2008 Woodie Awards
Judge rules council was wrong: new design doesn't fly
Kara Lemarie
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News
Several online sources have served as outlets for citizens to express their opinions. Web sites such as "Save Historic Granville" and "Jack Thornborough's Granvilleblog" have fostered further discussion on the debate over the addition.
Regardless of these dialogues, not everyone is opposed to the new design.
Senior Mary Mooney, a studio art major, said she felt that there is a need for the renovation.
"The space was falling apart, and just wasn't physically safe to work in anymore," she said.
Despite the physical need for the restoration, she said she is going to miss some of the building's character.
"I'm going to miss the charm of the old building, and all of the history that can be seen in its architecture."
Granville council member Steve Mershon said that residents were allowed to appeal the council's decision.
"There were three or four people that were opposed to it, and we have a procedure that even when one person is opposed, they have the right to appeal it," he said. "[The council] doesn't count noses and then agree there's more for it than against."
Knobel said he has expressed strong support for the design ever since the university staged a national competition for the building's design in 2004.
"[Jack Beyer, the architect,] came up with a plan that beautifully restored the outside of the 1904 Cleveland Hall," he said. "I think it's a design that's liable to win national awards for being a sensitive treatment of an older, historical building, yet a treatment that allows an older building that fell into disuse to live again and serve students for another 100 years. We need to sensitively promote what is new and reserve what is old."
Regardless of these dialogues, not everyone is opposed to the new design.
Senior Mary Mooney, a studio art major, said she felt that there is a need for the renovation.
"The space was falling apart, and just wasn't physically safe to work in anymore," she said.
Despite the physical need for the restoration, she said she is going to miss some of the building's character.
"I'm going to miss the charm of the old building, and all of the history that can be seen in its architecture."
Granville council member Steve Mershon said that residents were allowed to appeal the council's decision.
"There were three or four people that were opposed to it, and we have a procedure that even when one person is opposed, they have the right to appeal it," he said. "[The council] doesn't count noses and then agree there's more for it than against."
Knobel said he has expressed strong support for the design ever since the university staged a national competition for the building's design in 2004.
"[Jack Beyer, the architect,] came up with a plan that beautifully restored the outside of the 1904 Cleveland Hall," he said. "I think it's a design that's liable to win national awards for being a sensitive treatment of an older, historical building, yet a treatment that allows an older building that fell into disuse to live again and serve students for another 100 years. We need to sensitively promote what is new and reserve what is old."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Carmen
posted 3/26/08 @ 9:35 AM EST
It seems to me that since Denison benefits GREATLY from the historic charm of Granville, they would do well to respect not only the letter of the law that protects the town, but also the spirit of the law. (Continued…)
Brian C.B.
posted 3/26/08 @ 3:46 PM EST
By the way, the College of William and Mary is a Commonwealth institution and exempt from all local building regulations, needing to obey only the Commonwealth's separate regulations, ones that apply to Virginia's government-owned buildings. (Continued…)
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