Thanks to Lola Carlisle, the Historic District Steering Committee, and Aaron Fortner for the presentation of the proposed Historic District Overlay in Virginia-Highland last week. Those who have interest in th...is topic, and especially those who could be affected by a potential Historic District Overlay, should attend one of the next meetings on 10/28, 11/7, 12/5, and 12/11.
What We Heard in the Meeting – Measurement of Interest has not yet been considered
–While attendees recommended a high threshold of resident support before further steps are pursued, the steering committee stated that they had not yet considered how interest from the initial explorative meetings would be measured and reported.
–However, the self-selected steering committee stated that they could potentially recommend to the VHCA further study of this issue based solely on these initial meetings - before actually quantifying interest from the affected homeowners.
Concerns Following the Meeting – Measurement of Interest is critically important
–Since the neighborhood did not seek this designation and many are already opposed to it, the onus is on the steering committee to demonstrate quantifiable interest to move this effort forward.
–In fairness, the VHCA shouldn’t consider recommendations from the steering committee without quantifiable support from affected homeowners.
–Without sufficiently quantified interest levels, the default should simply be not to pursue next steps on a Historic District Overlay.
–As to measuring interest, the steering committee and the VHCA should require signatures of a super-majority of homeowners on every street slated for a Historic District Overlay District, or the street’s homeowners should be allowed to opt out. This is similar to the signature process required for speed hump approval that many in the neighborhood are familiar with.
How to be Heard and More Information
–Attend the scheduled meetings with your VAHI neighbors and voice your concerns over the entire process and how the interest level will be measured.
–Support Property Rights of Owners in Virginia-Highland (P.R.O. VAHI) that believes Historic District Overlays put undo limitations on homeowners’ rights to improve their properties.
–P.R.O. VAHI information can be found at www.facebook.com/PROVAHI and at www.change.org/petitions/residents-of-virginia-highland-support-the-property-rights-of-owners-in-virginia-highland .