HPC Approves Four COAs, Discusses Silvertown Signage Improvements

The first COA presented was for the addition of window signage at Alivana’s Cigar Lounge, owned by Jenny Nicholson at 110 North Center Street. Multiple members commended the logo and heard plans for façade improvements from Nicholson. The COA was unanimously approved.

The second and third COAs, both unanimously approved, were presented by Jared Huckaby. The first was for his upcoming rooftop restaurant/bar at 113, 115, and 117 West Gordon Street. While the initial plan was to open a rooftop restaurant at his property at 113 West Gordon Street, Huckaby says his plans changed when he purchased Slices Pizzeria.

Huckaby told the commission he will acquire two permits for the project: one for the buildout of the interior dining room and rooftop deck; and a second for the addition of a kitchen on the second floor of the building. He says the tentative goal is to have the rooftop business open this spring.

The second COA presented by Huckaby was for repainting of the rear side of properties at 105, 107, 109, and 111 South Center Street. Colors were chosen out of the commission’s suggested color palette, created by ex-officio member and Thomaston-Upson Archives Director Jamesan Gramme. He also plans to add custom shutters to cover boarded windows on the 111 South Center Street property, formerly Reems Jewelers, until plans are made for the property.

The fourth COA, unanimously approved, was requested by the city to add an RC Cola mural to the side of 106 East Lee Street, which property owners have approved. The mural, originally planned for the side of Cook’s Market, is part of murals completed by the University of Georgia’s Color the World Bright program, and is funded through a grant for multiple downtown murals by the Georgia Council of the Arts.

Color the World Bright students are expected to restore incomplete murals during the second annual Art & Soul Festival, hosted by the city April 21-22.

During a discussion of HPC duties, Vice Chair Jane Burdette presented context on the establishment of HPC and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Signage in Silvertown was also a point of discussion. The current entry signs to Silvertown are made of Styrofoam and, due to the need for repair, are being repaired by Huckaby.

Commission members discussed adding signage to each area of the Silvertown neighborhood, including North, Highway, South, and East Villages, and member Alison Uphold shared images of historic B.F. Goodrich Silvertown advertisements and flyers. Gramme suggested that new signage could utilize the “G” that graced the front of Martha Mills and many of the advertisements.

Economic Development Coordinator Taylor Smith suggested the project be pushed by the group that applied for the National Registry Designation for Silvertown, as “it may be perceived in a different manner by council.”

Members also discussed forming a list of local properties, districts, and areas that should be recognized as local historic areas.

The next meeting of the HPC will be held on Monday, March 6.