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FILE PHOTO
City historian Louise Bell stands in front of the stained glass windows she was responsible for in the historic section of Seneca’s City Hall. Bell is ardently speaking out against the Board of Architectural Review, saying they are applying historic district guidelines to houses not officially recognized as historic by the national register.
“Sometimes I wish I didn’t start the historic district when I see all the problems it’s caused. When it comes to this, it makes me wonder if I made a wise decision.”
— Louise Bell, Seneca historian and organizer of Seneca’s original historic district
SENECA — Spencer Wilson, a local developer whose house renovation project on 203 E.S. Second St. has stirred up controversy regarding the legitimacy of Seneca’s historic district and its guidelines, has drafted a petition to abolish the city’s Board of Architectural Review (BAR), and among the first signatures is a notable one — city historian, Louise Bell.
The BAR, a quasi-judicial group that oversees design and construction alterations within the design review district and historic district of Seneca, never approved Wilson’s exterior changes to the house. Wilson extended the roofline, installed vinyl siding and built a stone façade on the front porch of the house, all without applying for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), the required approval document for the alterations.
When Wilson twice violated a stop work order from the city that had been issued for his failure to adhere to district guidelines, he was written citations, for which he has requested a jury trial. It is set to be held June 11. Wilson and some members of the community have become enraged at the thought of someone being punished for trying to revitalize an area many believe is in desperate need of the services Wilson is providing.
THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
In the BAR’s monthly meeting April 28 at City Hall, Wilson made an appeal to the board to allow him to keep the vinyl siding on the house on the grounds of financial hardship. To remove the vinyl siding and completely install the approved hardy plank siding, he said, would be financially injurious. The BAR denied his request, and also voted the stone façade in violation of the historic guidelines should be removed.
“It was very disturbing,” Bell said. “They should not have been concerned with whether the front porch had stone or brick on it. The house is improved. He has improved the image of that house, far above the rest of the homes in that area.”
Bell attended the BAR meeting to voice her concerns over the strict application of the guidelines to Wilson’s project. In 1974, after years of work and jumping through the proper bureaucratic hoops, Bell was able to acquire official historic district recognition for a portion of Seneca. A seven-block area, much smaller than today’s delineated historic district, was placed in the National Register of Historic Places, and consequently placed under the strict historic guidelines for the appearance of the houses.
When city ordinance empowered the BAR in 2002 to oversee a new, expanded historic district within the realm of an even wider design review district, a large portion of downtown Seneca fell under the design jurisdiction of the BAR. Bell said there are major flaws in the guidelines set for today’s historic district. Many homes, like the one Wilson renovated, are not even historic homes in the eyes of the national register or the state of South Carolina.
HARSH WORDS TO THE BAR
The current expanded historic district still falls under the same strict guidelines of those that are nationally recognized, Bell said.
She said at the meeting that the board members were new to Seneca, and did not understand the historic district. She said more of the same Friday as she sat on the porch of her historic home.
“Most of the people on that board are unqualified, and moved here the day before yesterday,” Bell said. “They know nothing about the history of Seneca. They bring in their own ideas of what they want to make Seneca.”
Those words of acerbic criticism most certainly hold no small amount of weight with those in the field of historical preservation, as Bell has won numerous honors and awards during her distinguished career as a professional, a historian and a preservationist. She has been lauded for service on many boards and commissions in Seneca, Oconee, the region, state and nation.
“This BAR has too much authority and needs to be done away with,” Bell said. “I’m for historical preservation, but you have to do it within reason.”
Wilson and Bell both believe the strict application of historic district rules in an area that is not genuinely historic is hindering progress in Seneca. Bell said she has counted more than 80 empty storefronts in the Seneca area, and finds the city’s concentration on restricting design during renovations in the downtown area unnecessary.
“We have serious problems in this town. One reason is rules like these,” she said. “Instead of harassing someone who is trying to do things like this, we should get behind them so people actually want to renovate these deteriorating houses.”
Wilson voiced a concern that the BAR’s authority had no other group to check its power.
