Marietta City Councilman, Phillip Goldstein, told a city board that he did not want his antebellum estate, Ivy Grove, included in a proposed historic district. The Marietta Historic Preservation Committee is considering establishing a historic district for the area of Church and Cherokee Streets. The proposal was initiated when a developer announced they wanted to build townhomes on the property.
Councilman Opposition
Councilman Goldstein purchased Ivy Grove last year for $1.7 million, which went on sale after its previous owner, Tom Watson Brown, died. Before the purchase, citizens became concerned when a developer hoping to purchase the property announced his desire to build townhomes. According to David Freedman, Chairman of HPC, citizens contacted the board and asked about establishing an historic area in order to protect Ivy Grove. At the meeting, board member Martin Kendall motioned that Ivy Grove from the proposed area, but it did not receive a second so the motion did not carry. Councilman Goldstein was initially excited about the historic designation, but has now decided he did not want to be told what to do with his property.
About Ivy Grove
Ivy Grove was built in 1845 by Edward Denmead, who served as Mayor of Marietta for 11 terms and established the first bank. The home has six bedrooms and sits on almost six acres of land. The Goldstein’s have conducted extensive research on the property and plan to display their findings at the Georgia Trust Spring Ramble Marietta Tour on April 23. They say they are not interested in selling off the property for development, but that they plan to restore and remodel the home as needed. For this reason, they do not want it included in a historic district as this could limit the type of remodeling they are permitted to do.
Historic Districts
If approved, the Church-Cherokee district would be the second in the area, joining the Kennesaw Avenue Historic District that was approved in 2014 and includes 14 homes. The Kennesaw District includes the 1843 Archibald Howell House which was occupied by Union troops during the Civil War. In order to finalize the Church-Cherokee district, the HPC must finalize design guidelines that are used to govern buildings within the district and then 60 percent of the homeowners in the area must agree to be included in the district. The proposed district includes 124 properties and a public hearing is scheduled for February 29.
Marietta has many beautiful historical properties that should be preserved for generations to come. Whether you own a home with a rich, colorful history or one that has been built recently, you need to protect it from damage. Waggoner Insurance offers a wide variety of homeowner’s insurance and can provide you with the best coverage for your home. We also offer life, health and auto insurance for all your needs. Contact us online or by phone today to arrange for a review of all your insurance policies to be sure your family and property are protected in the event of a tragedy.
Source:
Marietta Daily Journal