Historic Preservation on Tybee
For the Love of Tybee By Kathy Dennis
Tybee loves its historical treasures and on January 10, the City Council voted to approve a text amendment for the South End Business Overlay District that
would help preserve over 40 historic structures within this area. Many of these structures are the Tybee Raised Cottages, mid-century commercial buildings
and rooming houses that define a commercial district. These structures helped Tybee become a vibrant year round community. This action on the district has
been a long time coming. The council also voted to approve an agreement for a design guidelines manual per the approved and awarded Historic Preservation
Fund Grant FY2018.
A little history... In July 2013, the late Cullen Chambers and Chantel Morton worked with a SCAD graduate student to prepare the first design guidelines manual
for the island at the request of the city, Tybee Island Historical Society (TIHS) and the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). For the next few years, the HPC
worked on revising the guidelines. This guideline document became incorporated with the proposal for local historic districts in July 2016, which was denied.
Fast forward to March 2018, when a resolution for the moratorium in the South End Overlay District (SEOD) was approved by the city council. The SEOD will
be part of a fourth National Historic District on Tybee. The other three are Fort Screven Historic District (1984), the Strand Historic District (1996) and the Back
River Historic District. These districts are in jeopardy due to unrestricted demolition of historic buildings that contribute to their character.
In July 2018, the Tybee Island Planning Commission considered a text amendment to restrict demolition which promotes the welfare and vitality of the city’s
original commercial and resort district, to preserve historic character and provide standards for compatible new development.
Tybee is well on its way towards protecting and honoring Tybee’s historic structures and maintaining its authenticity. To follow the progress of historic
preservation on Tybee Island, go to the Historic Preservation Commission page on the City of Tybee Island website, as well as its Facebook page. Another good
way to support historic preservation is by joining the Tybee Island Historical Society and following them on Facebook and their website.
The next two meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission are February 19 and March 19 from 6-7 pm in the City Hall conference room.
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