“It isn’t right,” Wilson said. “We elected the mayor and the city council, and then they appoint the BAR. Then, when the BAR makes a decision, it’s final. It doesn’t go back to our elected officials for a vote or anything. There needs to be somewhere you can appeal their decision.”
All BAR decisions are final at the city level. Appeals must be made in district court. The BAR’s power led Bell to call them “the judge and the jury” in design review matters.
THE PETITION
The petition lists the five members of the board; Lauren Holmes, David Johnson, John Luedeman, Cari Goetcheus and Donald Smale, and outlines its case against the BAR before concluding with the statement “It is obvious that this board has no place in the government of Seneca, and the board should be abolished, wherefore: We the undersigned citizens of the city of Seneca hereby petition the mayor and city council to revoke section 1204 and abolish the Board of Architectural Review.”
Bell, who has spent her entire life in the realm of historical preservation, said she wishes she didn’t care about the ongoing controversy about the historic district – but she does. She does passionately.
“I’ve spent my whole life trying to make this city a better place,” she said. “I’d hate to be the one to lead this charge, but injustice is injustice.”
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Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments are subject to the site's terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Eagle Media. Readers whose comments violate the terms of use may have their comments removed or all of their content blocked from viewing by other users without notification.Thank you, Louise Bell. The BAR group created an injustice ~ that is for sure. The majority of the houses in this district are rotting and abandoned. What part of improved is not appriciated?
“This BAR has too much authority and needs to be done away with,” most certaintly, before the area becomes a rat infested neighborhood. So many rotting and abandoned houses will only devalue your property.
I do not know anyone that lives in this area and do not know Mr. Wilson - however it is a no-brainer to see the improvements made at 203 E. S. 2nd St.
AMEN! Thank you Louise. Anything in this area would be an improvement. Leave this man alone and let him finish his project. He has done a beautiful job on his house and other "owners" in the area could take a lesson from him.
So get rid of BAR and get busy fixing up some of the eye sores in the district.
You go girl! Thank you so much.
If the "BAR" is abolished what in the world will these people that occupy the seats on this committee do with their time? They need a place to exercise power, so where can they go in order to feel important and continue to look foolish??
Wow. I don't know where to start. Thanks for the slap in the face for the countless hours and dollars that we historic review district home owners have put into making our neighbourhood better for the whole city. Those of you who feel that our area is "dilapidated" might want to take a drive around - with the exception of some select pockets, we have made incredible strides and have proven ourselves a very popular place to live.
You might notice a few abandoned homes - of which Ms. Bell admittedly owns several and which she refuses to either sell or renovate.
Since everyone seems to think that they do not like OUR neighbourhood's guidelines, I would love to come into YOUR subdivision and remove all of the restrictions.
Golly Miss Molly....I bet you are welcomed to that "slap in the face", so funny for you to say. How long have you been in Historic Seneca? As long as Ms. Bell? Doubt it... Know as much about the history of Seneca as Ms. Bell? Doubt it....I guess you shouldn't have put so many hours into research - you could've just checked with Ms. Bell (I know she knows her history there) and spent your time helping her fix up her older houses! Then I guess you wouldn't have "any" run-down homes. You can come to my neighborhood anytime....don't have restrictions and I like it that way....don't have to deal with people like you.
Thanks Louise Bell for saying what all of us have been for a long time, away with the BAR. I totally agree with her about the houses, some are historic but the rest are not and should be allowed to be improved however they want. I live in the neigborhood and want to be able to improve my home with being told what I can and can't do, especially since it will be my money I'm spending. I support MR. WILSON 100% and think the BAR is on a power trip that needs to stop. As for restrictions they are stupid, if you pay for a mortgage and taxes you own it and should be able to do whatever you want to with a property. I support those who want to make changes for the better, not control and manipulate the system to their advantage. By the way if the area is so popular as said by mollyhw then why are so many house for sale in the area, 4 on my block alone. Here's to change and progress support MR. Wilson and get rid of the crazy BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What ever happen to doing the right thing? The Historical Review process is a requirement if you change the exterior appearance of a structure. Many items never come to the review board because they are being restored to original appearance. Some of you “folks” live in the county and “roll the dice” on zoning issue. Good for you. When you have a hog farm, chicken house or strip joint built next to your property or the property of your love one, don’t come crying for help. Zoning and the architectural review is an established activity in the old part of town. It was set up in the appropriate manner with many public meetings. Those of you who describe the area as “dilapidated” and “rat infested” need to either quit telling lies or ride through the district. As for jenniferwilks comment the buying and selling of houses is cyclical. They are placed for sale and they are bought. It’s a natural process. The question more importantly is to look at how long are they on the market and the appreciation in value. I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT that property on the Southside is appreciating and the guideline is one mechanism which helps.
