be used to help you with your questions. We take this very seriously as you should. Remember the main reason for all of this is to preserve and protect our homes and our district from those that don’t value or respect this area or its rich history and beauty.
We need your support when this is placed on the agenda for the city council meeting. The council needs to know that we want to save our district and we are opposed to big business taking our corners and lowering our property values. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email me about this matter. We hope to have this placed on the agenda at the next called meeting of the Minden City Council. We will try to mail out reminder cards when this issue is up for a vote, if we have enough notice. This meeting will be posted at City Hall before the meeting is held.
Sincerely,
Schelley Brown
President of Minden Historic Residential District Association
318-423-0192
318-371-2913
iluvoldcars@yahoo.com
Did you know that your home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places? In 1992 this area was listed with the National Parks Service as a valuable historic site in Louisiana. This means that you can place a historic marker on your home without all the extra paperwork required by others not in this defined area, if you are listed as a contributing element home.
As many of you know our historic district is one of our most valuable assets for not only us as home owners but for our community as a whole. Most of you decided to live in this area because of your love for this type of historic home and many of you have had these homes in your family for over 100 years. Believe it or not this is one of the most highly sought home areas in the city. These homes have been a crucial part of the fabric of Minden for nearly a century and for some over a century.
We have been faced over the last few years with some harsh realities. The reality is our historic area is in danger of being placed on the endangered species list. You are all aware of big business wanting to push commercial buildings and development on our corners. We must protect our homes and our heritage. By allowing big business to take over we will slowly erode a sacred area of Minden. This part of town is not only important to you the home owner but is equally important to others. The fact that others in Minden care has been made apparent with expressed concern and the many petition signatures.
Over the last few months, I as well as others in the district have been hard at work for you and your home values. We have made trips to Natchitoches, Louisiana and El Dorado, Arkansas as well as other cities to meet with the city officials to discuss how to save our area. It has taken Natchitoches some thirty years to get where they are today. It can only take one day to destroy 100+ years of history. We have researched and corresponded with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We have searched out other historic towns and cities web sites and looked at studies on historic areas. We want to preserve and protect your home and investment to the best of our ability.
We have worked with Mayor Bill Robertson and Judy Talley Thompson on this issue. We have been involved with a City Council workshop to provide you with the best solution to preserve and protect our homes and our historic district. The enclosed ordnance is something we have worked many hours on. We have worked very hard to come up with something that all of us can live with; we hope you will be pleased with this and we also hope to have your support in this issue. This is a very lenient ordnance compared to other cities and towns. You may not like every point in this ordnance but please remember it is not just about you, we all need to remember the real reason behind this! We are not trying to force an issue on anyone but if this ordnance in not passed we might as well give up on preserving our district. This will mean that the corporate endeavors of some will happen maybe not this year but soon. I personally want this to pass. This is a safeguard for us to a point.
It is a documented fact that a preserved historic residential area increases home values. This ordnance will make everyone accountable for the condition of their homes and will insure that the district will remain harmonious within itself and the surrounding homes. It doesn’t mean you can’t paint your house a color other than white. This means that your neighbor can not paint their home black with orange shutters unless the type home that they own is historical correct using those colors. It also lets big business and cooperate America know up front how the town feels about intrusion in this area. It means that the historic beauty will be kept for all to appreciate for many years to come. Guidelines from other cities will be used to help you with your questions. We take this very seriously as you should. Remember the main reason for all of this is to preserve and protect our homes and our district from those that don’t value or respect this area or its rich history and beauty.
We need your support when this is placed on the agenda for the city council meeting. The council needs to know that we want to save our district and we are opposed to big business taking our corners and lowering our property values. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or email me about this matter. We hope to have this placed on the agenda at the next called meeting of the Minden City Council. We will try to mail out reminder cards when this issue is up for a vote, if we have enough notice. This meeting will be posted at City Hall before the meeting is held.
Sincerely,
Schelley Brown
President of Minden Historic Residential District Association
318-423-0192
318-371-2913
iluvoldcars@yahoo.com
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