Dear Supporters of preserving the Gresham Building; 

Your URGENT ACTION is needed to save the Gresham Building - an architectural and historical icon, central in location and spirit to Chastain Park itself.

Galloway School, in order to expand, seeks to establish a Special Public Interest District (SPI-26) solely for its own property to receive an exemption from existing residential zoning regulations. SPIs are special zoning “carve-outs” from zoning regulations meant to promote and protect the well-being and goals of neighborhoods, NOT to serve the desires of individual property owners.

The 110-year-old Gresham Building is, of course, an essential element that defines the character of Chastain Park and the surrounding neighborhood. Its demolition would be in direct opposition to the Public Interest.

Due to our efforts, the City Council Zoning Committee elected to delay their vote to correct defects with the original SPI submission. Therefore, we still have an opportunity to ensure that the Gresham Building is preserved.

However, direct appeals to City officials are ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, at this time. 

Please take 2 minutes to send an email to Zoning Committee Members and Zoning officials. (You may personalize it, if you wish.) Because the language for the SPI is now being negotiated, time is of the essence. This will likely be the last opportunity for you to act to save a magnificent architectural treasure on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sample Email: (mwestmoreland@atlantaga.gov, zrb-hearings@atlantaga.gov, arfarokhi@atlantaga.gov
lbakhtiari@atlantaga.gov
mnorwood@atlantaga.gov
hshook@atlantaga.gov
mcoverstreet@atlantaga.gov
jdozier@atlantaga.gov

Council Member Matt Westmoreland: 

[Your intro - Example: As a resident of Atlanta / parent of a Galloway student / a proponent of history, architecture and preservation etc.], I am writing to express my deep concern about the future of the Gresham Building and to urge you to include protective measures in the proposed Special Public Interest District Ordinance (“CHASTAIN PARK GALLOWAY SCHOOL SPI” – SPI-26).

The Gresham Building, over 110 years old, is the oldest architecturally significant building in Buckhead. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is vital to the character of Chastain Park and the neighboring community.

I implore you and the City Council to recognize that its destruction would irrevocably harm the Public Interest by causing the loss of a collective historic, economic, and cultural resource now under the Galloway School's custodianship.

Critically, the Public Interest is a fundamental condition for the proposed Special Public Interest District (SPI-26) to benefit the very private interest of the Galloway School however noble its mission may be. For this reason, conditions to protect the Gresham Building from needless demolition must be included in the proposed Special Public Interest District ordinance. 

Such protective measures would not place an undue burden on the Galloway School's efforts to expand and upgrade its campus. A renovation of the Interior with a new Addition is both feasible and cost-effective. Therefore, no conflict should exist between Galloway School and the community.

Once the Gresham Building is gone, it is gone forever. Its loss is both unnecessary and avoidable. I appeal to you in your official capacity to do the right thing and ensure that the Gresham Building is protected as an essential condition to promote the Public Interest in proposed SPI-26.

Sincerely,

[your name]