Natchez, Mississippi
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Progress requires that the old should be demolished to make room for the new. However, the restrictions on construction and development on and around historic sites prove to be a formidable force against the current of progress. Building on and around sites of historical significance creates many obstacles, including cost, materials, lack of skilled laborers, and the loss of public support. There is a need to keep the historic sites, but that need is sometimes outweighed by the needs of the community. This paper will attempt to explore these variables and connect them.
The most visible section of a building is the exterior. The restrictions on the aesthetics of the exterior cause quite a problem for modern developers. Many seek to create a modern feel, and that starts with the exterior. However, due to the restrictions, many people find that putting the extra funds into the creation of an old-style faħade. According to Rob Jackson, the City Planner for Natchez, MS, it is difficult to create a faħade that matches the surroundings enough to pass all of the committees.
These old-style exteriors can take much longer to build than the tradition of today of using glass and steel I-beams to create what the Natchez-Adams County Development Authority calls a “glass box”. Not only are these ultra-modern materials inappropriate, the properties of the end result are also unsatisfactory. To place a twenty-three-story building next to a two-story shop and apartment, there will be some discrepancies. The neighbors will resent being overshadowed by this monolith, leading to general dislike.
There are, however, some benefits to using the old style. The main benefit is a feeling of the building always being there. This gives the community more faith in the business as a part of the community. More faith in the business means that more customers will come to the business for their needs. This in turn generates more profits. Other companies will notice these high profits, and will try to emulate these far-sighted individuals. However, the restrictions on the inside of a newly constructed downtown business are far less restricting. That is to say, they do not exist.
Another problem is the fact that homes and businesses now surround most historic sites. Construction of almost any kind would cause a large disturbance, which the community will not tolerate. An example of this was the construction of the underpass on County Farm Rd in Wheaton, IL. Many people were not happy with the noise and commotion caused by this construction. They could not see past the noise and dust to the new convenience the underpass created. That is the case with many urban building projects.
Adding another problem onto the already large stack, there is a lack of laborers with enough skill to do the job the way the community wants it done. Take the Bnai Israel Synagogue in Natchez as an example. The organization the funded the restoration, The Southern Jewish Experience, was not about to let anyone hack away at this historic building. They waited until they could bring in skilled artisans from across the state to restore the synagogue to its original grandeur. This selectivity allowed The Southern Jewish Experience to be able to enjoy this building for many years to come.
Some buildings just cannot be restored to be what they once were. This is both the developers dream, and his nightmare. This means that he can almost surely build on the site because there is a good chance the original building will be torn down, as the Ritz Theater in downtown Natchez. This building no longer has a roof, because it caved in due to age. The only thing that keeps the wrecking ball from smashing every brick in the old theatres structure is its one-of-a-kind marquee. Ronald Miller, the executive of the Historic Natchez Foundation, said, “The Ritz Theatre is an anchor for the block [of Commerce St. between Main and Franklin]. Guy Bass, an entrepreneur, said, “I would like to see it [The Ritz Theatre] hold dinner theatre there, or perhaps performances supported by Alcorn [State University].” However, retailers are clamoring to get a hold of the property and develop it into a hub for shoppers and restaurant goers.
However, support for Natchez historic sites has come from an unlikely source: Alcorn State University (www.alcorn.edu). This university takes an active role in preserving the heritage of both Natchez and Vicksburg. The university provides a directory of the notable historic sites in Natchez. Also, as mentioned before, the university may soon support performances at the Ritz Theatre. That is, if the theatre is actually renovated, and the baying hounds of progress do not trample this cornerstone of Natchez.
But can the old buildings withstand the tide of progress and still stand? The answer to this is yes, according to the management of the Canal Street Depot in Natchez. This building was once a derelict railroad depot. After securing the permits, the management converted this once indispensable part of Natchez into a crucial facet of the towns commercial structure. The building that once saw the coming and going of tons of cotton every day now sees the comings and goings of hundreds of people every day. The Canal Street Depot contains a childrens factory outlet as well as restaurants and other retail stores. The exact same process went on with the Monmouth Plantation, now a successful inn.
What happens when such progress is not embraced? When the construction or demolition of a building or development of a site falls out of favor with the populace, the residents will let the developer know by protesting and writing letters. Such was the case when the new Home Depot was to be built in Wheaton. Although the Home Depot was built nonetheless, Home Depot stores began to see a drop in the number of customers it was getting. As of this writing, there is still strong opposition to the building of a casino in Natchez.
The process for receiving a permit to build on or around an historic site is a long and convoluted one, according to Rob Jackson, Natchez City Planner. “Any changes to properties within a 300-foot radius of any historic site are put into a report that must first go through to the Planning Commission. There, it sits for a few days until, if it is deemed appropriate, it receives a Certificate of Appropriateness. With this certificate it goes through to the Preservation Commission. The Preservation Commission meets and reviews the changes to the property. After they look at it, there they approve or deny the proposed changes.” This was taken from an interview that was conducted over the telephone on the 4th of March, 2004. This may seem like a waste of time and a muddled bearucracy, but this system is in place to protect the ambiance and the aesthetics