Perched on a small hill overlooking a square, Tyler Hill, a picturesque subdivision populated by 17 turn-of-the-century Victorian houses may become the third locally designated historic area in Anniston.
Six of the homeowners in the neighborhood’s historic homes, which were listed on the National Historic Register in 1985, have signed a petition asking the city to recognize the subdivision’s significance. David Schneider, co-chair of Anniston Historic Preservation Commission, is one of those homeowners.
“We’ve been talking about this and kicking it around for years,” Schneider said. “We finally just got the right mix of neighbors that want to do it.”
The neighborhood, a block of East Sixth Street, Seventh Street and Leighton Avenue, was first plotted in 1888 or 1889. Duncan Parker, a prominent businessman in Anniston, built the grandest house in 1889, Schneider said. Several of Parker’s relatives also built houses on the square including Schneider’s house, which was built for Parker’s sister. All the surviving old houses were built from 1889 to 1909.
There are a few modern houses in the neighborhood and an office building, and the owners of the historic homes want to protect the character of the neighborhood.
“This is not the oldest neighborhood, but it’s one of them,” Schneider said. “It’s the largest concentration of elaborate Victorian houses in Anniston.”
There used to be more neighborhoods with a similar historic feel – at one time Quintard Avenue was lined with old Victorian mansions, but they have been replaced by the restaurants, stores and businesses that line the road today. Schneider and his neighbors want to protect their neighborhood from the same loss.
Joan McKinney, chairwoman of the historic commission, said the designation would mean that exterior alterations that would change the character of the house would have to be approved by the city.
Right now, the homes are not protected from demolition or alteration, McKinney said.
“That’s pretty much what we’re trying to do,” she said. “We are the commission for the city and part of our charter is to look at areas and do this process.”
Taking the petition to the City Council is just the first step in this process. The commission will also have to hold a public hearing to inform the public about the neighborhood and gather any feedback from the residents. Then it will take all the information back to the council for review and the homeowners hope, for approval of the local historic area designation.
The designation would not only protect the character of the neighborhood, it could improve property values in the area, she said.
“It’ll probably stabilize and enhance property values,” McKinney said. “There’s something special about having older homes that are protected. It enhances the city.”
Historic areas can draw visitors to the city, and this designation helps put the Tyler Hill neighborhood on the map, McKinney said. If it is given the local designation, Tyler Hill would be the third locally designated historic area in Anniston. Zinn Park and the Fort McClellan Post Headquarters District already hold that title, Schneider said.
However, not all homeowners are on board with the proposal. A couple of the homeowners in the subdivision are afraid the designation would keep them from doing whatever they want to their homes, McKinney said.
The homeowners would have to go through a process to make major changes on their homes, but the designation is not meant to be restrictive, she said.
“The public hearing is very important,” McKinney said. “That’s when folks have the opportunity and can come in and review – we will have maps; we will have pictures.”
Contact staff writer Laura Camper at 256-235-3545.