The advent of a new development code has fueled fears of future demolitions, as existing structures are taken down to make way for more building space for homes and businesses.
The area’s level of demolition has remained steady for the past dozen or so years, according to data gathered through the city’s permit review interface. The city issued 18 permits for residential demolition in 2019, three in 2020, eight in 2021, and six in 2022.
Any increase in the rate of change can be monitored, and surely will.
Bill Emory has spent many years advocating for policies to preserve the Woolen Mills neighborhood. He’s also documented a 20th-century landscape in black-and-white photography and poetry.
Last week, he posted a color photograph of the demolished remains of 1026 Carlton Ave., a one-story, two-bedroom building constructed in 1957. Members of the Bragg family purchased the property in 1977, but it has not been occupied as a house for years.
“Another one bites the dust,” Emory said when asked for comment. “I have seen a number of houses torn down, [and] it always provokes sadness. I like the front porch culture. I like people’s ability to interact with the natural world without having to travel across town. Walk out of the door and into the magic.”
In 2017, the assessor downgraded the improvement value of the Carlton Avenue property to $1,000. The land value has risen from $49,800 in 2016 to $164,100 this year. The 0.161-acre property has been zoned for business use, and will be designated as Corridor Mixed Use 3 in the new zoning code. The demolition was estimated to have a cost of $7,500, according to city records.
Nearby are several properties owned by an entity called Belmont and Carlton Holdings LLC, which trace back to Riverbend Development. The company bought the land in 2006 for $2 million, three years after the last city-wide rezoning. At least one single-family home on Walnut Street has been removed, according to city demolition records.
The city’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services is currently reviewing applications to demolish a residential structure at 1003 Carlton Ave. and a business at 1025 Carlton. Each project has an estimated cost of $10,000.
These properties have been zoned Neighborhood Commercial Corridor since 2003, and will become something called Node Mixed Use 3, which would allow up to three stories by-right, and five, if affordable units are provided.
Riverbend is proceeding with a by-right site plan under the existing zoning that would allow up to 130 townhomes, according to its most recent site plan, which is also still under review.
Other pending demolition reviews in the city include permission to remove 416 Garrett St. to make way for more buildings at Kindlewood, and the takedown of a duplex at 1117 Preston Ave. The latter triggered a stop work order when removal of trees began without a permit.
This past weekend, crews took down the gymnasium at Buford Middle School, for which a permit was issued on August 29.