HPNA General Meeting February 2th Agenda The Sri Atmananda School What's up with the Triangle What's new with Development Review

Historic Preservation in Hyde Park

S ince the early 1970's, Hyde Park residents have worked to protect and preserve the character and history of the neighborhood. We now have a number of tools to help us in this endeavor (see related article, "Building in Hyde Park.")

    The Neighborhood Association is forming a new committee - the Historic Preservation Committee - to work specifically on historic preservation issues and to expand upon the preservation tools we currently have in place.
    Since 1990, the Hyde Park Neighborhood has been fortunate to have two National Historic Districts - the Hyde Park District and the Shadow Lawn District - both south of 45th Street. The neighborhood also has several individual sites that have been deemed historic. These Historic Districts and individual properties are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Other areas of the neighborhood have the potential to receive historic district designation. One of the main goals of the new committee will be to explore the possibility of obtaining Historic District designation for eligible areas of the neighborhood.

February, 2004   National Register District Neighborhood   Vol. 30, No. 2

C alling all volunteers, preparation for the annual Homes Tour has begun. The Hyde Park Homes Tour Committee has begun the home selection process and is excited about the potential for this year's Homes Tour.

I f you have never been a volunteer for this event, you don't know what you have been missing. I lived in the neighborhood for years before I became involved in this great event. Perhaps more than any single event, the Homes Tour is one that will leave you with a great feeling about your neighborhood and your neighbors. Yes, to some of the tourgoers it is just about people fixing up old houses; but to the neighbors who participate it's about the common fellowship and friendship that comes from sharing the value of a neighborhood where people thrive on knowing each other and derive their energy and inspiration from each other.     It takes over 200 volunteers each

year to put on this show of neighborhood pride. As an individual faced with the task organizing this you might cringe, but not in this neighborhood. Homeowners have already come forward, willing to put their homes on the Tour. Peter Maxson is heading up home selection. Bob Breeze, last year's chairman, is helping with scheduling. Mike Whisenhunt is working on the web site and the brochure. And of course, we are all recruiting volunteers.     The following is just a short list of jobs for which volunteers are needed for the Tour, and there is always a neighbor who has done the job in the past who is willing to share his/her experience from past years.