The estate of Betty Jane Gary is proposing to subdivide the current +/- 2.07 acre property into 9 lots. The current property features frontage on both Buchanan and Lincoln Avenues as well as South 11th Street. The existing historic house (The Trigg Doyle Falkner House) would be on one of the 9 lots with an additional 3 lots fronting Lincoln Avenue and 5 additional lots fronting Buchanan.

For additional information on the proposed development and the history of the house, please see GarySubdivision.com

Basis for Opposition

1. Incompatibility with Historic District Character & Development Patterns
The South Lamar Historic District is defined by its historic lot sizes, architectural scale, development patterns, and cohesive streetscape. The proposed subdivision is incompatible with these characteristics and would erode the historic integrity of the district. The neighborhood has been developed over the last 100+ years with no single “new” development of this size. The proposed subdivision departs from original platting and land-use patterns that contributed to the district’s designation and significance.

2. Impact to a Historic District Contributing Structure
The existing home, the Trigg-Doyle-Falkner House, is considered a contributing structure for the South Lamar Historic District.  The comments from the entry in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History: "This home is thought to have been built around 1855 by James G. Trigg, Oxford's first 'clothing only' merchant. In the 1870s, the Doyles added Italianate ornamentation. The house passed next to William Faulkner's grandfather and then father. It remains much as it was when the famous author lived here as a child."  

Jack Mayfield also included this about the home in an article on HottyToddy.com in 2015 titled: Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard

“It is not known if the Triggs or the Doyles had children that played in the large front yard, but the children of Murry Falkner certainly did. The front yard of the home is as large as a football field. It also had a fenced in side lot that was the pasture for the three phonies [sic] owned by the Falkner boys. One of the best known pictures of a young William Faulkner is that of him seated on his spotted pony and his two younger brothers holding the reins of their ponies in front of the home. Faulkner would have been ten years old or less in the picture.”  He goes on to describe the generations of Oxford children that have played in the front yard of the historic home and how it influenced many.  

The current proposal for the subdivision has the property line for Lot 8 (where the current house sits) approximately 10’ from the edge of the front porch which faces South 11th Street.  The next lot will have a house facing Buchanan and is only required to have a 10’ side set back from the property line.  This may result in one of Oxford’s historic homes being boxed in with a 10’ “front lawn” and 20’ of open space between it and a new home.

3. Precedent for Increased Density
Approval would establish a precedent for increased density and further subdivision within the historic district, undermining preservation goals.

4. Adverse Impacts on Neighborhood Livability
Potential impacts include increased traffic, parking congestion, safety concerns, noise, loss of privacy, stormwater issues, and strain on infrastructure.

5. Conflict with the Purpose of Historic District Designation
Approval would be inconsistent with the intent and spirit of the South Lamar Historic District designation.

6. Potential Harm to Property Values and Neighborhood Stability
Changes to established development patterns may negatively affect property values and neighborhood stability.

Request for Action
We respectfully request that the City of Oxford deny approval of the Gary Subdivision (Case No. 3338) and uphold the protections afforded to the South Lamar Historic District.