Комиссия по сохранению исторического наследия одобрила заявку Еухарли-баптистской церкви на побелку кирпичной кладки

Euharlee Historic Preservation Commission at its Aug. 27 meeting approved a certificate of appropriateness application on behalf of Euharlee Baptist Church. The commission held a public hearing on the application, which is to whitewash bricks on both the new church sign and, eventually, the new church building itself. “Euharlee Baptist Church is requesting to whitewash previously unpainted brick on two modern features,” explained Community and Economic Development Director Katie Gobbi. “Those are the freestanding monument sign and then potentially the church building, constructed in 2005. The historic 1852 church is not included in this request.” Gobbi said painting unpainted masonry or brick is a material change in appearance. “That makes a certificate of appropriateness required,” Gobbi said. “The monument sign is modern and doesn’t have any historic materials. They did recently replace an internally illuminated marquee sign.” The brick on the sign now is red brick, Gobbi said. “The sign is on Euharlee Road, on the outskirts of the historic district away from the covered bridge historic corridor,” Gobbi said. “Red brick is not a predominant, character-defining material in the district. Because of that, the modern construction, the location and limited relationship to historic resources, staff recommends approval of the sign.” The new church building also is a modern, non-contributing structure, Gobbi said. “The existing brick is not historic,” Gobbi said. “Red brick does exist in the district, this building we’re in is red brick. The historic resource survey from 2024 does not identify it as a character-defining material within our district.” Gobbi said she also recommends approval for the whitewashing of the brick on the 2005 building, if the church chooses to do so. “These are not historic materials,” Gobbi said. “Other buildings in the district that may also be red brick, even though it’s not a defining characteristic as a whole, that might be a different consideration. Specifically for these two I would recommend approval.” Commissioner member Betty Jane Tilley asked if the sign itself had to go through an approval process when it was changed. “No permit was needed because the sign scale did not change,” Gobbi said. “It is the same size.” Tilley made a motion to approve the certificate, with a second by Austin Smith. The motion passed unanimously.