Where was the BAR when Seneca did a face lift on Norton Park. If anything that should be called Historic in Seneca is the Land that was set a side to build the Town of Seneca. Norton Park is all out of place for Seneca's Old Town. The sidewalk coverings are very tacky and take away the Historic RailRoad and the old Store Buildings. I have drove by the house in question that Mr. Wilson is remodeling and I saw it in a very sad state of dilapidated property before Mr. Wison made it look very presentable and it sure looks like something that would sell now instead of a run down house that it was . If everyone in the county that wants zoning would have rode by this house before it was repaired would have wanted it fixed or destroyed as it was one of the so called eyesores in the county. but now it would be a welcome to the to have a nice remodeled house that is presentable to the public without someone saying" look what an eyesore that is in this city". Now that is what I am hearing all the pro zoners hollering about is how these run down houses and mobile homes make property values around them go down . Yes that is a bunch of hog wash ,but that is what the pro zoners holler.So it would have to be fixed or torn down. Well I see someone didn't want to do the maintaince on this house and it ran down, but with stone in front and the siding that Mr. Wilson has installed ,less maintaince, and a good looking house for years to come. So what does the Zoning in Seneca really do , Well apparently not a lot to clean up anything. Zoning is a Hate Crime and never really protects properties like it should do. It is a tool for lawsuits to tie up courts needless for years. Say no to Zoning And Historic Districts unless these Districts are privately owned by a Historic owner. The privately owned property that is lived in is not historic as the insides have been updated , this is not historic. Get with the program and clean up the county and city's or abolicsh the zoning ideas because if you can't improve and make property presentable then what are these law makers and zoning board people on the taxpayers payroll for. I guess the taxpayers are ignorant to why they pay high taxes for these jobs to be created and people hired just to take tax dollars and never get anything cleaned up.This is my view on Zoning. I believe Zoning is a Hate Tool against neighbors. I want to get along with my neighbors ,not be at war with them because they might have something in their yard that I find offensive. If I can , I want to leave you with this message quit fighting and bickering or you will never make it to Heaven. I know I won't see you in the after life if you all keep this bickering and fighting as I want to go to Heaven and you bickering fighters will be in Hell.I love my neighbor, and care less what is in his yard I only care about what he has in his heart , and will continue to be my neighbor in Heaven someday.I know I won't have to worry about Zoning in Heaven.
Hmmmm, well Bob, you need a nap. I honestly sit here and laugh at some of these ludicrous comments made by people who "drive through the neighborhood and see crack houses everywhere!" I just don't see that. I see people out walking their dogs everyday and talking with neighbors. I see people playing with their kids in their yards in the afternoons and landscaping on the weekends. I personally wave at anyone who is walking by even if I don't know them, just so they feel welcomed. And yes, the downtown area does have some issues that need addressed, so do something about it! Buy a house and fix it up. If I had enough money and time, I would buy every single neglected house and fix them up (according to the guidelines, of course). If any of you that are against the BAR had an expensive historic home in the neighborhood (which you DON'T), you would be all for the BAR. You wouldn't want someone doing crazy, tacky stuff to their home when it's sitting next to yours and depreciating the value!!! This is an issue that affects all of us who live here in the Historic District. We have invested time and money into our homes and we have the right to protect those investments. We chose to live here and improve the neighborhood. If you want to fight something that is absolutely CRAZY, ask city council why they approved to give each one of themselves health insurance at $400 a month? Those are your tax dollars at work. That, my friends, is something worth fighting against and something that should be reversed.
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