Neighbors descended upon the Historic District Board of Review this week in a tizzy over a recent installation of playground equipment behind Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church.
Local architecture firm Lott + Barber submitted a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness, or C.O.A., for two red canopies covering playground equipment in response to complaints from the neighborhood.
Architect Forrest Lott said the installation was not meant to offend but was merely a function of state child care laws that require shade be provided for children in licensed day care programs.
The new playground is in an enclosed area behind the church at the corner of Drayton and East Taylor streets and serves Wesley’s preschool programs. According to the petition, the canopies are approximately 14 by 14 feet square and reach 12 feet and 8 feet tall, respectively.
Although the Historic Board does not have jurisdiction over playground equipment, awnings do fall within its purview, according to staff.
Katherine Alpine, a resident of East Taylor Street, spoke against the awnings during public comment and referred to them as “big red circus tents” due to their visibility above the walled enclosure. She pointed to at least 10 other neighbors who had come to voice support for their removal.
Residents Brian Palmer and Paula Palmer also protested the awnings. Paula Palmer said the view from her parlor room, which she frequently uses for entertaining guests, had been obstructed by them.
Brian Palmer made a presentation in which he Photoshopped the canopies onto different properties in the Historic District to demonstrate their visual incompatibility and compared them to a “big red U.F.O.”
Palmer said acceptable alternatives would include a pergola or planting of tall trees along the enclosure wall to block them from view, but said the church had been unwilling to engage on the issue.
He then complained about the noise coming from “squealing” children at the day care, prompting criticism and some outrage.
“To hear someone say they don’t want to hear the sounds of children squealing and playing in the Historic District is just awful,” said Jerry Lominack, who was presenting a separate petition but decided to speak.
“I am a member of Wesley Monumental and the mother of one of those ‘horrible’ children screaming on the playground,” said Denise Grabowski. “The church is growing, and it’s doing so through the engagement of children … (the playground) is contributing to the vitality of downtown.”
Two letters of support submitted with the petition also encouraged the Historic Board to grant approval.
“The addition of a playground at this downtown location communicates to the passersby (residents and visitors alike) that children are a welcomed and integral component of the community,” wrote Christen Clougherty and W. Gerome Temple.
As debate wore on, Chairman Keith Howington had to ask members of the audience to refrain from accusations during comment.
“Who’s that who said, ‘Can’t we all just get along?’” said member Nicholas Henry, paraphrasing Rodney King.
Some board members suggested perhaps a color change to beige or green, in line with the playground at Forsyth Park.
Lott said the church is willing to look at options to appease its neighbors but would have to take financials into consideration.
“The accusation that the church doesn’t play well with others is the one thing I want to object to,” Lott said at the end of public comment.
Ultimately, despite a recommendation by the MPC staff that the awnings were visually compatible, the board voted to deny the petition for the certificate of appropriateness, citing its height, mass and, to a lesser degree, color.
“This would’ve never passed had it come to us first (in the planning stage),” said board member Stephen Merriman.
Although the city’s Building Services Department may issue a citation, the Metropolitan Planning Commission staff said they’re more likely to delay a request for immediate removal to allow more time for compromise.
Ellen Harris, director of urban planning at the MPC, said in this situation, they are hopeful the petitioner would work with the neighbors to come up with an acceptable solution.
Reached Thursday, church officials declined to comment.