Archive for March, 2009
The Asian Cajuns, Amelia, and Lain Hike the Beltline
Sure, the Wren’s Nest was open (and free to the public!) this Saturday for Phoenix Flies and the Southern Literary Trail. It’ll be free next Saturday and Sunday, too.
But that doesn’t mean Amelia and I enjoy working on both Saturdays and Sundays. No sir.
So, this Saturday we took a little staff field trip with our friends Lauren, Catherine, and Matt. We walked 7 miles of the Beltline, one of the largest urban renewal projects in the country.
The Beltline will ultimately be a 22 mile ring of transit, parks, and trails around Atlanta. Right now, however, it’s mostly an abandoned rail corridor. Lauren and Catherine have pictures on their blog, as does Urban Hiking Atlanta, so I’ll leave most of the explanation to them.
The Beltline is significant to the Wren’s Nest for two main reasons:
- It runs just a few blocks from here, and is one of the few places to have already broke ground.
- It is and will continue to encourage historic preservation in Atlanta.
I’m also excited that the staff of the Wren’s Nest will be a bike or one-seat train ride away from the Carter Center, the MLK birth home, or Piedmont Park. Imagine the new lunch options!
If you’re interested in walking the Beltline, subscribe to Urban Hiking Atlanta or sign up for the Wonderroot e-newsletter.
(h/t, weirdly enough, to Decatur Metro who covered our story faster than I could)
Categories: Atlanta, Historic Preservation, Kudzu and other bizarre plants, Phoenix Flies, Southern Literary Trail, The Beltline |
Wren’s Nest Conservation Project — Painting the House Part 2
As highlighted in an earlier post, the colors of the Wren’s Nest will change slightly. Take a look at the different yellows:
Sure, some of the change is 20 years of weathering on the house. But overall the paint will be a little darker and a little more vibrant.
Our paint crew has just about finished going around the house with the yellow.
With all the thundersnow out of the way in Atlanta, I figure we’ll really start humming on this paint project now, and not just because I’ll be blogging in flip flops.
Previously: Painting the House
It’s Super Huge Update Time
I hope you’re sitting down.
Comfy? Not near anything easily spilled by flailing limbs? Good.
Ready yourself!
THE POTATO FARMERS CANCELED!
Weight on shoulders = lifted.
For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, a bit of background. Three cheers for it all working out!
Categories: Victorious! |
Crum and Forster Peril Continues – Still Seriously Endangered
You may recall the ongoing saga of the Crum and Forster building in Midtown Atlanta.
If you don’t, allow me to provide an insultingly brief summary:
The Crum and Forster building was built 1926 by four architects, two of whom were former GA Tech architecture students. Currently, the Georgia Tech Foundation wants to raze the building to make space for a gorgeous …lot. Neighbors, preservationists, people with eyeballs suggest doing the smart thing instead: preserve the building. Overall, a poster child for Atlanta’s preservation troubles.
Cool? Great.
Well, not that great.
Though a demolition permit has been denied by the City of Atlanta, the legal counsel for the Georgia Tech Foundation is appealing the decision. The Urban Design Commission has proposed giving the building Landmark status, but until that passes, the building is still in peril.
Despite unamimous opposition from the Midtown neighborhood and the Neighborhood Planning Unit, this building could easily be demolished without your voice.
Good thing you can do something!
There will be a Board of Zoning Adjustment meeting Thursday, March 12th at noon where GA Tech will formally appeal their demolition denial. This is probably your last chance to save this building. Please attend and speak up to show support for historic preservation in Atlanta. Before you go, join over 2,300 of your friends and neighbors and sign the petition to save the building.
See you there.
Details:
Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) Meeting
March 12th, 12 noon
City Hall
55 Trinity Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Categories: Atlanta, Historic Preservation |
Wren’s Nest Conservation Update — Spigot Repair
There’s a neat old spigot in the front yard of the Wren’s Nest. I just love it.
For a while now, it’s been leaking constantly. Look, here it is in the off position.
The other day the plumber arrived to fix the spigot around 9:00 am. When I strolled in 15 minutes later the problem was already fixed, and he was packing up.
The Wren’s Nest has a similar spigot in the back that does not work. The plumber merely traded a part from the non-functional spigot and put it on the leaking spigot.
We got lucky. If that hadn’t worked, he would’ve removed the spigot from the ground, which undoubtedly would have caused a geyser of magnificent proportions to erupt.
Now all we have to do is remind the homeless people and old-timey train riding hobos to turn the thing off once they’ve taken their baths. And thrown their garbage on our lawn.