Home > Business Insider > Archives > 2008 > June > 04
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tech faces pressure to save building
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Tech Foundation took its request to demolish the historic Crum & Forster building Tuesday evening to the Neighborhood Planning Unit — E meeting.
But community and civic leaders were as determined as ever to save the elegant building at the corner of Spring and Fourth streets.
Two leaders who were at the meeting sent me emails about what happened — architect Jonathan LaCrosse and Midtown’s NPU-E representative Graham Balch. To read their partially edited emails, please click on link at the end of this item.
The movement to save the Crum & Forster is gaining steam. As of this morning, the web-based petition to save the building has generated 1,144 names and comments. To read the petitition
Community leaders hope the public protest will lead to the Georgia Tech Foundation reconsidering its plans to demolish the building. Their comments….
Email notes from Jonathan LaCrosse:
(NPU-E Chair) Penelope Cheroff began by explaining the process a bit, and the specifics of the project. The NPU will not vote but will provide comment on the building that will then be forwarded to the Development Review Committee.
Carl Westmoreland got up to represent the Foundation. He gave a brief description, and stated that the building was to be replaced by a plane of grass instead of a parking lot (he corrected P. Cheroff - she had said a parking lot)
Said Tom Barranco , and the guy from HGOR landscape architects was here to also represent the board.
They said they had met with Boyd Coons with the APC, and Ray Christman with the Georgia Trust to establish “dialogue” with the community
Cheroff then opened the floor and stated she had letters from the Urban Design Commision, the Georgia Trust, and other interested parties who were in opposition of this matter.
She then invited all those that were in opposition to this demolition permit to stand, nearly everyone stood. Cheroff said that she had talked with the Ansley Park folks today and that she could stand up for them, to which point the representatives from the various neighborhoods of NPU E stood.
Graham Balch, Midtown’s NPU-E representative said that Atlanta and Georgia Tech are like two sisters…Atlanta wouldn’t be what it is today without Georgia Tech, and Georgia Tech wouldn’t be what it is today without Atlanta. He continued to say that Atlanta was asking Georgia Tech to preserve this building.
The floor was then fully opened up.
Boyd Coons (Atlanta Preservation Center) spoke first, he handed letters from the APC and GA Trust to the NPU E.
Laura Depree Spoke up representing the ICA/CA and The SAF, she started out saying Atlanta was tired of its history being ripped away from it and then read some very eloquent comments from people who have signed the petition )
I then spoke up, reading a few more comments, , stating that the dialogue is occurring all across this city and the Foundation, through their insistence on going forward with this demolition permit is ignoring what the citizens of Atlanta are saying, I also mentioned that this is now bigger than Atlanta and is getting national attention. I ended by reading the mission statement of the GA Tech foundation and asking how the demolition of this building will further their stated mission.
Clementine Sharpe - representing the Young ICA/CA Southeastern Chapter then got up and pointed out that they had just organized a sketching studying tour of the city and that for them it was extremely important since this is one of the few examples of Commercial Classicism available to study, she said most of the time they only get to study classically designed residential buildings and to take away the opportunity for future generations was wrong.
One person spoke up that she had gone around this morning, taking pictures of the site, and that while she agreed with absolutely everything that was said by those opposed she was disgusted by the condition of the site, not the building - she made a point to mention that it was so well built it could last for hundreds of years -there are broken parking boxes, overgrown grass, trash, etc., these could contribute to illicit activities. Which would further degrade the health, and life-safety of the students and the Midtown community at large. She expected better of a “good neighbor”
Another NPU member recounted a story about the loss of the Kimball House and how they replaced it with a parking deck, “hanging Mr. kimball’s portrait” removed from the hotel “in the parking deck lobby.” He said it made him “sad for my city”.
Comment was then made by Cheroff that the citizens have been successful in saving buildings in the past, and she encouraged everyone to speak up to the city.
Comment was supposed to conclude, however, the crowd wanted more answers. Crowd: “What plans do you have?”
The foundation: “We bought the property to expand Tech Square, but with no specific use for the site in question.”
This continued response did not fare well, eliciting comments such as: “ unthinkable that it [C&F building] wasn’t incorporated with the Plans.” “Surely you knew the building was there.”
Another gentleman piped up that as a former Georgia Tech tour guide and Alum, the thing that he felt that made Tech so great was the “exact mix of old and new”, and that by destroying this Tech was “betraying our very core values.”
Crowd: “Was anyone able to see the documentary on President Clough where he states “how proud he was on his working with the neighborhoods”…”his legacy could be to help preserve this building …not a legacy of destruction”
Crowd: The Georgia Tech Foundation need to re-evaluate their strategy and perhaps become “less of a caretaker of funds” and more “as a leader in the community” time is on the Foundations hands…”Do things that enhance that community not detract from it”
In defense Tom Barranco stated again the foundation “bought the property with the intent of exapanding Technology Square” and that the “clear opinion is that they not tear down this building , and that we could debate whether or not the GTF are a pillar of the Community…they have done a Police precinct - Tech Square - and the Home Park Community center.”
Crowd: “Why can’t the building then be a part of the expansion of Tech Square, why are the two mutually exclusive?’ “What is the real plan?’
