The City of Tallahassee is considering rezoning a part of the Myers Park neighborhood to allow for new housing. But some residents are worried how the plan could affect the historic district.
The Myers Park Historic District is home to bungalows dating back to the 1920s, nestled under old live oak trees. Cascades Park has brought new interest to the area, and new conflict - mainly over the higher noise levels from the park’s amphitheater. Now the city is considering rezoning a prime piece of real estate to make way for new housing in the area. City planners say new homes and apartments could serve as a sound buffer between the historic district and Cascades Park, instead of the thirty foot high concrete wall the commission previously considered. The nine acre plot in question is currently home to the Parks and Rec Offices, and developers are showing interest. But some residents have their doubts, like Anne Mazzanovich.
“To give up this land now would be giving it up forever. And we don’t want to see that happen. We don’t want the loss of the wildlife habitat. And once again, we don’t want the increased traffic in the neighborhood, things like that, that would really not flow with the Myers Park Historic District,” Mazzanovich said.
Mazzanovich and other residents of Myers Park value the historic nature of their neighborhood, and they're worried about how it might change.
“Our foremost concern is just having the land go into private holding, which then you sort of lose control over what ultimately happens here,” said Mazzanovich.
But because the plot is in the historic district, any developments must match the character of the surrounding buildings, and be approved by the Architectural Review Board. And any decisions won’t happen in the dark: commissioners won’t vote to rezone until they’ve seen plans from developers, and received public comments.
