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Columbia City Council candidate pushing for historic preservation
August 8, 2007
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A Columbia City Council candidate says there should be a moratorium on demolition and building in some Columbia neighborhoods.Belinda Gergel, along with several Neighborhood Association representatives, says aggressive and inadequately regulated development in some of Columbia's most historic neighborhoods is creating problems.
She says a house in the Heathwood neighborhood is an example. A developer tore the 78-year-old structure down and plans to put nine houses on the lot.
Gergel says she wants the city to act, to help preserve the neighborhoods and their history. "The time is now for the city to allow our established in-town neighborhoods some breathing space, a period to catch their breath, while they consider the merits of historic designation. We must prevent developers from destroying the distinctiveness of these neighborhoods by beating the clock on historic designation."
Brian Boyer is a candidate for the same city council position. The Columbia homebuilder says current zoning laws are not perfect and the spirit of the laws has created loopholes. He supports a review of the current system and putting in checks and balances. And he says neighborhoods should have more voice in such decisions.
The election is in April.
WISTV.com
Posted by Chantelle Janelle