[LCN Newscast] Mar 17 Senior Seminar, and The Masquerade

[newscast@lists.lakeclaire.org]

Two Announcements:

- Senior Services Seminar, 2005 Mar 17
- Proposed demolition of DuPre Mill (The Masquerade)

----------------------

4th Annual Focus Upon Senior Services (F.U.S.S.) Seminar:

Apply Onsite for Senior Citizens' Exemptions!

Thursday March 17, 2005
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Drew Charter School
301 East Lake Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30317

If you are 62 or older with a gross household income of $10,000
or less; 65 or older with a Georgia net income of $40,000 or
less; and own and occupy the owner on property for which you are
you are seeking an exemption, please bring:

Proof of age or identification:  valid drivers license, Georgia
ID, birth certificate

Proof of income:  2004 federal and state tax filing form 1040 or
1099 statement of income received

Proof of residence: 2004 property tax bill or warranty deed

For more information, please call: Councilmember Archibong's
office at 404-330-6048

Deanne Titus, on behalf of
Natalyn Mosby Archibong
Councilmember, District 5
404-330-6048

-----------------------


The DuPre Excelsior Mill, built in 1895, is an excellent example
of creative reuse of an historic building which may now be
destroyed unless we can halt plans to demolish the building for
construction of 182 condos.

Located at 695 North Avenue (currently The Masquerade), this mill
used steam power to manufacture wood-shaving packing material.
This building pre-dates the Sear Tower, which most people know
currently as City Hall East. In the early 1980's the mill was
used as a neighborhood pizza restaurant and movie theater. The
most remarkable thing about this building is the turn-of-the-
century architecture and beautiful Georgia granite walls. Inside,
most of the polished wood and original metal machinery have been
preserved and incorporated into the decor.

Help us save the Mill--Immediate Action Is Critical. Send your
tax-deductible contribution to The Atlanta Preservation Center,
327 St. Paul Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. Write "Excelsior Mill"
in the memo section of the check to ensure that your funds go to
this particular project.

Among other things, your contribution will be used to pay for a
study of the building's history and viability for preservation,
to be submitted to the Atlanta Urban Design Commission to support
the designation of this building to a zoning category of Landmark
Building/Site (LBS).

Here is what else you can do Right Now:

1. Contact your City Council representative and members at large
(especially those on the Zoning Committee) and let them know what
is going on. Express your opinion regarding the preservation of
this part of Atlanta's history. Please ask them to support
Landmark rezoning for this building.

2. While you have their attention please tell them that you also
have concerns about how easy it is to get a demolition permit in
this City. Right now there is NO architectural review process
required and once issued, demolition permits can be renewed
without review for many, many years. Example: The Varsity
building on North Avenue has a demolition permit which has been
repeatedly renewed for many years, without any requirements for
City review. Owners keep these permits in effect because they
know it would be nearly impossible to get a demo permit today on
their buildings, usually because the buildings are of some
historic value. Legislation is required to remedy this situation.

If you would like to learn more of if you want someone to come
talk to your group, please call me at 404-892-5066.

Anna Copello, annacopello@gmail.com
Friends of the Mill


[Editor's Note:  If you happen to support the owners' right to
develop their private property without interference, you are
entitled to contact your City Councilors to express that view
also.]