Georgia Tech Foundation representatives said they were going through the process, that they had received numerous phone calls, letters, petitions, etc, and understand the objections.
Crowd: “Then why hasn’t the foundation withdrawn the application?”
No response that I can recall or have jotted down
Crowd: “Have you studied alternatives, and what is the result?”
The GTF - “Yes, and this is the result”
Comment from the crowd - “then what architect made the study?”
The GTF - no comment made.
Another crowd member piped up and said perhaps someone should “call the Governor,”and get with the Board of Regents to “cut funding to Tech.”
In closing Penelope Cheroff stated “come to us, let us help you save this building.”
A comment was then made for folks to contact the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning since they are the ones who ultimately grant the permit.
Email Notes from Graham Balch
Well, it seems like Georgia Tech Foundation is still set on tearing down the building. At the end they say they heard the people, but that they are continuing to pursue the demolition permit as their decided course of action.
I am pasting in a bunch of things that were said tonight and two folks got up and quoted from what was written on the petition against this project which I also included:
Carl Westnoreland (lawyer for GT foundation): It is not being converted into a parking lot, it is being converted to green space. Tech bought the property six months ago. They want to incorporate it into their Tech Development. We understand the sense of the community. Both Georgia Tech and the Foundation that they will study alternatives.
Graham Balch (NPU representative from Midtown): Atlanta would not be Atlanta without Georgia Tech and Georgia Tech would not be Georgia Tech without Atlanta. We are sisters in making Atlanta the pinnacle city in the south. Your sister, the city of Atlanta, is here tonight to ask you to preserve this building. Are we so rich that we can afford to lose this building or so poor that we can’t afford to keep it? Your sister, the city of Atlanta, is making one the strongest felt requests we have ever made of Georgia Tech as we ask you “Please, preserve this building.”
Boyd Coons (Atlanta Preservation Center): “We consider this to be historically and aesthetically very important. This is an indictment against Georgia Tech. This building is so important.”
Winston (Midtown resident): Replace the Crum & Forster building with another building like at 5th and spring would be ridiculous because this building adds character to the neighborhood. Another gentleman said the building was very strong and would stand for 200 years. It is against anything anybody who has any respect for design would do. Over my dead body and I will do everything I can to preserve that building. I have sent emails to everyone at Tech asking that this building not be torn down and that is what I am asking you.
Laura (granddaughter of architect who designed the building): Midtown neighbor and Tech alum, multi-generation alum, I speak for well over 1,000 people who are against this demolition. “It is hard to believe that this building is at risk of being destroyed. Please GT Foundation, don’t commit this crime.”
Jonathan Lacrosse: “I think it is wonderful that the foundation has done so much at Tech’s Square.” LaCross, who graduated from Georgia Tech in 1998, read several entries from the petition.
Penelpe Cheroff (NPU Chair): “We are talking about what people need and it speaks to us. Partner with us in saving this building. Partner with us. Talk to us. You will let us help you find a way to keep it.”
Carl: Y’all have been very clear and consistent. That message has gone back to the foundation. They understand it. The response has to come from the foundation. They understand the issues and concerns.
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment |
Nunns make volunteerism a family affair
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There they were - father and daughter - on the stage together as part of a panel, talking about a topic that is dear to both of them. Volunteerism in America.
Officially, it was the Cohen-Nunn Dialogue on Citizen Service, a high point of this week’s National Conference on Volunteering & Service meeting in Atlanta this week.
Former Sen. Sam Nunn and former Sen. William Cohen have been holding bi-partisan dialogues on various issues facing the United States. Tuesday, the topic was citizen service, and how should public policy encourage people to serve their country.
On the panel was Nunn’s daughter, Michelle Nunn, who is CEO of the Points of Light Institute and the co-founder of both Hands On Atlanta and Hands On Network.
When her father asked her a question, she broke the ice by saying how intimidating it was to be asked a question by her father in front of an audience. (The question was whether community service organizations could handle the influx of volunteers if national service was mandatory).
“We do know what works,” Michelle Nunn answered saying that all the volunteer organizations in the country stand ready to not just grow incrementally but ready to grow “expediently.” “I truly believe we can be bold and be far-reaching.”
Her father joked as she was answering the question: “It’s the first time in 20 years that she’s answered a question.”
What a unique family. And what a unique contribution it has made to the country’s profile.
Colleen Nunn, the senator’s wife and Michelle’s mother, said they are all interested in public service. She said that her husband and daughter have inspired each other in their work on volunteerism and service.
“He’s been a good trooper,” said Michelle, who watched her father’s commitment to public service in its broadest form. “I was familiar with national service because of his involvement. But he’s never channeled me in one direction.”
The proud father put it another way. “She comes up with a bold creative idea, and I tell her it won’t work,” Sam Nunn said. “She disregards my advice and makes it work. That’s our relationship.”
Collen Nunn put it another way. “They are both visionaries, and I’m the realist.”
And one could see the dynamic on stage as the panel brainstormed on the best ways to encourage everyone to some form of national and community service.
“I’m just lucky to get invited to her events,” Sen. Nunn said of his daughter. “I’m very proud of her.”
Photo by Maria Saporta
