ATLANTA — Residents of a historic neighborhood near downtown Atlanta say pedestrian signals and other street improvements are marring the character of their community.
Castleberry Hill is a City of Atlanta Landmark District and has been on the National Register of Historic Places for decades.
Several months ago, the Georgia Department of Transportation installed two pedestrian crossing signals just inches away from a brick building that dates back to the late 1800s and now houses condos.
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“It kind of detracts from the historical aesthetic of the building,” said Steve Yazell, the president of the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association.
He said the signals can also shine lights into the window of somebody’s home.
The Swift and Company Lofts are in a preservation easement that’s designed to prevent any altering of the building’s façade, something Yazell said the signals violate.
“One of the things that defines Castleberry Hill is our historical character,” he said. “Most of the buildings here were built right after the Civil War, which there’s not a lot left of that in Atlanta.”
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He said GDOT also removed granite curbs and replaced them with “cheap concrete.”
Federal law requires any federally funded project that could potentially affect historic properties to undergo a Section 106 review under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
Agencies must consult with all parties to find ways to reduce the impact on historic sites.
Natalie Dale, a spokesperson for GDOT, said in a written statement that the agency complied with Section 106 and “is committed to evaluating whether any options for relocating some of the signal equipment could be done outside Section 106 requirements.”
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“The work done thus far by the Department is in compliance with Section 106,” Dale wrote.
The agency is considering moving one of the signals back to the wooden Georgia Power post where it was originally located.
Donna Lindsay lives in the Swift and Company Lofts and appreciates the need for road improvements in the neighborhood.
“I just want to preserve my home, the building and the neighborhood,” she said. “I live in the city, so I expect to see traffic, etcetera. But it’s about the preservation of the building.”
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