On Monday, the mayor and city council will vote on final approval. Information about the district is online at www.cityofmiltonga.us.
In an area known for a high population of newcomers, Travis Allen stands out. He’s not only a native of Milton; he’s lived most of his life in the vicinity of the North Fulton town. As such, he’s seen the area transform from a rural village to the suburb of a major metropolis, and as it’s grown, he’s kept an eye on its history.
“I remember years ago taking a local history class in high school, and knowing about the area always stuck with me,” Allen recalled. “And I’ve become more interested in it over time.”
As the area’s farms and horse pastures began to develop into neighborhoods and shopping centers, Allen thought it would be a good idea to preserve some of that history for the community. That idea fueled the formation of a committee dedicated to preserving local historic structures.
“When Milton was first incorporated in 2006, we were just a group of concerned citizens,” Allen said. “Then in 2008, the city decided to have an historic preservation ordinance, and we formed a formal commission.”
So far, two structures have been designated historic by the commission: an old country store at Hopewell and Thompson roads, and an 1860s building on Hopewell near Birmingham Road that the city uses as an activities center. Now, the group has focused its attention on establishing an historic district that centers on the Crabapple community at the intersection of Broadwell and Mayfair roads. The area is a hub of antique stores, art galleries and restaurants housed in structures several decades old.
“When I was growing up, that corner had a four-way stop, and even then, the traffic was horrendous,” Allen said with a laugh. “They’ve since improved the intersection, but it’s still the downtown area of what was Milton County, with a concentration of historic structures.”
The commission has proposed establishing a district that covers a little more than 25 acres and includes 17 structures, most of which contribute to the area’s historical significance. One of the oldest, located at 825 Mayfield Road, dates back to about 1870.
“We have other scattered structures we’re working on identifying,” said Angela Rambeau, Milton’s principal city planner.”But this will be the only historic district we have, and it’s the first opportunity we’ve had to designate multiple structures at once.”
Allen added that the commission has had a Crabapple district in mind for some time. “Milton, being as rural as it was, has more buildings strewn across it than specific districts,” he said. “Even though our district is fairly small, we believe it’s important so there won’t be significant changes to it. We know we won’t have a McDonald’s stuck between two buildings that are 120 years old.”
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