Councilman Jason Holleman has proposed legislation that would place a large portion of Sylvan Park under a conservation overlay. This proposal has drawn the ire of some residents and, not surprisingly, a number of developers and Realtors.

Councilman Holleman’s predecessor, John Summers, had filed a similar bill eight years ago that was never passed.

As you will read in the “Sale of the Week” section, the determination of what properties merit historical significance and which do not has been rather arbitrary over the years, with such buildings as the Jacksonian, built in 1917, being omitted and, under proposed legislation, a 1944, 700-square-foot house with two bedrooms and one bath in Sylvan Park would be deemed historic.

I suppose overlaying an entire area is the only economically feasible way to accomplish preservation of true historical gems without overloading the Historical Commission with mountains of work, yet some houses simply have no historic value other than to display that years ago people in the 1940s found these modest, functionally obsolete homes to be attractive and a slice of the American dream.

A drive through Sylvan Park today versus 1994 shows improvement on the overall appearance of the community. Certainly, property values have soared and the 700-square-foot house is less valuable than the lot on which it is located.

Conversely, without the overlay, a remarkable Tudor home that has been neglected to the point that renovation would require more investment than its value would be demolished. But who buys a house and then spends twice its value in its restoration?

Historically, Nashville has not been so historical as it pertains to preservation. Consequently, many landmarks have given way to the wrecking balls and bulldozers.

If the overlays had been in place, several sites would be alive today, yet billions of dollars would not have been invested, along with the jobs created. Most of the structures of the 1700s and 1800s are gone. In 100 years, will a columnist writing about this issue include the 1900s in his column?

Sale of the Week

This week we visit 4000 West End Avenue for the Jacksonian 4000, so named so as not to be confused with the original Jacksonian, which was located at the corner of 31st Avenue South and West End.

 

Those familiar with Nashville goings-on over the past 15 years or so might recall the battle between preservationists and local developer John Rochford over his decision to sell the original Jacksonian, an apartment building, to developers that placed the Walgreens on the property.

Oddly, when the Metro Nashville Historical Commission compiled its list of historical buildings, the original Jacksonian was omitted. By the late 1990s, the building had fallen into disrepair and would have cost the owner millions of dollars to bring it up to code and make it attractive to Nashville renters.

At the time, selling the building was the only financially feasible choice for Rochford or any other owner unable to pour millions of dollars into the project. Nonetheless, protesters marched with “Save Jack” signs.

Since the Historical Commission had decided by its own survey that the building was not historical, there were no regulations to prevent the Walgreens development. Rochford, who has been a good community citizen for years, soon developed another parcel a few miles west of the Jacksonian and constructed a replica of the original, selling units as condominiums in 2002. If it’s good enough for the Parthenon, it’s good enough for the Jacksonian.

The building at 4000 West End is an architecturally accurate model of the original, and the interiors have the feel of the early 1900s when the original Jacksonian was developed.

Within the building is Apartment 303, which sold last week for $475,000. This 1,762-square-foot home has two bedrooms, two full baths, one half-bath, hardwood floors and high ceilings.

Once inside, the comfortable condo is as cozy and quiet as a home nestled in a 100-year-old neighborhood, even though it is located on a busy thoroughfare.

The unit was listed by real estate veteran Connie Allen of Fridrich and Clark Realty, and she noted the property includes garage parking and two storage units. Tom Fussell, real estate’s best golfer, linked the buyer to the condo, which is just a chip shot away from Montgomery Bell Academy.

Richard Courtney is affiliated with Christianson, Patterson, Courtney and Associates and can be reached at [email protected].